Ezra 5:15
And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
Original Language Analysis
אֲחֵ֣ת
carry
H5182
אֲחֵ֣ת
carry
Strong's:
H5182
Word #:
7 of 16
to descend; causatively, to bring away, deposit, depose
בְּהֵֽיכְלָ֖א
into the temple
H1965
בְּהֵֽיכְלָ֖א
into the temple
Strong's:
H1965
Word #:
9 of 16
a large public building, such as a palace or temple
דִּ֣י
H1768
דִּ֣י
Strong's:
H1768
Word #:
10 of 16
that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of
וּבֵ֥ית
and let the house
H1005
וּבֵ֥ית
and let the house
Strong's:
H1005
Word #:
12 of 16
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Historical Context
The requirement to rebuild "in his place" preserved the temple's location on Mount Moriah, traditionally identified with the site where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22) and where the angel halted the plague in David's time. This continuity of sacred geography was essential for proper worship. The Samaritans would later offer to help build but were rejected partly because they proposed alternative worship locations.
Questions for Reflection
- What is the significance of rebuilding the temple "in his place"—on the exact original location—rather than choosing a new site?
- How does Cyrus's decree illustrate that God can accomplish His purposes through secular governments and legal systems?
Analysis & Commentary
Cyrus's command contained two directives: transport the vessels to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. The Aramaic hekal (temple) specifically denotes a palace or sanctuary, emphasizing the structure's sacred purpose. The phrase "in his place" (al athreih) required rebuilding on the original site—the threshing floor David purchased (2 Samuel 24:18-25), where Solomon constructed the first temple.
The authorization "let the house of God be builded" transformed temple reconstruction from Jewish initiative to Persian imperial decree. This legitimized the project within the empire's legal framework. The Jews were not acting independently but executing orders that traced back to Cyrus himself—documentation that would prove decisive when Darius searched the archives.