In the first year that Cyrus of Persia was emperor…
This is like a continuation of Chronicles. To note that the kings of Judah and Israel are no longer the point of reference.
…everyone …whose heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem. All their neighbors helped them by giving them many things: silver utensils, gold, supplies, pack animals, other valuables, and offerings for the Temple.
Somewhat reminiscent of when the Israelites left Egypt (Exodus 12:35-36).
The Jewish governor told them that they could not eat the food offered to God until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim.
It takes a lot of faith to put your trust in dice…
They sang the Lord’s praises, repeating the refrain: “The Lord is good, and his love for Israel is eternal.”
Note the contrast with 2 Chronicles 5:13 and Psalm 106:1 with the insertion of “for Israel” here. The slide towards exclusivism has begun…
Everyone shouted with all their might, praising the Lord, because the work on the foundation of the Temple had been started. Many of the older priests, Levites, and heads of clans had seen the first Temple, and as they watched the foundation of this Temple being laid, they cried and wailed. But the others who were there shouted for joy.
No one could distinguish between the joyful shouts and the crying, because the noise they made was so loud that it could be heard for miles.
The world in a nutshell. 😂 So much of how we respond depends on our expectations.
The enemies of the people of Judah and Benjamin heard that those who had returned from exile were rebuilding the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel.
Another step towards exclusivism: the “us” and the “them”, black and white…
Your Majesty, if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the people will stop paying taxes, and your royal revenues will decrease. Now, because we are under obligation to Your Majesty, we do not want to see this happen, and so we suggest…
The buttons that are pushed rarely reflect the true motivations (John 19:12). It’s best to expose them (Matthew 27:3-4; John 19:15).