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Ezr_5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem: and with them [were] the prophets of God helping them.
Ver. 2. Then rose up Zerubbabel] Called before Sheshbazzar, the Tirshata. Philo calleth him Barachias. Men in those days had sundry names; which must be noted, or else confusion will not be avoided; according to the notation of Zerubbabel’s name, Alienus a confusione, ut quidam perhibent. It is said of him, that he brought back some of the people in the seventeenth year of his age; that he continued governor fifty-eight years (some say many more), and that he began to make use of the ministry of these prophets in the thirty-fourth year of his life. His rising up here implieth his forwardness, speed, and diligence in the work.
And Jeshua the son of Jozadak] Colleague to Zerubbabel and óõìðáñáóôáôçò , as Aaron was to Moses. This Johoshua or Jeshua began his office of high priest in 536 BC, and held it thirty-six years, eight whereof were spent in an embassage to Darius, king of Persia, say historians.
And began to build the house of God] i. e. They went on with the building begun before, Ezr_3:10, and not forbidden by the king of Persia to be finished; only he commanded them to desist from building the city, Ezr_4:12; Ezr_4:21. It was therefore the people’s sloth and self-seeking that kept back the work. See the notes on Hag_1:2; Hag_1:4. {See Trapp on "Hag_1:2"} {See Trapp on "Hag_1:4"}
And with them were the prophets of God helping them] Verbo et opere, saith Junius; both by word and deed. "The words of the wise are as goads," Ecc_12:11, pricking men forward to duty; and especially when themselves set sides and shoulders to the work, as haply these prophets did, for the people’s greater encouragement, Exemplis sciola hac aetate magis aedificant ministri, quam concionibus.