John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth , etc.] Is left behind, and cannot go up through poverty, not having a sufficiency to bear his charges in his journey to Jerusalem: let the men of his place keep him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts ; with money to bear the expenses of his journey, with goods to furnish his house, or trade with, when he came to Judea, and with cattle to carry him, and his goods, and to till the ground with, when he came thither; and the men exhorted to this are either the Gentiles that dwelt in the cities where these poor Jews were, or the richer Jews, who chose as yet not to go up until they saw how things would succeed; and are therefore called upon to assist their brethren who had a will, but not ability: besides the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem : which they freely gave, and sent by them for the rebuilding of the temple.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord. God governs the world by his influence on the spirit of men; whatever good they do, God stirs up their spirits to do it. It was during the captivity of the Jews, that God principally employe them as the means of calling the attention of the heathen to him. Cyru took it for granted, that those among the Jews who were able, woul offer free-will offerings for the house of God. He would also have the supplied out of his kingdom. Well-wishers to the temple should be well-doers for it.
Original Hebrew וכל3605 הנשׁאר7604 מכל3605 המקמות4725 אשׁר834 הוא1931 גר1481 שׁם8033 ינשׂאוהו5375 אנשׁי376 מקמו4725 בכסף3701 ובזהב2091 וברכושׁ7399 ובבהמה929 עם5973 הנדבה5071 לבית1004 האלהים430 אשׁר834 בירושׁלם׃3389
