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Ezra 5:16

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, [and] laid the foundation of the house of God which [is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and [yet] it is not finished.

Ezra 5:16 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Ezra 5:16

Theological / Devotional

Since that time. It is not clear whether the latter half of v. 16 is part of the answer given by the elders to Tatnai, which he reports to Darius (see v. 11), or Tatnai’s own opinion relative to the facts. Perhaps the latter is the more probable. Tatnai was possibly not aware that for a number of years previous to the second year of Darius the work had been suspended. It would seem that the work must have progressed rapidly, or Tatnai would not have concluded that the present state of progress might conceivably represent more than 15 years of work. It is also possible that a considerable time had elapsed since the renewal of building activity in the second year of Darius.

By SdaBc