1
Ezr 5:1-17.
英文原文
Ezr 5:1-17.
ZERUBBABEL AND JESHUA SET FORWARD THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE IN THE REIGN OF DARIUS.
1. Then the prophets . . . prophesied . . . in the name of the God of Israel--From the recorded writings of Haggai and Zechariah, it appears that the difficulties experienced and the many obstacles thrown in the way had first cooled the zeal of the Jews in the building of the temple, and then led to an abandonment of the work, under a pretended belief that the time for rebuilding it had not yet come
(Hag 1:2-11).
For fifteen years the work was completely suspended. These two prophets upbraided them with severe reproaches for their sloth, negligence, and worldly selfishness
(Hag 1:4),
threatened them with severe judgments if they continued backward, and promised that they would be blessed with great national prosperity if they resumed and prosecuted the work with alacrity and vigor.
Zechariah the son of Iddo--that is, grandson
(Zec 1:1).
2
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2. 于是撒拉铁……和约书亚……起来动手建造神的殿——这些先知强有力的劝勉和振奋人心的鼓励，给建殿之工注入了新的动力。这工程经过长期中断之后，是在大流士·希斯塔斯皮斯第二年重新恢复的。
英文原文
2. Then rose up Zerubbabel . . . and Jeshua . . . began to build the house of God--The strong appeals and animating exhortations of these prophets gave a new impulse to the building of the temple. It was in the second year of the reign of Darius Hystaspes that the work, after a long interruption, was resumed.
3
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3, 4. 当时河西的总督达乃来到他们那里——当时波斯帝国在幼发拉底河以西的部分，包括叙利亚、阿拉伯、埃及、腓尼基及其他隶属大流士的省份。帝国划分为二十个省份，称为总督辖地。叙利亚构成一个总督辖区，包括巴勒斯坦、腓尼基和塞浦路斯，每年进贡三百五十他连得的税收。该区由一位总督或副王管辖，此时驻于大马士革。他虽高于波斯王所任命的犹太本土官长，却从不干涉其内部政务，除非有扰乱秩序与安宁之虞。总督达乃（此名是个人名还是官衔，已无可考）可能是受了撒玛利亚人控告犹太人、暴乱妄为之举的煽动；但他暂缓下判断，审慎地决定亲赴耶路撒冷，以便偕同另一位高官及本省议会，亲自视察查问，了解真相。
英文原文
3, 4. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river--The Persian empire west of the Euphrates included at this time Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Phœnicia, and other provinces subject to Darius. The empire was divided into twenty provinces, called satrapies. Syria formed one satrapy, inclusive of Palestine, Phœnicia, and Cyprus, and furnished an annual revenue of three hundred fifty talents. It was presided over by a satrap or viceroy, who at this time resided at Damascus. Though superior to the native governors of the Jews appointed by the Persian king, he never interfered with their internal government except when there was a threatened disturbance of order and tranquillity. Tatnai, the governor (whether this was a personal name or an official title is unknown), had probably been incited by the complaints and turbulent outrages of the Samaritans against the Jews; but he suspended his judgment, and he prudently resolved to repair to Jerusalem, that he might ascertain the real state of matters by personal inspection and enquiry, in company with another dignified officer and his provincial council.
5
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5-17. 但他们祖先神的目目看顾犹太人的长老等——总督不同寻常的现身、随从的赫赫仪仗、以及他权威的查问，都显得可怕；他若是一个偏私腐败的法官，或对犹太事业怀有敌意，必会造成瘫瘫性的影响，甚至带来灾难性的后果。因此史家以其特具的敬虔之笔，插入这句旁白，表明神消散了这股威胁的鸟云，为犹太人的长老或领袖赢得了恩眷，使他们的事工未受打断，直到与朝廷的通讯往返完成后。没有任何一句话足以使犹太人沮丧，或给其反对者可乘之机。事情要照旧进行，直到巴比伦另有谕旨到来。总督视察工程进展之后，便查问：第一，建造这座国家性圣殿凭什么权柄；第二，此项工程主要发起人和负责人的姓名。犹太人对这两项问题都给出了明确而准确的答复。总督既知此事源于居鲁士的诏令——他不但释放了犹太被掳之民，准许他们归回故土重建神的殿，且以王恩将尼布甲尼撒从旧殿掠去的圣殿器皿归还他们——达乃便将这些信息写进一份官方报告，上呈皇帝，并建议在巴比伦国家档案中查阅居鲁士原诏，以核实犹太人所述的真伪。达乃的整个行为及其公文的总体语调，都显出审慎的判断与审慎的中庸，不偏不倚，唯求尽职。在各方面他都与他前任的利宏
（Ezr 4:9）
形成有利的对比。
英文原文
5-17. But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, &c.--The unusual presence, the imposing suite, the authoritative enquiries of the satrap appeared formidable, and might have produced a paralyzing influence or led to disastrous consequences, if he had been a partial and corrupt judge or actuated by unfriendly feelings towards the Jewish cause. The historian, therefore, with characteristic piety, throws in this parenthetical verse to intimate that God averted the threatening cloud and procured favor for the elders or leaders of the Jews, that they were not interrupted in their proceedings till communications with the court should be made and received. Not a word was uttered to dispirit the Jews or afford cause of triumph to their opponents. Matters were to go on till contrary orders arrived from Babylon. After surveying the work in progress, he inquired: first, by what authority this national temple was undertaken; and, secondly, the names of the principal promoters and directors of the undertaking. To these two heads of enquiry the Jews returned ready and distinct replies. Then having learned that it originated in a decree of Cyrus, who had not only released the Jewish exiles from captivity and permitted them to return to their own land for the express purpose of rebuilding the house of God, but, by an act of royal grace, had restored to them the sacred vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had carried off as trophies from the former temple, Tatnai transmitted all this information in an official report to his imperial master, accompanying it with a recommendatory suggestion that search should be made among the national archives at Babylon for the original decree of Cyrus, that the truth of the Jews' statement might be verified. The whole conduct of Tatnai, as well as the general tone of his despatch, is marked by a sound discretion and prudent moderation, free from any party bias, and evincing a desire only to do his duty. In all respects he appears in favorable contrast with his predecessor, Rehum
(Ezr 4:9).
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8. 大神的殿，是用大石建造的——原文作“滚动之石”，即体积巨大、不能被扛抬的石头——它们必须滚动或拖曳在地上才能移动。
英文原文
8. the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones--literally, "stones of rolling"; that is, stones of such extraordinary size that they could not be carried--they had to be rolled or dragged along the ground.
13
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13. 居鲁士王……下诏——按照波斯政府的体制，犹太人完全有权根据居鲁士的诏令继续建殿。因为一项公开的诏令到处都被视为仍然有效，直到被撤销为止，而且“玛代和波斯人的例是不更改的”
〔Da 6:8, 12, 15〕。
英文原文
13. Cyrus the king . . . made a decree--The Jews were perfectly warranted according to the principles of the Persian government to proceed with the building in virtue of Cyrus' edict. For everywhere a public decree is considered as remaining in force until it is revoked but the "laws of the Medes and Persians changed not"
[Da 6:8, 12, 15].
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16. 于是这设巴萨……从那时直到今日一直在建造——这话并非犹太人回答的一部分——他们不可能这样说，因为他们知道建造早已停止。而是达乃在其报告中使用了这些话，或视停工为暂时的中断，或以为犹太人一直随其财力与机会在断续工作。
英文原文
16. Then came . . . Shesh-bazzar . . . since that time even until now hath it been in building--This was not a part of the Jews' answer--they could not have said this, knowing the building had long ceased. But Tatnai used these expressions in his report, either looking on the stoppage as a temporary interruption, or supposing that the Jews were always working a little, as they had means and opportunities.
Ezr 5:1-17.
撒拉铁的儿子约书亚在大流士年间恢复建殿之工
1. 于是众先知……奉以色列神的名说预言——从哈该与撒迦利亚所存留的著作来看，他们所经历的艰难与种种阻挠，先是使犹太人建殿的热忱冷却，继而导致他们放弃此项工程，并假托重建的时机尚未成熟
（Hag 1:2-11）。
此项工程完全停顿达十五年之久。这两位先知严词谴责他们的怠惰、疏忽与属世的自私
（Hag 1:4），
警告他们若继续退后将遭严厉的审判，并应许他们若重新动工、积极尽力推进，必蒙极大的国家繁荣之福。
易多的孙子撒迦利亚——即易多之孙
（Zec 1:1）。