Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezra 6:14

14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophecying of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo ; and they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, [illegible: 1+ letters]and Darius, and Artaxerxes , kings of Persia.

This is a seasonable intimation that this great and unexpected success was not to be ascribed to chance, nor to the kindness or good humour of Darius, but unto God only, who by his Prophets had required and encouraged them to proceed in the work▪ and by his mighty power disposed Darius Heart to such kind and noble Purposes and Actions.

Who is thought to be either 1. Xerxes Darius his Son and Successor, who was called also Artaxerxes, and Ahashuerus, who is here joined with his Father Darius, possibly because he favoured the Jews, and promoted their Cause with his Father, and saw to the Execution of his Fathers Decree, and was his Fathers Vice-Roy, if not made Co-Emperour with his Father in his Life time, which was not unusual. Or 2. Artaxerxes Long[illegible: 1+ letters]s, the Son of Xerxes, who was best known by the name of Artaxerxes: who is here joined with Cyrus and Darius, because though the Temple was finished, as to the substance of the work, in Darius's Reign, v. 15. yet it was afterwards more fully compleated and adorned by Artaxerxes, as is evident from ch. 7. v. 20, 27. by whom Nehemiah was sent to Ierusalem with a large Commission and full Power to take care about the Building of the City, and all other things concerning the Jewish Nation and Religion.

Marginal references: Chal. decree.