OPEN UP:
The returning captives must have felt joy and loss as they recovered the articles of worship that had survived the temple destruction.
With God, there is hope that He has a bigger plan for restoration than anything we’ve imagined.
“All those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering. Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods;” (Ezra 1:6-7)
Jewish captives are preparing to leave Babylon, returning to the ruins of Jerusalem.
Nebuchadnezzar was the former king of Babylon (before King Cyrus of Persia defeated the Babylonians). In 587 BC, King Neb had destroyed Jerusalem, taking the Jews captive.
Nebuchadnezzar’s gods might have included Marduk, the same god Cyrus worshipped.
The house of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods contained articles captured from foreign temples.
Conquerers customarily carried off the statues of the gods of conquered cities. The Hittites took the statue of Marduk when they conquered the city of Babylon… As the Jews did not have a statue of the Lord, Nebuchadnezzar carried off the temple goods instead.
(EBC-Vol4)
– Neighbors gave valuables to those preparing to return to Jerusalem.
– King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had put in the house of his god.
Would the Jews have compared their release from captivity with the “exodus,” when the Israelites left Egypt after 400 years in slavery?
The Israelites had received gifts before they escaped Egypt, similar to the way the Jews were receiving gifts as they left captivity.
“God said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.‘” (Genesis 15:13-14)
“Israel… requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.“ (Exodus 12:35-36)
It is probable that Cyrus was assisted by Jews in the drawing up of [his] decree… which is constructed with a good knowledge of current Jewish conceptions. This would also explain the undertones of the Exodus motif… It is understandable that the Jew or Jews who assisted the secretaries of Cyrus with the construction of the decree could have included their ideal of a new exodus in communications to their country.
(NICEZN)
Did God intend for the Jewish people to “plunder” Babylon in the same way that the Israelites “plundered” Egypt before they came out of slavery?
When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, their population exploded. They left with great wealth, as a result of gifts they had received from the Egyptians.
But only a small remnant of Jews returned from Babylonian captivity. The gifts they received probably came from Jewish neighbors who chose to stay, more than from the Babylonians.
The Babylonian captivity was the result of sin. The captives were returning, greatly weakened, to a ruined city. They would not regain independent rule in the foreseeable future. The rebuilt temple would be a pale reflection of the first one.
If God had a purpose in the captivity (other than disciplining His people), it seemed to have been more along the lines of dispersing them among the nations to pave inroads for the spread of the gospel, rather than increasing their wealth.
Were all the articles from the temple returned just as they were?
This seems unlikely. Nebuchadnezzar had cut apart some of the gold and bronze.
“He carried out… all the treasures of the house of the LORD… and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple…”
(2 Kings 24:13)
“Now the bronze pillars which were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea which were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon. …the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight.”
(2 Kings 25:13, 16)
Did God care about their wealth and the articles from the temple?
“Yes… concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the LORD… ‘They will be carried to Babylon and they will be there until the day I visit them,’ declares the LORD. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’” (Jeremiah 27:21-22)
…I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’” (Jeremiah 29:13-14)
Even while the people were receiving back their treasures, there must have been a great sense of loss. Things are not fully restored. How could they possibly recreate the glory of the pillars and the massive bronze sea that were in Solomon’s temple?
The plans I thought God had for me didn’t turn out quite so gloriously as I thought they would, either! I can see better times ahead, but there is a sense of loss. This isn’t Eden, and it isn’t Heaven, and I share the blame for it. I’ve had my own idols, and I’ve done things wrong, and I can’t go back and fix it.
With God, though, there is always hope. He always has good plans — surprises.
The best surprise is that Jesus is coming. He is coming to this worn-down temple that falls so far short of the glory it was intended to have. The good news of peace, forgiveness, and love will be spread in a way that is not overbearing, intimidating, and impressive, but humble and gentle, for the brokenhearted.
From the small rebuilding effort will come something bigger than they could possibly imagine. Billions and billions would find the God of hope through their contribution to the Bigger Story.
If today were my last day on earth, I would:
…write down how God has worked in my story.
God,
You are the God in the small beginnings. You are the God of the seed that falls to the ground and dies an inglorious death before sprouting as a tender shoot, taking root, and growing big branches that bear fruit. You are the God of mustard-seed small faith. You are the God who can be trusted with every broken-down failure. You are for the little band of returning captives, just wanting to do it right this time, wanting to seek You with all their hearts, hoping you’ll show up. God, please show up today, and let me know Your powerful presence in this humble temple.
For Jesus, who struggled on this same earth, Amen.
References
www.blueletterbible.org
Through the Olive Tree Bible app:
“EBC” — Garland, David E. and Longman III, Tremper. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 4. Zondervan, 2010.
“NICEZN” — Fensham, F. Charles. New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Eerdmans, 1982.
All verses are NASB unless otherwise noted.