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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Ezra 5:17 - 5:17
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After thus representing the state of affairs, the royal officials request Darius to cause a search to be made among the archives of the kingdom, as to whether a decree made by Cyrus for the erection of the temple at Jerusalem was to be found therein, and then to communicate to them his decision concerning the matter. “And if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king.” עַל טָב הֵן, like the Hebrew עַל טֹּוב אִם, Est 1:19, for which in older Hebrew לֹו טֹּוב, Deu 23:17, or בְּעֵינַיִם טֹוב, Gen 19:8; Jdg 10:15, and elsewhere, is used. גִּזַיָּא בֵּית, house of the treasure, more definitely called, Ezr 6:1, house of the rolls, where also the royal treasures were deposited. Hence it is obvious that important documents and writings were preserved in the royal treasury. תַּמָּה, there, is explained by ”which at Babylon.” רְעוּת, chald. voluntas, comp. Ezr 7:18. Concerning the behaviour of these officials Brentius well remarks: vides differentiam inter calumniatores et bonos ac probos viros. Una eademque causa erat aedificii templi, unus idemque populus Judaeorum; attamen hujus populi causa aliter refertur ab impiis calumniatoribus, aliter a bonis viris.