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
無標題
2. 於是所羅巴伯……和約書亞……起來動手建造神的殿——這些先知強有力的勸勉和振舊人心的鼓勵，給建殿之工注入了新的動力。這工程經過長期中斷之後，是在大流士·希斯塔斯皮斯第二年重新恢復的。
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
無標題
3, 4. 當時河西的總督達乃來到他們那裡——當時波斯帝國在幼發拉底河以西的部分，包括敘利亞、阿拉伯、埃及、腓尼基及其他隸屬大流士的省份。帝國劃分為二十個省份，稱為總督轄地。敘利亞構成一個總督轄區，包括巴勒斯坦、腓尼基和塞浦路斯，每年進貢三百五十他連得的稅收。該區由一位總督或副王管轄，此時駐於大馬士革。他雖高於波斯王所任命的猶太本土官長，卻從不干涉其內部政務，除非有擾亂秩序與安寧之虞。總督達乃（此名是個人名還是官銜，已無可考）可能是受了撒瑪利亞人控告猶太人、暴亂妄為之舉的煽動；但他暫緩下判斷，審慎地決定親赴耶路撒冷，以便偕同另一位高官及本省議會，親自視察查問，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
無標題
5-17. 但他們祖宗神的目目看顧猶太人的長老等——總督不同尋常的現身、隨從的赫赫儀仗、以及他權威的查問，都顯得可怕；他若是一個偏私腐敗的法官，或對猶太事業懷有敵意，必會造成癱瘓性的影響，甚至帶來災難性的後果。因此史家以其特具的敬虔之筆，插入這句旁白，表明神消散了這股威脅的烏雲，為猶太人的長老或領袖贏得了恩眷，使他們的事工未受打斷，直到與朝廷的通訊往返完成後。沒有任何一句話足以使猶太人沮喪，或給其反對者可乘之機。事情要照舊進行，直到巴比倫另有諭旨到來。總督視察工程進展之後，便查問：第一，建造這座國家性聖殿憑甚麼權柄；第二，此項工程主要發起人和負責人的姓名。猶太人對這兩項問題都給出了明確而準確的答覆。總督既知此事源於居魯士的詔令——他不但釋放了猶太被擄之民，准許他們歸回故土重建神的殿，且以王恩將尼布甲尼撒從舊殿掠去的聖殿器皿歸還他們——達乃便將這些信息寫進一份官方報告，上呈皇帝，並建議在巴比倫國家檔案中查閱居魯士原詔，以核實猶太人所述的真偽。達乃的整個行為及其公文的總體語調，都顯出審慎的判斷與審慎的中庸，不偏不倚，唯求盡職。在各方面他都與他前任的利宏
（Ezr 4:9）
形成有利的對比。
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).
8
無標題
8. 大神的殿，是用大石建造的——原文作「滾動之石」，即體積巨大、不能被扛抬的石頭——它們必須滾動或拖曳在地上才能移動。
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
無標題
13. 居魯士王……下詔——按照波斯政府的體制，猶太人完全有權根據居魯士的詔令繼續建殿。因為一項公開的詔令到處都被視為仍然有效，直到被撤銷為止，而且「瑪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].
16
無標題
16. 於是這設巴薩……從那時直到今日一直在建造——這話並非猶太人回答的一部分——他們不可能這樣說，因為他們知道建造早已停止。而是達乃在其報告中使用了這些話，或視停工為暫時的中斷，或以為猶太人一直隨其財力與機會在斷續工作。
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.
所羅巴伯與約書亞在大流士年間恢復建殿之工
1. 於是眾先知……奉以色列神的名說預言——從哈該與撒迦利亞所存留的著作來看，他們所經歷的艱難與種種阻撓，先是使猶太人建殿的熱忱冷卻，繼而導致他們放棄此項工程，並假托重建的時機尚未成熟
（Hag 1:2-11）。
此項工程完全停頓達十五年之久。這兩位先知嚴詞責備他們的怠惰、疏忽與屬世的自私
（Hag 1:4），
警告他們若繼續退後將遭嚴厲的審判，並應許他們若重新動工、積極盡力推進，必蒙極大的國家繁榮之福。
易多的孫子撒迦利亞——即易多之孫
（Zec 1:1）。