Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. V.

Vers. 1. THen the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zachariah the sonne of Iddo prophesied unto the Jews, &c.] The building of the Temple having a long time ceased, Darius at length being chosen king of Persia, the pro∣phet Haggai was sent from God to the Jews, in the second yeare of Darius in the sixth moneth, Haggai 1.1. and then two moneths after him Zachariah the sonne of Iddo, that is, the grandchild of Iddo; for he was the sonne of Barachiah the sonne of Iddo, Zach. 1.1. In the eighth moneth, in the second yeare of Darius came the word of the Lord unto Zachariah the sonne of Barachiah, the sonne of Iddo the prophet, &c. and was afterwards slain by the Jews, Matth. 23.35. and so both these prophets did joyntly together reprove the Jews for neglecting this work, and did perswade them to set upon it again, shewing them that the famine that had been of late amongst them, was a punishment of God upon them for neglecting of this work. It is true indeed, they had been commanded by the king of Persia to desist from building the citie, chap. 4.12.21. but there was no one word in that letter to forbid the building of the Temple: and besides there being now a new king in Per∣sia, and of another family, why did they not afresh return to their work? these prophets therefore did sharply reprove their sloth, and incite them to set forward the work

Vers. 2. And with them were the prophets of God helping them.] To wit, by exhorting and stirring up the people to buckle themselves closely and couragiously to the work, and happely also by doing what they could do to help the work for∣ward, for the peoples greater encouragement.

Vers. 3. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governour on this side the ri∣ver, &c.] The Jews had been hitherto busie enough in building for themselves good∣ly and fair houses, Haggai 1.4. Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled

houses, and this house lie waste, and these men then hindred them not; but no sooner do they set upon the building of the Temple, but again they bandied together against them.

Vers. 4. Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?] It is evident that these adversaries of the Jewes in∣quired concerning the names of those that were principall agents in this businesse, as we see vers. 10. We asked their names also to certifie thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them; and therefore Expositours un∣derstand this as spoken in their person, we said, that is, we Tatnai, Shether-Boznai, and the rest said unto the Jewes, What are the names of the men? &c. Neither do we see how it can be otherwise taken if it be read with an interrogation, as our translatours have rendred it.

Vers. 5. But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jewes, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius.] That is, the Jews being a poore unsettled friendlesse people, might well have been feared by the threat∣ning of these their powerfull adversaries, but by the providence of God over them they were so encouraged, and their enemies so farre restrained, that nothing was done to hinder them, but they were content to let them go on till the matter was brought to Darius his knowledge, who afterward gave them liberty and encourage∣ment to go on in their work.

Vers. 16. And since that time even untill now, hath it been in building, &c.] Though oft interrupted, so that of late the work had ceased many years together, Chap. 4.24. to wit, the eight years of Cambyses reigne, and the two first years of Darius Hystaspes.

Vers. 17. Let there be search made in the kings treasure house, which is there at Babylon, &c.] Where the records were kept, see chap. 6.1.