Ezra 5:9

Matthew Henry on Ezra 5:3–end

We have here, I. The cognizance which their neighbours soon took of the reviving of this good work. A jealous eye, it seems, they had upon them, and no sooner did the Spirit of God stir up the friends of the temple to appear for it than the evil spirit stirred up its enemies to appear against it. While the people built and ceiled their own houses their enemies gave them no molestation (Hag 1:4), though the king's order was to put a stop to the building of the city (Ezr 4:21); but when they fell to work again at the temple then the alarm was taken, and all heads were at work to hinder them, Ezr 5:3, Ezr 5:4. The adversaries are here named: Tatnai and Shethar-boznai. The governors we read of (…

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezra 5:8

the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones--literally, "stones of rolling"; that is, stones of such extraordinary size that they could not be carried--they had to be rolled or dragged along the ground.

Adam Clarke on Ezra 5:8

With great stones - They are making a very strong and a very costly building.

John Gill on Ezra 5:9

Then asked we those elders,.... The elders of the province of Judea; the chief men of it: who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? see Ezra 5:3.

Keil & Delitzsch on Ezra 5:9-10

Hereupon the royal officials asked the elders of the Jews who had commanded them to build, and inquired concerning their names, that they might write to the king the names of the leading men (see the remark on 3 and 41). בראשׁהם דּי does not mean, who are at the head of them: but, who act in the capacity of heads.

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Ezra 5:8