John Trapp on Ezra 1:5

Verſe 5. Then roſe up the chief of the fathers] Thoſe, who are therefore crowned and chronicled in the next Chapter. Thoſe Magnates Magnites, that drew on others by their example. Thoſe Viri gregis, he-goats before the flocks, men of publike places and authority, active for Reformation, who hearkened to that divine call, Jer. 50.8. Remove out of the middeſt of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Caldeans, and be as the hegoats before the flocks. Theſe Nobles aroſe, being rowſed and raiſed by that Noble Spirit of God, Pſal. 51.12. that Kingly ſpirit, the Chaldee rendereth it; ſuch as was found in Araunah that famous Jebuſite, 2 Sam. 24.23. with Zech. 9.7. and is a quickening Spirit in every good ſoul, cauſing them to make riddance, as Baruc did, Nehem. 3.20.Gen. 29. Ambroſe. and to take long ſtrides toward heaven, as Jacob did toward Padan-Aram: for, Neſcit tarda molimina Spiritus ſancti gratia. The Spirit of grace knoweth no ſlow paces;Mantuan; but is quick of diſpatch. Up get theſe Chieftains when once they hear, Surge, age, Summe Pater, as one ſaid once to the Biſhop of Rome, exciting him to make warre upon the Turk.

And the Prieſts and the Levites] Fit it was that theſe ſhould be of the firſt and forwardeſt at Temple-work: whoſe proper employment is was to teach Jacob Gods judgements, and to put incenſe before him continually, Deut, 33.10. to wait at the Altar, and to be partakers with the Altar, 1 Cor, 9.13.

With all them whoſe ſpirit God had raiſed up] Not of Judah and Benjamin onely (thoſe beſt of the Tribes, and trueſt to their Princes and principles) but alſo of Ephraim and Manaſſeh, 1 Chron. 9.3. with Ezek. 37.16, 17, 21, 22. even as many of the Iſraelites, as were acted by Gods Spirit of judgement and of burning, Iſa. 4.4. firing them up to an holy contention in ſo noble and neceſſary a buſineſſe, and leading them into the land of uprightneſſe, Pſal. 143.10. The fruit of this good Spirit is in all goodneſſe and righteouſneſſe and truth, Epheſ. 5.9. the work of it upon the ſonnes of God who are led by it, Rom. 8.14. is not onely an external invitation by the Word and Sacraments, or a meere moral perſwaſion (Cyrus his Proclamation here would have availed but little with this people, if God had not moved their hearts) but an effectual drawing of the heart whereby operating irreſiſtibly the ſinner is converted: and whereby cooperating infallibly he perſevereth in grace unto the very end, John 6.44. This conduct of the holy Spirit we muſt both earneſtly beg with David, Pſal. 14.10. and as carefully obſerve and obey his motions, as ever David did the out-goings of God in the tops of the mulberry trees, 1 Chron. 14.15. for theſe are the ſound of his goings, and the footſteps of his Anointed, Pſal. 89.51.

To build the houſe of the Lord] This was that they aimed at, rather then their owne liberty. Choice and excellent ſpirits can eaſily drowne all ſelf-reſpects in the glory of God. It was the care of thoſe good people in Joels dayes, that there might be a meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the Lord their God, what-ever became of their owne Carcaſſes, Joel 2.14. And when the daily ſacrifice ceaſed by the tyranny of Antiochus, they looked upon it as an abomination of deſolation, Dan. 9.27. The Jewes at this day are very earneſt to be rebuilding the deſtroyed Temple at Jeruſalem, out of their blinde zeale: but they have neither any Cyrus to encourage them (Julian the Apoſtate once did, in ſpight to the Chriſtians, but it came to nothing) nor the Spirit of God to excite them to ſuch an unwarrantable work.