And the chief fathers of Judah and Benjamin rose up, and the priests, and the Levites, even all those whose spirit God had stirred, to go up to build the house of Jehovah which is at Jerusalem.
Cyrus opened the door with a decree, but an open door moves nobody through it. Verse 5 records a second work, done inside the hearts of the leaders, priests and Levites, and it answers one question: what makes a small group leave a settled exile to rebuild a ruin?
The same phrase covers the Persian king in verse 1 and the returning families here. A decree, even a sincere one, could not produce a return by itself.
These were intellectual convictions, which might have nothing to do with a work of conscience or a living faith. Cyrus was even sure he was an instrument chosen to carry out God's purposes (v. 2). But all this was not enough to bring about the restoration of the captives. God intended to show that it was He Himself and no other who fulfilled His Word. That is why it says: "The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia" (v. 1). He also stirred up the spirit of the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin. And He stirred up the spirit of the priests and the Levites (v. 5).
One writer draws the general rule out of these two stirrings.
It is remarkable how God works. First He "stirs up the spirit" of this pagan king, so that he passes a decree inviting the Jews to return to Jerusalem. He then stirs up the spirit of those who did so (1:5). Whatever men do, a true revival is always a work of God.
The verse names Judah and Benjamin, plus the priests and the Levites. That list is exact.
First, note that the heads of the fathers' houses who offered themselves for the work came from two tribes: Judah and Benjamin. There were also Levites, but they did not count as a tribe, for Levi had "no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The LORD is his inheritance" (see Deuteronomy 10:8-9). This and other Scriptures make it plain that only these two tribes were restored. Some people from other tribes may have come as well.
The stirring had one object, and the decree of Cyrus had the same one.
The object of the people's return concerned the building of the house of the Lord. This was the subject of the proclamation of Cyrus, whom God raised up for this very purpose... And for this end God worked in the hearts of those who were made willing to return to the land of their fathers.
God was not only at work inside these people.
Verse 5 of the first chapter shows a real work of God in the souls of many, including leaders both civil and religious. It led them to seize at once the opportunity given for a return to the land of their fathers, and to re-establish the worship of God by rebuilding His house. In God's providence Cyrus himself promoted this. A providential work of God in the surrounding world matched the spiritual work of God in the souls of His people.
The stirring reached only a minority.
But not all were ready to go back; only a small remnant was willing. The great majority preferred to remain in Babylon. There was nothing to attract them to Jerusalem — the city of ruins, with the once magnificent temple in ruins. Those who returned loved Jerusalem, the place the LORD had chosen.
The agreement reached further than the travellers.
Agreement of heart and object is produced in all concerned: in Cyrus, without whose permission the captives could not have returned; in the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, who were needed for the actual work of building; and in those who stayed behind, who shared with their brothers through their freewill offerings and helped cover the necessary costs. Nobody held preliminary meetings to arrange matters and reach an agreement. The action of the Lord on the hearts of all alike, and nothing else, produced this union of heart and purpose. This distinguishes a divine work from a human one, and is the sure proof of a real action of the Spirit of God. Every needed instrument therefore comes forward at the right moment, for the work is of God, and it must be accomplished.
- Stirred, twice. God moved a pagan king to open the door. Then He moved His own people to walk through it, since the decree alone could not restore anyone.
- Stirred for a purpose. God stirred hearts with one object: to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
- Stirred inside and outside. God did a real work in the souls of civil and religious leaders, and arranged the world outside them to match.
- Stirred, but few. Only a small remnant responded. The majority preferred Babylon, since a ruined city held nothing to attract them.
- Stirred, therefore united. Agreement between king, travellers and givers came with no prior arrangement. That is the mark of a work that is God's, and such work must be finished.
And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
Cyrus had just issued his decree, and the families God stirred were packing to leave Babylon for Jerusalem. Their neighbours paid for the journey — which raises two questions: who moved these givers, and what does it mean to fund a work you are not joining?
The decree spoke to two groups: those who would go, and those who would stay and help pay.
Those whose spirits were raised up were to go up (v. 5). Verse 4 tells others, who would not go up themselves, to support them with material help. It is beautiful to read that they did so (v. 6).
The decree asked for these gifts, but the decree is not what produced them.
Next, God worked in the hearts of the neighbours of those who devoted themselves to the work of the Lord's house. They "offered willingly," as the proclamation had asked, out of their own property. They helped them with vessels of silver and gold, and so on.
Notice what is missing from the chapter. Nobody called a meeting to arrange any of this.
We have here, in this chapter, all the signs of a genuine work of God. Everyone concerned comes to the same heart and purpose. Cyrus agrees, and without his permission the captives could not have returned. The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin agree, and the actual building work needed them. Those who stayed behind agree, and they shared with their brothers by their freewill offerings and so contributed towards the necessary expenses. There were no meetings beforehand to arrange things and reach agreement. The Lord alone produced this union of heart and purpose, working on the hearts of all alike. This is what marks off a divine work from a human one, and it is the sure proof of a real working of the Spirit of God. Every needed instrument comes forward at the right moment, because the work is of God and it must be accomplished.
God's people did not leave Babylon empty-handed. Their neighbours could have despised them for going. Instead they filled their hands.
This was not only a matter of freeing slaves, but of enriching them. So Cyrus was rightly representing a God of grace.… People near those who intended to go were willing to help them as Cyrus had directed. They gave silver and gold, goods and livestock, and precious things — that is, things of special value (v. 6). This shows at least that those so concerned about going to Jerusalem had not earned the contempt of the people among whom they lived.
The open wording of the decree did more than invite volunteers. It sorted them.
The proclamation did not name any person or persons who were to go to Jerusalem and build the house. It threw the door open to any Jew whose heart stirred him to go, and promised him generous help in the project ahead of him. Worded like this, it meant that those who responded would mainly be men of piety, whose hearts were alive to the glory of God and to the place of His Name. The more worldly and selfish would be inclined to stay in the comfortable homes they had built during the seventy years of captivity. They would leave the task to others who were ready to face the difficulties and hardships.
Older translations say "strengthened their hands… with precious things." The ESV has "aided them… with costly wares." One writer turns those older words into a question for us.
In the wonderful day of recovery pictured in Ezra we see men of Judah and men of Benjamin concerned about building God's house. Their names remind us of the praises of God and of the Son of His right hand. Priests, Levites, and all whose spirits God had raised strengthened their hands with, among other blessed features, "precious things." Beloved, have our hearts not been "raised" (or "stirred," J.N.D.) by the truth that has been recovered to us in our day?… What strengthening of hands should be ours! Outwardly it is a day of smallness and weakness. Inwardly we are strong in affection and loyalty to Christ as we know and enjoy these "precious things" in the power of the Spirit.
- Stirred. God moved Cyrus. He moved the families who went. He moved the neighbours who paid. The offering was His work before it was theirs.
- Shared. Those who stayed home still had a share in the work. Their gifts were their real part in it.
- Sign. King, builders and givers agreed, and nobody called a meeting. That unplanned unity marks a work of God rather than a work of men.
- Standing. The neighbours did not despise this small group for going. They sent them off rich.
- Sifted. The open decree let each heart show itself. Some faced the hardship. Others kept their comfortable homes and left the task to someone else.