Ezra 5:12
But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
Original Language Analysis
מִן
after
H4481
מִן
after
Strong's:
H4481
Word #:
2 of 20
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of
דִּ֨י
H1768
דִּ֨י
Strong's:
H1768
Word #:
3 of 20
that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of
הַרְגִּ֤זוּ
had provoked
H7265
הַרְגִּ֤זוּ
had provoked
Strong's:
H7265
Word #:
4 of 20
to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)
שְׁמַיָּ֔א
of heaven
H8065
שְׁמַיָּ֔א
of heaven
Strong's:
H8065
Word #:
7 of 20
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
יְהַ֣ב
he gave
H3052
יְהַ֣ב
he gave
Strong's:
H3052
Word #:
8 of 20
to give (whether literal or figurative); generally, to put; imperatively (reflexive) come
נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר
of Nebuchadnezzar
H5020
נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר
of Nebuchadnezzar
Strong's:
H5020
Word #:
11 of 20
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
לְבָבֶֽל׃
into Babylon
H895
לְבָבֶֽל׃
into Babylon
Strong's:
H895
Word #:
13 of 20
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
כַּסְדָּיָ֑א
the Chaldean
H3679
כַּסְדָּיָ֑א
the Chaldean
Strong's:
H3679
Word #:
14 of 20
a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people
וּבַיְתָ֤ה
house
H1005
וּבַיְתָ֤ה
house
Strong's:
H1005
Word #:
15 of 20
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְעַמָּ֖ה
the people
H5972
וְעַמָּ֖ה
the people
Strong's:
H5972
Word #:
18 of 20
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
Historical Context
Nebuchadnezzar II (reigned 605-562 BC) conquered Jerusalem in stages: 605 BC (Daniel's deportation), 597 BC (Jehoiachin's exile), and 586 BC (temple destruction and final deportation). The title "king of Babylon, the Chaldean" uses both geographic and ethnic designations, reflecting the Neo-Babylonian Empire's Chaldean dynasty. Archaeological evidence abundantly confirms Nebuchadnezzar's Jerusalem campaigns, including the Babylonian Chronicles.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the elders' honest confession of national sin teach about taking responsibility rather than making excuses?
- How does acknowledging God's discipline in the past provide proper context for understanding His restoration in the present?
Analysis & Commentary
The elders' confession of national sin is theologically remarkable: "Our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath." The Aramaic hargizu (provoked to anger) acknowledges that exile was divine judgment, not merely political misfortune. They accepted responsibility rather than blaming circumstances, demonstrating genuine repentance and covenant understanding.
Nebuchadnezzar is explicitly named as God's instrument: God "gave them into the hand of" the Babylonian king. This confession echoes Jeremiah's prophecy that Nebuchadnezzar was God's servant executing divine judgment (Jeremiah 25:9). The Jews acknowledged that temple destruction and exile resulted from covenant unfaithfulness, not Babylonian superiority. Even in appealing to Persian authorities, they maintained theological integrity about their history.