King Darius favoureth the building and contributeth to it.
Darius finding in the register, that Cyrus gaue licence to build the Temple, commandeth that none binder it. 8. geueth also money towardes the charges, and hostes for sacrifice.
1Then king Darius gave orders, and they searched in the library of the books that were laid up in Babylon,Allora il re Dario comandò, che facesser ricerca nei libri riposti negli archivj di Babilonia.Then Darius the king commanded, and they searched in the librarie of the bookes, that were layd vp in Babylon,Tunc Darius rex præcepit: et recensuerunt in bibliotheca librorum, qui erant repositi in Babylone. 2And there was found in Ecbatana, which is a castle in the province of Media, a book in which this record was written.E si trovò in Ecbatane, fortezza della provincia di Media un libro, nel quale era registrato questo ricordo:and there was found in Ecbatanis, which is a castle in the prouince Medena, one volume, and there was such a cōmentarie writen therein:Et inventum est in Ecbatanis, quod est castrum in Medena provincia, volumen unum: talisque scriptus erat in eo commentarius: 3In the first year of Cyrus the king: Cyrus the king decreed, that the house of God should be built, which is in Jerusalem, in the place where they may offer sacrifices, and that they lay the foundations that may support the height of threescore cubits, and the breadth of threescore cubits,L'anno primo di Ciro re: Ciro re ha ordinato, che si riedifichi la casa di Dio a Gerusalemme nel suo sito, per immolarvi le ostie, e che si gettino le fondamenta adattate ad una elevazione di sessanta cubiti, e sessanta cubiti di larghezza.In the first yeare of Cyrus the king: Cyrus the king decreed, that the house of God should be built, which is in Ierusalem, in the place where they immolate hostes, and that they lay the foundations supporting the height of threescore cubites, & the bredth of threescore cubites,Anno primo Cyri regis, Cyrus rex decrevit ut domus Dei ædificaretur, quæ est in Jerusalem, in loco ubi immolent hostias, et ut ponant fundamenta supportantia altitudinem cubitorum sexaginta, et latitudinem cubitorum sexaginta, 4Three rows of unpolished stones, and so rows of new timber: and the charges shall be given out of the king’s house.A tre ordini di pietre rozze, e altri ordini di legname nuovo: e l'occorrente per le spese sia somministrato dalla casa del re.three rewes of stones vnpolished, & so rewes of new timber: and the costes shal be geuen out of the kings house.ordines de lapidibus impolitis tres, et sic ordines de lignis novis: sumptus autem de domo regis dabuntur. 5And also let the golden and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple of Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and carried back to the temple of Jerusalem to their place, which also were placed in the temple of God.E siano eziandio restituiti, e riportati al tempio di Gerusalemme, al luogo, dove prima erano collocati nel tempio di Dio i vasi di oro, e di argento levati da Nabuchodonosor dal tempio di Gerusalemme, e portati a Babilonia.Yea & the vessels of the temple of God, of gold & of siluer which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the Temple of Ierusalem, and had brought them into Babylon, let them be restored, & brought backe into the temple of Ierusalem vnto their place, which also were put in the temple of God.Sed et vasa templi Dei aurea et argentea, quæ Nabuchodonosor tulerat de templo Jerusalem, et attulerat ea in Babylonem, reddantur, et referantur in templum in Jerusalem in locum suum, quæ et posita sunt in templo Dei.
6Now therefore Thathanai, governor of the country beyond the river, Stharbuzanai, and your counsellors the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, depart far from them,Adesso adunque tu, o Thathanai, governatore del paese di là dal fiume, e tu Stharbuzanai co' vostri consiglieri gli Arphasachei dimoranti di la dal fiume, lasciate in pace quella gente.Now therfore Thathanai prince of the countrie, that is beyond the Riuer, Stharubazanai, and your counselers the Apharsacheites, which are beyond the Riuer, depart farre from them,Nunc ergo Thathanai dux regionis, quæ est trans flumen, Stharbuzanai, et consiliarii vestri Apharsachæi, qui estis trans flumen, procul recedite ab illis, 7And let that temple of God be built by the governor of the Jews, and by their ancients, that they may build that house of God in its place.E lasciate, che si faccia quel tempio di Dio dal condottiere de' Giudei, e dai loro seniori, e ch'ei fabbrichino quella casa di Dio nel suo sito.and suffer that temple of God to be made of the duke of the Iewes, and of their ancientes, that they may build that house of God in his place.et dimittite fieri templum Dei illud a duce Judæorum, et a senioribus eorum, ut domum Dei illam ædificent in loco suo. 8I also have commanded what must be done by those ancients of the Jews, that the house of God may be built, to wit, that of the king’s chest, that is, of the tribute that is paid out of the country beyond the river, the charges be diligently given to those men, lest the work be hindered.E io ho ancora ordinato in qual modo debba procedersi verso quegli anziani de' Giudei, affinchè la casa di Dio sia fabbricata, viene a dire, che dal tesoro del re, e de' tributi, che paga il paese oltre il fiume, si somministri denaro a quegli uomini, affinchè non venga ritardato il lavoro.Also there is cōmandment geuen from me what must be done of those ancientes of the Iewes, that the house of God may be built, to witre, that of the kings coffer, that is, of the tributes, that are geuen out of the countrie beyond the Riuer, the charges be diligently geuen to those men, lest the worke be hindred.Sed et a me præceptum est quid oporteat fieri a presbyteris Judæorum illis ut ædificetur domus Dei, scilicet ut de arca regis, id est, de tributis quæ dantur de regione trans flumen, studiose sumptus dentur viris illis, ne impediatur opus. 9And if it shall be necessary, let calves also, and lambs, and kids, for holocausts to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the custom of the priests that are in Jerusalem, be given them day by day, that there be no complaint in any thing.E quando il bisogno il richieda, si dian loro ogni giorno e vitelli, e agnelli, e capretti pegli olocausti da offerirsi al Dio del cielo, e frumento, e sale, e vino, e olio secondo i riti de' sacerdoti, onde non resti verun motivo di querela:And if it shal be necessarie, calues also, and lambes, and kiddes, for holocaust to the God of heauen, wheate, salt, wyne, and oyle, according to the rite of the Priestes that are in Ierusalem, let there be geuen them day dy day, that there be no complaynte in any thing.Quod si necesse fuerit, et vitulos, et agnos, et hædos in holocaustum Deo cæli, frumentum, sal, vinum, et oleum, secundum ritum sacerdotum, qui sunt in Jerusalem, detur eis per singulos dies, ne sit in aliquo querimonia.
10And let them offer oblations to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his children.Ma offeriscano oblazioni al Dio del cielo, e facciano orazione per la vita del re, e de' suoi figliuoli.And let them offer oblations to the God of heauen, and pray for the life of the king, and of his children.Et offerant oblationes Deo cæli, orentque pro vita regis, et filiorum ejus. 11And I have made a decree: That if any whosoever, shall alter this commandment, a beam be taken from his house, and set up, and he be nailed upon it, and his house be confiscated.Io adunque ho decretato, che chiunque contravverrà a questo comando si prenda dalla casa di lui un legno, e si pianti in terra, ed egli vi sia confitto sopra, e la sua casa sia confiscata.By me therfore there is a decree made; That euerie man, which shal alter this commandement, there be a beame taken of his house, and set vp, and he be fast hanged vpon it, and his house be confiscate.A me ergo positum est decretum: ut omnis homo qui hanc mutaverit jussionem, tollatur lignum de domum ipsius, et erigatur, et configatur in eo, domus autem ejus publicetur. 12And may the God, that hath caused his name to dwell there, destroy all kingdoms, and the people that shall put out their hand to resist, and to destroy the house of God, that is in Jerusalem. I Darius have made the decree, which I will have diligently complied with.E Dio, il quale ha posto il nome suo in quel luogo, stermini qualunque regno, o nazione, la quale stenda fa mano per opporsi, o per ruinare quella casa di Dio, che è in Gerusalemme. Io Dario ho firmato questo decreto, il quale voglio, che sia eseguito puntualmente.And the God, that hath made his name to dwel there, destroy alkingdomes, and the people that shal extend theyr hand to resist, & to destroy the house of God, that is in Ierusalē. • Darius haue made the decree, which I wil to be diligently accōplished.Deus autem, qui habitare fecit nomen suum ibi, dissipet omnia regna, et populum qui extenderit manum suam ut repugnet, et dissipet domum Dei illam, quæ est in Jerusalem. Ego Darius statui decretum, quod studiose impleri volo. 13So then Thathanai, governor of the country beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and his counsellors diligently executed what Darius the king had commanded.Thathanai adunque, governatore del paese di là dal fiume, e Stharbuzanai, e i suoi consiglieri eseguirono esattamente l'ordine del re Dario.Therfore Thathanai the prince of the countrie beyond the Riuer, and Stharbuzani, and his counselers, according to that which Darius the king had commanded, so did execute it diligently.Igitur Thathanai dux regionis trans flumen, et Stharbuzanai, et consiliarii ejus, secundum quod præceperat Darius rex, sic diligenter executi sunt.
14And the ancients of the Jews built, and prospered according to the prophecy of Aggeus the prophet, and of Zacharias the son of Addo: and they built and finished, by the commandment of the God of Israel, and by the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes kings of the Persians.E i seniori de' Giudei tiravano innanzi la fabbrica, e le cose andavan loro a seconda, secondo la predizione di Aggeo profeta, e di Zacharia figliuolo di Addo: e fecero, e innalzarono l'edifizio per ordine di Dio d'Israele, e per ordine di Ciro, e di Dario, e di Artaserse, regi di Persia.And the ancientes of the Iewes built, and prospered according to the prophecie of Aggeus the prophet, and of Zacharias the sonne of Addo: and they built and set vp, the God of Israel commanding, and Cyrus commanding, and Darius, and Artaxerxes the kings of the Persians.Seniores autem Judæorum ædificabant, et prosperabantur juxta prophetiam Aggæi prophetæ, et Zachariæ filii Addo: et ædificaverunt et construxerunt, jubente Deo Israël, et jubente Cyro, et Dario, et Artaxerxe regibus Persarum: 15And they were finishing this house of God, until the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius.E lavorarono attorno alla casa di Dio, fino al dì tre del mese di Adar, anno sesto del regno del re Dario.And they were finishing this house of God, vntil the third day of the moneth of Adar, which is the sixth yeare of Darius the king.et compleverunt domum Dei istam, usque ad diem tertium mensis Adar, qui est annus sextus regni Darii regis. 16And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of the house of God with joy.Allora i figliuoli d'Israele, e i sacerdoti, e i Leviti, e tutti gli altri tornati dalla cattività celebrarono con gaudio la consagrazione della casa di Dio.And the children of Israel, the Priestes and the Leuites, and the rest of the transmigration, made the dedication of the house of God in ioy.Fecerunt autem filii Israël sacerdotes et Levitæ, et reliqui filiorum transmigrationis, dedicationem domus Dei in gaudio. 17And they offered at the dedication of the house of God, a hundred calves, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.E offerirono per la consagrazione della casa di Dio cento vitelli, dugento arieti, quattrocento agnelli, e dodici capri per lo peccato di tutto Israele, secondo il numero delle tribù.And they offered in the dedication of the house of God, calues an hundred, rammes two hundred, lambes foure hundred, buckgoates for the sinne of al Israel twelue, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.Et obtulerunt in dedicationem domus Dei, vitulos centum, arietes ducentos, agnos quadringentos, hircos caprarum pro peccato totius Israël duodecim, juxta numerum tribuum Israël.
18And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses over the works of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.E furono distribuiti i sacerdoti negli ordini loro, e i Leviti nei loro turni per servire al culto di Dio in Gerusalemme, come sta scritto nella legge di Mosè.And they set the Priestes in theyr orders, and the Leuites in theyr courses ouer the workes of God in Ierusalem, as it is writen in the booke of Moyses.Et statuerunt sacerdotes in ordinibus suis, et Levitas in vicibus suis, super opera Dei in Jerusalem, sicut scriptum est in libro Moysi. 19And the children of Israel of the captivity kept the phase, on the fourteenth day of the first month.E i figliuoli d'Israele, tornati dalla loro trasmigrazione, fecer la Pasqua ai quattordici del primo mese.And the children of Israel of the transmigration made the Phase, the fourtenth day of the first moneth.Fecerunt autem filii Israël transmigrationis Pascha, quartadecima die mensis primi. 20For all the priests and the Levites were purified as one man: all were clean to kill the phase for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and themselves.Perocché i sacerdoti, e i Leviti si erano purificati dal primo sino all'ultimo: e tutti furono mondi affine d'immolare la Pasqua per tutti gl'Israeliti ritornati dalla trasmigrazione, e pe' sacerdoti loro fratelli, e per loro stessi.For al the Priestes and the Leuites were purified as it were one man: al cleane to immolate the Phase for al the children of the transmigration, and for theyr brethren the Priestes, and them selues.Purificati enim fuerant sacerdotes et Levitæ quasi unus: omnes mundi ad immolandum Pascha universis filiis transmigrationis, et fratribus suis sacerdotibus, et sibi. 21And the children of Israel that were returned from captivity, and all that had separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations of the earth to them, to seek the Lord the God of Israel, did eat.E la mangiarono i figliuoli d'Israele tornati dalla trasmigrazione, e tutti quegli, i quali appartatisi dalla corruttela delle nazioni del paese, si erano uniti con loro per cercare il Signore Dio d'Israele.And the children of Israel that were returned from the transmigration, did eate, and al that had separated them selues from the coinquination of the Gentiles of the earth vnto them, to seeke our Lord the God of Israel.Et comederunt filii Israël, qui reversi fuerant de transmigratione, et omnes qui se separaverant a coinquinatione gentium terræ ad eos, ut quærerent Dominum Deum Israël. 22And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, that he should help their hands in the work of the house of the Lord the God of Israel.E celebrarono la solennità degli azzimi per sette giorni con gaudio, perchè il Signore gli avea consolati, e avea piegato in lor favore il cuore del re Assiro, affinchè porgesse loro la mano per lavorare alla casa del Signore Dio d'Israello.And they made the solemnitie of Azymes seuen dayes in ioy, because our Lord had made them ioyful, and had turned the hart of the king of Assur to them, that he should helpe theyr handes in the worke of the house of our Lord the God of Israel.Et fecerunt solemnitatem azymorum septem diebus in lætitia, quoniam lætificaverat eos Dominus, et converterat cor regis Assur ad eos, ut adjuvaret manus eorum in opere domus Domini Dei Israël.
6:1
Year of the World 3485, Year before Christ 519.
Library. Protestants, "house of the rolls, where the treasures were," etc.
Menochius
Babylon. In the city, the search was fruitless: (Vatable) but in the kingdom, the record was discovered. (Menochius)
6:2
Calmet
Ecbatana. Chaldean achmetha, signifies "a jug, or chest." (Calmet)
Haydock
"And a roll was found (some add, in Amatha) in the city, in a chest, (or tower; Barei) and this memorial was written in it." (Septuagint) Protestants style the place, "Achmetha." (Haydock)
Calmet
Arabic, "Athana." Syriac, "Ahmathane." The memoirs of Cyrus had probably been conveyed to Ecbatana, which was built by Dejoces, the first king of the Medes, and greatly enlarged by his successor, Phraortes. (Calmet)
Tirinus
Province. Media now only formed a province of the empire. (Tirinus)
6:3
Calmet
And....foundations is not found in Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic, but it is in Chaldean. The temple was thus of larger dimensions than that of Solomon, which was only 30 cubits high, and 20 broad inside, 3 Kings 6:2. The Rabbins assign 100 for each, (Tr. Middot. 4:6.) speaking perhaps of the temple rebuilt by Herod, with still greater magnificence. Josephus allows 100 in height, and 60 in breadth. But the Scripture only speaks of 54 cubits breadeth, and 99 in length including the adjoining edifices. (Calmet)
Tirinus
Breadth, from the front to the end of the holy of holies, which we should call the length. (Tirinus)
Haydock
This temple was lower than Solomon's by one half, (2 Paralipomenon 3:4.; Menochius) unless those 120 cubits refer only to a tower. (Haydock)
6:4
Menochius
Unpolished, to correspond with the polished stones and cedar employed by Solomon, 3 Kings 6:36. (Menochius)
Protestants, "great stones." See 1 Esdras 5:8.
Calmet
Charges. It appears that the Jews furnished money and meat to pay for the wood, 1 Esdras 1:4., and 3:7. Some annual sum might be assigned by Cyrus, either for the building, or for the daily holocausts. (Calmet)
6:5
Placed formerly, before the destruction of the temple. Protestants, "and place them in the house of God."
6:8
Haydock
Hindered. Thus Darius trod in the footsteps, or perhaps exceeded the liberality of Cyrus. (Haydock)
6:9
Calmet
Complaint. Protestants, "without fail," (Haydock) or "delay." (Montanus) (Calmet)
6:11
Haydock
Nailed. Protestants, "hanged." Septuagint, "covered with wounds, or fastened on it." (Haydock)
De Dieu
Some think that the criminal was to be scourged. (De Dieu)
Vatable
"Let him be hanged on the wood, which shall stand upright, after his house shall have been demolished." (Vatable)
Grotius
Such was the custom of the Persians. (Grotius)
Confiscated. Protestants, "be made a dunghill for this." (Haydock) (Syriac, etc.)
We find some examples of such a treatment, 4 Kings 10:27., and Daniel 3:5., and 9:6. The effects of those who were condemned to die, in Persia, were generally confiscated, Esther 3:13., and 8:11., and 9:14.
6:14
Calmet
Artaxerxes, one of the seven who overturned the power of the magi; (Usher, the year of the world 3483) or rather the king of Persia, who lived some time after this, and was very favourable to the Jews. He sent Esdras (the year of the world 3537) and Nehemias (the year of the world 3550) with great powers into the country. (Calmet)
6:15
Menochius
Adar, corresponding with our February and March. (Menochius)
In the latter month they celebrated the Passover, ver. 19.
Salien
Darius. Hence twenty years had elapsed from the first foundation. They might continue to embellish the temple other twenty-seven years, as the Jews assert; (John 2:20,) unless they speak of the repairs made by Herod, (Baronius; Tirinus) or exaggerate, (Grotius) being under a mistake. (Salien, the year of the world 3537.)
6:17
Goats, which had not left off sucking. (Menochius) (Numbers 7:87.)
Calmet
Israel. The Samaritan Chronicles assert that the tribes returned, as the prophets had foretold, and the sacred history seems to suppose: (Calmet) which may be true of many, (Haydock) though the greatest part remained in captivity. (Calmet)
6:18
6:19
Year of the World 3489, Year before Christ 515.
Calmet
And. Here the author resumes the Hebrew language. (Calmet)
Haydock
Captivity, from which they were released, ver. 17. (Haydock)
6:20
One man, with zeal and unanimity; so that a second Phase was not to be celebrated, 2 Paralipomenon 30:3.
6:21
To them, becoming proselytes, and receiving circumcision, Exodus 12:48.
6:22
Tirinus
Assyria. The successors of Cyrus now ruled over those countries, (Calmet) which had belonged to the most potent Assyrian and Chaldean monarchs; and therefore the titles are given to them indiscriminately. (Tirinus)
6:14
The hart of the king is in the hand of our Lord. Prouerb. 21.
6:1
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John 10.22
… But some one else will say that the temple spoken of was not that built by Solomon, for that it was destroyed at the period of the captivity, but the temple built at the time of Ezra,
6:15
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 12.19
… Now three score and nine weeks of years contain four hundred and eighty-three years. He said, therefore, that after the building of Jerusalem, four hundred and eighty-three years having passed, and the rulers having failed, then cometh a certain king of another race, in whose time the Christ is to be born. Now Darius the Mede
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 23
“Forty and six years,” they said, referring to the latter building, for the former was finished in twenty years’ time. (
6:2
2. In Ecbatana. — In Hebrew, in Achmata; for the letters beth and mem are labials, and therefore are often exchanged, and one is substituted for the other. In Media. — In Hebrew, Madai, that is Media; or the kingdom of the Medes, which was already subjugated by the Persians, and reduced into a province.
6:3
3. The height of sixty cubits. — The former temple of Solomon was twice as high, for it was high one hundred and twenty cubits; but Cyrus did not wish this new one to be built so high, lest the Jews should make a fortress of it and rebel. And the breadth of sixty cubits. — By breadth here he means the extent, whether it be made in length or in width. Thus the Chaldean; for he forbids the temple to be extended in any direction beyond sixty cubits. Hence Lyra: Breadth, he says, that is length, for the length of the temple, that is of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, was sixty cubits; the breadth truly was twenty. Thus Ribera, Book I On the Temple, chapter XXVII.
6:5
5. They were placed in the temple, — that is to say, they are to be placed in the temple being built. The Septuagint, that they be placed. Better, properly "they were placed in the temple," that is in the treasury of the temple, as I have said, chapter V, verse 15. For Darius recounts that the edict of Cyrus has already been fulfilled. For Cyrus had commanded the vessels to be placed in the temple: Darius now recounts that they have been placed, according to his command.
6:14
14. They built, etc., by command of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes. — Do not refer this to the building of the temple itself, namely the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place; for this was completed in the sixth year of Darius, verse 15; but to the completion of the courtyards and ornaments of the temple, and to the prosperity of the offerings, gifts and celebrations of the temple: for these were completed under Artaxerxes. Again, the building of the temple was completed under Darius, but the city of Jerusalem under Artaxerxes. You will ask: Who was this Artaxerxes, of whom mention is made here and in chapter VII and following? Some think he was Xerxes; for he was the son of Darius Hystaspes and succeeded him in the kingdom. Nor does there appear to be any reason why Esdras should have omitted Xerxes, and by a leap should have jumped from his grandfather Darius to his grandson Artaxerxes Longimanus; especially since this Xerxes was most celebrated, inasmuch as he led one million one hundred thousand soldiers into battle against the Greeks, and with his forces laid waste the lands and seas with his fleets, and therefore was at first the terror of Greece, but soon became its mockery, when defeated he was forced to flee almost alone. Whence Daniel described Xerxes specifically, chapter XI, verse 1. Add to this: Xerxes was very well disposed toward the Jews, as Josephus relates, book XI of the Antiquities, chapter V, wherefore it seems that he himself promoted the building of the temple. Finally, Esdras, already quite advanced in age and elderly, does not seem to have been fit after the time of Xerxes for so arduous a legation in Jerusalem, of which chapter VII, verse 6. Whence Josephus says that Esdras, an old man under Xerxes, died not long after the commonwealth was reformed. Wherefore in this reformation this book of the deeds of Esdras is concluded. But others more probably judge throughout that this Artaxerxes was Longimanus, the son of Xerxes: first, because not Xerxes, but Longimanus is properly called Artaxerxes by all historians; second, the same is clear from the continuation of this history with the history of Nehemiah, which was once one book with this book of Esdras. For he who is called here Artaxerxes, and who in chapter VII, in the seventh year of his reign sent Esdras to Jerusalem, the same Nehemiah, chapter II, verse 5, is said to have sent Nehemiah in the twentieth year of his reign: but he who sent Nehemiah was Longimanus, as will be evident there. The reason why Esdras omitted Xerxes is that he was wholly occupied with war against the Greeks, and did not think about the Jews and the temple, nor did he contribute any aid to them for this. Moreover, Josephus confuses Xerxes with Artaxerxes, for he gives Xerxes 28 years, when it is certain that he reigned only twenty years; wherefore the other eight years must be given to Artaxerxes. Concerning the name "Artaxerxes" I have spoken in chapter IV, verse 6, to which add that "Artaxerxes," in Hebrew and Chaldaic is called Artachsasta, which in Hebrew is the same as the fervor of joy, says Pagninus, from אור ratach, that is to ferment and boil, and שש sas which means to rejoice. Or it is the same as "light hastening to place," and thus it is derived from אור or, that is light, and חש chas, that is to hasten, and שך sach, that is to place. Finally, the reason why Artaxerxes was so benevolent toward the Jews was Esther, whom many think was his wife; and therefore Haman was hanged by him, but Mordecai was exalted. But I shall examine this in the preface to Esther.
6:15
15. The month of Adar. — This is the twelfth and last month of the Hebrews, which corresponds partly to our February, partly to March. Which is the sixth year of King Darius. — Therefore in the sixth year of Darius the inner part of the temple, which was properly called the "temple," into which it was permitted only for the Priests to enter, was completed; but in the ninth year of Darius all parts of the temple, both inner and outer, namely the courtyards, porticoes, and other ornaments of the temple were completed. Thus Josephus, Ribera, Pererius, and others.
6:20
20. As one, — namely with unanimous consent, as if all were one man, having one and the same heart and mind.
6:21
6:22
22. And had turned the heart of the king of Assur toward them. — This is Darius, king of the Persians, who is called "king of Assur," because the Assyrians, once lords and monarchs of all things, as well as the Babylonians, were subdued by Cyrus, and now were subject to the monarchy of the Persians and to Darius.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
6:2
… The Bible probably alludes to it in Ezra 6:2, where the copy of the edict of Cyrus was found that permitted the Jews to return to their homeland and to rebuild the Temple and their capital. …
6:3
… undertook the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem: the difficulties that arose against the enterprise, because of the hostility of the Samaritans, were overcome following the discovery of the decree of Cyrus, which allowed the Jews to rebuild their Temple (Ezra 6:3 ff.). …
6:8
… D. too declared himself in favor of continuing the works and even had a contribution of his sent, both for the construction in progress and for the cult (Ezra 6:8-10).
6:13
… Likewise the dedications of the Temple of Jerusalem were always protracted for eight days: at the time of the first dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem under Solomon (II Kings 8:62 ff.); as under Zerubbabel; after the exile (Ezra 3:8 f.; 6:13 ff.) and in the age of the Maccabees (Macc. 4:36 f.; 10:1 ff.), which met with the favor of the symbolic-mystical explanations, so much in vogue among the Easterners of Hellenistic culture, …
6:14
Aggeus (Hebrew Haggaj "Solemn"; Septuagint 'Αγγαῖος)
… He is identical with the prophet of Ezra 5:1; 6:14. His brief activity, all of it taking place in 520 B.C., concerns the rebuilding of the Temple after the return from Babylon. …
… For the purity of Yahwism he rejected the collaboration of the Samaritans (Ezra 4:1-3). After the rebuilding, forcibly suspended, was resumed at the urging of Haggai and Zechariah (year 520), J. solemnly consecrated the new Temple in 516 (Ezra 5:1 ff.; 6:14-17). J., with Zerubbabel, had been the animator of everything (Hag. 1:1-12, 14; Zech. 1-8). His zeal is praised by Sir. 49:14.
… Son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo, he was of priestly stock (Zech. 1:1; Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Neh. 12:16). He was a contemporary of Haggai; he uttered the first oracle preserved in his book in the 8th month of the second year of Darius I, that is, in Oct.-Nov. of 520 B.C., …
6:15
… The name is Babylonian (addaru, in Babylonia a month sacred to the 7 great gods [planets]) and appears in the Bible in the post-exilic period (Ezra 6:15; 11 times in Esth.; 3 times in the two Macc.). …
6:18
the work of Moses, varied in several forms, belongs to the whole biblical tradition: "Book of the Law of Moses" (Josh. 8:31; 23:6; 2 Kings 14:6); "Book of Moses" (2 Kings 2:3; 2 Chron. 35:12; Ezra 6:18; Neh. 13:1); practically equivalent to it are those of "Book of the Law of the Lord given through Moses" (2 Chron. 34:14), "Law of Moses" (2 Chron. 23:18; Bar. 2:2; Dan. 9:11, 13); …
6:20
… Male and perfect (tāmīm, v. 5; as for holocausts: Lev. 1, 3), it was immolated by the father of the family (later by the Levites Esd. 6, 20; II Par. 30, 17; 35, 6) in the court of the sanctuary on the 14th of the 1st month (nīsān) in the evening, and its blood was poured (after the erection of the sanctuary) at the foot of the altar. …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.