Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Ezra 6:17

Clarke's Commentary

Verse 17. Twelve he-goats — This was a sin-offering for every tribe.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

The temple completed (5:1-6:22)

Having given examples of anti-Jewish activity from another era, the writer returns to the time of Zerubbabel. Because of opposition from their enemies, the Jews did no work on the temple for about sixteen years. Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah began to stir up the people to get them working on the building once more (5:1-2).
Some local people must have objected to the renewed activity, and soon a group of officials arrived at the scene to question the legality of the building program (3-5). But the provincial governor investigated the matter fairly. He noted the Jews’ claim that they had received royal permission, and sent a full report to King Darius to see whether the Jews’ story was true (6-17).
A search of the official records showed that the Jews’ claim was true (6:1-5). Darius therefore had no hesitation in giving permission for the work to continue. In addition he guaranteed protection for the workers, and ordered the provincial officials to provide the Jews with money and materials at the government’s expense. He wanted to ensure that the building was completed according to plan, and that the Jews had enough animals and produce to reestablish the temple rituals satisfactorily (6-12).
Four years later the temple was completed and dedicated. The offerings that the people made were on behalf of all twelve tribes of Israel, for the pre-exilic division between north and south no longer existed (13-18).
A few weeks after the dedication ceremony, the people celebrated the first of the annual festivals in their new temple. This was the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Among those who gathered for the festival were local Jews who had not been part of the Babylonian exile and who had mixed with other people of the region. They were allowed to join in the festival provided they separated themselves from the mixed religion of the surrounding people (19-22).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

THE DEDICATION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE

“And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. And they offered at the dedication of this house a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.”

Critical scholars are very sensitive about any mention of the book of Moses, and their usual knee-jerk reaction is to challenge the passage as being from a different editor or some later hand. However, there is no reason whatever to believe such challenges. They are not scientific, they are founded upon scholarly imagination, and not upon any fact. The silly reason for such a challenge, according to Hamrick, was that the word Jews was the author’s usual term for Israel; but here he referred to them as the children of Israel.Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 454. What a foolish assumption it must be that Ezra was not familiar with both expressions and that he would never have used both. At this glorious moment when God’s people had been returned from captivity and their temple restored, the more formal term children of Israel, was not only appropriate, it was required.

As Hamrick noted, “This story indicates that there was a conscious attempt to imitate the ceremony associated with the dedication of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8, and 2 Chronicles 5-7).”Ibid. However, the relative poverty of the people made it impossible to duplicate it. “Solomon offered over two hundred times as many oxen and sheep at the dedication of his temple as were offered on this occasion (1 Kings 8:63).”Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, p. 429.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Compare with this modest sacrifice, which suits well “the day of small things” Zechariah 4:10, the lavish offering of Solomon (see the marginal reference “n”).

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 6

So Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and there was the record written: In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height of it [would be ninety feet], and the breadth of it [ninety feet]; with three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: so let the expenses be given out of the king's house: and let the golden and silver vessels which were in the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, let them be restored again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place. Now therefore, Tatnai, the governor beyond the river ( Ezra 6:1-6 ),

Now he searched. He found this in the record, so he writes back to Tatnai and he said,

[You and] your companions: Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the taxes that you'll collect on that side of the river, and the expenses be given to these men, that they may not be hindered ( Ezra 6:6-8 ).

So these guys were trying to stop them, but instead they were ordered to give part of the taxes to them to help them.

And that which they may need, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for their burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, let it be given them everyday without fail: that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and for his sons. I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this ( Ezra 6:9-11 ).

In other words, anybody tries to hinder them, tear down his house and take the timbers of his house, make a gallows and hang the guy on the gallows. Now you remember in the book of Esther how Haman sought to destroy the people of God and he was hanged on a gallows that he had built in his backyard. So hanging was a form of capital punishment during that period of time. But rather than thwarting now the building of God, Darius, no doubt because of Daniel's influence, ordered that they help them, that they give them expense monies, that they give them animal to sacrifice and pray for Darius the king as they are praying there before God.

let it be done with speed. And so the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius. And this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, they offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem. And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, and they kept the feast of unleavened bread for seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel ( Ezra 6:12 , Ezra 6:14-22 ). "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The Jews’ celebration 6:16-22

Compared with the dedication of the first temple, this one was very modest. Solomon had offered more than 200 times as many animals. The Jews offered one sin offering, which involved slaying a goat, for each of the 12 tribes (Ezra 6:17). The reference to the number of Israel’s tribes being 12 shows that none of the tribes were "lost" during the captivity, as some modern cults claim. The people still considered the nation to be a confederation of 12 tribes, and they called it "Israel" (Ezra 2:2; Ezra 2:59).

"The remnant who had returned make solemn confession of sin in the name of the whole scattered and dispersed race. They acknowledge the essential unity of Israel’s tribes alike in the consequences of sin, in the possibilities of restoration, and in the renewed consecration to God’s service." [Note: H. E. Ryle, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, p. 83.]

The Passover celebration took place five weeks after the temple dedication. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the day after Passover and lasted seven days (Leviticus 23:6-8). Note that some Gentile converts had evidently accompanied the remnant from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 6:21).

The reference to Darius (cf. Ezra 6:6-12) as the "king of Assyria" (Ezra 6:22) is unusual but not unique. In some ancient Near Eastern king lists, the rulers of territories that were previously independent are referred to as kings of those countries. [Note: Fensham, The Books . . ., p. 96.]

"Perhaps, however, it is meant to awaken memories of the traditional oppressor (cf. Nehemiah 9:32), whose empire first Babylon and then Persia had inherited, but whose policies were now dramatically reversed." [Note: Kidner, p. 60. See also Dumbrell, p. 68.]

Naturally the restoration Jews rejoiced greatly that their national worship of Yahweh could continue again as the Mosaic Covenant specified. Since life in Israel rested on the worship of Yahweh, the re-establishment of life under the Mosaic Law depended on the re-establishment of Mosaic worship. Thus the record of the completion of the temple and the resumption of worship is the climax of this first part of Ezra (chs. 1-6).

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And offered, at the dedication of this house of God, an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs,.... Hecatombs of various sorts, which were always reckoned grand sacrifices, even among Heathens, of which Homer sometimes speaks; some of these were for burnt offerings, and others peace offerings, by way of thankfulness to God for the finishing of the temple; part of which belonging to the offerers, they feasted upon it with great gladness of heart:

and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel; for though the ten tribes were carried captive by Shalmaneser, yet, as before observed, there were some of them that remained in the land, and others that went and returned with the two tribes; and therefore a sin offering was made for them all, for the typical expiation of guilt contracted since they had been in an Heathen land, and, temple service had ceased.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.   14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.   15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.   16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,   17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.   18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.   19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.   20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.   21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,   22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

      Here we have, I. The Jews' enemies made their friends. When they received this order from the king they came with as much haste to encourage and assist the work as their predecessors had done to put a stop to it, Ezra 4:23; Ezra 4:23. What the king ordered they did, and, because they would not be thought to do it with reluctance, they did it speedily,Ezra 6:13; Ezra 6:13. The king's moderation made them, contrary to their own inclination, moderate too.

      II. The building of the temple carried on, and finished in a little time, Ezra 6:14; Ezra 6:15. Now the elders of the Jews built with cheerfulness. For aught I know, the elders themselves laboured at it with their own hands; and, if they did, it was no disparagement to their eldership, but an encouragement to the other workmen. 1. They found themselves bound to it by the commandment of the God of Israel, who had given them power that they might use it in his service. 2. They found themselves shamed into it by the commandment of the heathen kings, Cyrus formerly, Darius now, and Artaxerxes some time after. Can the elders of the Jews be remiss in this good work when these foreign princes appear so warm in it? Shall native Israelites grudge their pains and care about this building when strangers grudge not to be at the expense of it? 3. They found themselves encouraged in it by the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah, who, it is likely, represented to them (as bishop Patrick suggests) the wonderful goodness of God in inclining the heart of the king of Persia to favour them thus. And now the work went on so prosperously that, in four hears' time, it was brought to perfection. As for God, his work is perfect. The gospel church, that spiritual temple, is long in the building, but it will be finished at last, when the mystical body is completed. Every believer is a living temple, building up himself in his most holy faith. Much opposition is given to this work by Satan and our own corruptions. We trifle, and proceed in it with many stops and pauses; but he that has begun the good work will see it performed, and will bring forth judgment unto victory. Spirits of just men will be made perfect.

      III. The dedication of the temple. When it was built, being designed only for sacred uses, they showed by an example how it should be used, which (says bishop Patrick) is the proper sense of the word dedicate. They entered upon it with solemnity and probably with a public declaration of the separating of it from common uses and the surrender of it to the honour of God, to be employed in his worship. 1. The persons employed in this service were not only the priests and Levites who officiated, but the children of Israel, some of each of the twelve tribes, though Judah and Benjamin were the chief, and the rest of the children of the captivity or transportation, which intimates that there were many besides the children of Israel, of other nations, who transported themselves with them, and became proselytes to their religion, unless we read it, even the remnant of the children of the captivity, and then, we may suppose, notice is hereby taken of their mean and afflicted condition, because the consideration of that helped to make them devout and serious in this and other religious exercises. A sad change! The children of Israel have become children of the captivity, and there appears but a remnant of them, according to that prediction (Isaiah 7:3), Shear-jashub--The remnant shall return. 2. The sacrifices that were offered upon this occasion were bullocks, rams, and lambs (Ezra 6:17; Ezra 6:17), for burnt-offerings and peace-offerings; not to be compared, in number, with what had been offered at the dedication of Solomon's temple, but, being according to their present ability, they were accepted, for, after a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality,2 Corinthians 8:2. These hundreds were more to them than Solomon's thousands were to him. But, besides these, they offered twelve he-goats for sin-offerings, one for every tribe, to make atonement for their sins, which they looked upon as necessary in order to the acceptance of their services. Thus, by getting iniquity taken away, they would free themselves from that which had been the sting of their late troubles, and which, if not removed, would be a worm at the root of their present comforts. 3. This service was performed with joy. They were all glad to see the temple built and the concerns of it in so good a posture. Let us learn to welcome holy ordinances with joy and attend on them with pleasure. Let us serve the Lord with gladness. Whatever we dedicate to God, let it be done with joy that he will please to accept of it. 4. When they dedicated the house they settled the household. Small comfort could they have in the temple without the temple service, and therefore they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses,Ezra 6:18; Ezra 6:18. Having set up the worship of God in this dedication, they took care to keep it up, and made the book of Moses their rule, to which they had an eye in this establishment. Though the temple service could not now be performed with so much pomp and plenty as formerly, because of their poverty, yet perhaps it was performed with as much purity and close adherence to the divine institution as ever, which was the true glory of it. No beauty like the beauty of holiness.

      IV. The celebration of the passover in the newly-erected temple. Now that they were newly delivered out of their bondage in Babylon it was seasonable to commemorate their deliverance out of their bondage in Egypt. Fresh mercies should put us in mind of former mercies. We may suppose that they had kept the passover, after a sort, every year since their return, for they had an altar and a tabernacle. But they were liable to frequent disturbances from their enemies, were straitened for room, and had not conveniences about them, so that they could not do it with due solemnity till the temple was built; and now they made a joyful festival of it, it falling out in the next month after the temple was finished and dedicated, Ezra 6:19; Ezra 6:19. Notice is here taken, 1. Of the purity of the priests and Levites that killed the passover,Ezra 6:20; Ezra 6:20. In Hezekiah's time the priests were many of them under blame for not purifying themselves. But now it is observed, to their praise, that they were purified together, as one man (so the word is); they were unanimous both in their resolutions and in their endeavours to make and keep themselves ceremonially clean for this solemnity; they joined together in their preparations, that they might help one another, so that all of them were pure, to a man. The purity of ministers adds much to the beauty of their ministrations; so does their unity. 2. Of the proselytes that communicated with them in this ordinance: All such as had separated themselves unto them, had left their country and the superstitions of it and cast in their lot with the Israel of God, and had turned from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, both their idolatries and immoralities, to seek the Lord God of Israel as their God, did eat the passover. See how the proselytes, the converts, are described. They separated themselves from the filthiness of sin and fellowship with sinners, joined themselves with the Israel of God in conformity and communion, and set themselves to seek the God of Israel; and those that do so in sincerity, though strangers and foreigners, are welcome to eat of the gospel feast, as fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God. 3. Of the great pleasure and satisfaction wherewith they kept the feast of unleavened bread,Ezra 6:22; Ezra 6:22. The Lord had made them joyful, had given them both cause to rejoice and hearts to rejoice. It was now about twenty years since the foundation of this temple was laid, and we may suppose the old men that then wept at the remembrance of the first temple were most of them dead by this time, so that now there were no tears mingled with their joys. Those that are, upon good grounds, joyful, have therefore reason to be thankful, because it is God that makes them to rejoice. He is the fountain whence all the streams of our joy flow. God has promised to all those who take hold of his covenant that he will make them joyful in his house of prayer. The particular occasion they had for joy at this time was that God had turned the heart of the emperor to them, to strengthen their hands. If those that have been, or who we feared would have been, against us, prove to be for us, we may rejoice in it as a token for good, that our ways please the Lord (Proverbs 16:7), and he must have the glory of it.