Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(born in Babylon). He was of the family of David, and son of Shealtiel (Hag. 1:1), or Salathiel (Matt. 1:12), or Pedaiah (1 Chron. 3:19). Born at Babylon, commissioned governor of Judea by the Persian king, Cyrus (Neh. 12:47); leader of the first colony of captives back to Jerusalem, B. C. 536 (Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7); laid the foundation of the new temple (Zech. 4:6-10); began the work of reconstruction, in which he was greatly hindered by Samaritan opposition, and petty Persian intrigue; finally succeeded in completing the structure, restored the order of priests according to the institution of David (Ezra 6:14-22; Hag. 1:12,15; 2:2-4). Zorobabel in N. T. (Matt. 1:12).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
Probably son of Pedaiah, and nephew and heir of Salathiel, or Shealtiel, though called his son. He was a “prince of Judah,” and he apparently held some office in Persia as he is called SHESHBAZZAR (Ezra 1:8-11). He was head of the Jews who volunteered to return from exile, under the decree of Cyrus. To Zerubbabel was also committed the charge of 5,400 vessels of gold and silver that had been carried away from Jerusalem. An altar was erected, and sacrifices offered; but the foundation of the temple was not laid till the second year. Then the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin came and wanted to assist in the building of the temple; but Zerubbabel and those with him declined their help. This act of faithfulness drew upon them the open opposition of their enemies, who also obtained authority from Persia to stop the work, though apparently they had ceased to build before this took place.
It was not resumed for about fifteen years, till Zerubbabel’s faith was roused to renewed energy by the rebukes and appeals of the prophet Haggai, and by the glorious promises addressed to him by Zechariah.
Zerubbabel was aided by Jeshua the high priest, and at once began to build. When questioned by the Persian governors as to their authority for so doing they nobly replied, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.” Cyrus had made a decree that the temple should be built; but God’s word to Zerubbabel was “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.”
Darius was now on the throne, and on the rulers writing to Persia, he ordered them to let the work alone, and directed that the expenses of the Jews should be paid out of the royal revenue. The house was finished in the sixth year of Darius, and dedicated with joy. Jehovah had said, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it” (Zech. 4:6-10).
We do not read of Zerubbabel after this. In Zechariah 4 this son of David is taken as a type of Christ, the promised Son of David, who will be the cause in a yet future day of the temple being built with shoutings of “Grace, grace unto it.” The name Zerubbabel has been interpreted both “dispersed in Babylon,” and “blessed in Babylon” (1 Chron. 3:19; Ezra 2:2—Ezra 5:2; Neh. 7:7; Neh. 12:1,47; Hag. 1:1,14; Hag. 2:2-23). He is called ZOROBABEL in Matthew 1:12-13 and Luke 3:27.
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
melted by Babylon
From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Ezra 6:3-4. Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; with three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber.
This temple, sometimes called the second temple, and sometimes the temple of Zerubbabel, was built on the site of the first, or Solomon’s temple. We have not so definite a description given of this as we have of Solomon’s temple. The second temple was larger than the first. The “rows” of stones are supposed to refer to three stories of chambers, such as were attached to Solomon’s temple, and on these was placed an additional story of wood. The temple of Zerubbabel, though of greater size than that of Solomon, was inferior to it in magnificence. According to Jewish authorities its altar of burnt offering was of stone instead of brass, and it had but one table of show-bread and but one candlestick. It is also said that the sanctuary was entirely empty, excepting that in place of the ark of the covenant a stone was set three fingers high, on which the high priest placed the censer and sprinkled the blood of atonement. Some suppose, however, that a new ark was made and set in the sanctuary. The rabbit’s reckon five different important features of the first temple which were wanting in the second: 1. The Ark of the Covenant. 2. The Sacred Fire. 3. The Shekinah. 4. The Holy Spirit. 5. The answer by Urim and Thummim. Some of these distinctions are, however, thought by more sober writers to be a little fanciful.
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