John Trapp on Ezra 3:7

Verſ. 7. They gave mony alſo unto the Maſons and Carpenters.] Who uſually get it and eate it, laying up little: their life is called the Life of their hands, becauſe maintained by the labour of their hands: day-wages they muſt have, or they cannot ſubſiſt;Eſay 57.10. and theſe good Jews ſpared for no coſt, but gave mony out of the bag freely to theſe workmen. Idolaters care not what coſt they caſt away upon their dumb idols: Deum alienum dotant, ſo ſome read that text, Pſal. 16.4. The Turkiſh Stately Moſchees, and Popiſh Baſilicae ſtuffed with vowed preſents and memories (as they call them,) are things known to all. When the famous Artificer Phydias adviſed the Athenians to make the ſtatue of Minerva rather of marble then of ivory, 1. Becauſe more durable; this paſſed with allowance, 2. Becauſe leſſe chargeable; this they abhorred, and bade him ſay no more of ſuch a matter.

And meat, and drink, and oile] More prized by the Tyrians and Sidomans then money, becauſe their Countrey was nouriſhed by this Countrey, Acts 12.20. as being barren, and not bringing forth proviſion enough for themſelves. Diogenes deeply taxed the folly of his Athenians, that prized money ſo much, and bread-corne ſo little: when as the life of man could be without that, but not without the other.

To bring Cedar-trees] Smooth and durable, and every way fit for faire buildings: and therefore made choice of by God himſelf, 2 Sam. 7.7. by Solomon for the firſt Temple,Vitruvius. 1 Kings 5.6. and by theſe Jewes for the ſecond. The Temple of Diana at Epheſus was likewiſe built of Cedar: as the Devil affecteth to be Gods ape.

To the Sea of Joppa] This was an haven-towne, Joſh. 19.46. Acts 9.43. Jon. 1.3. and hath its name à pulchritudine & elegantiâ, from its beauty and bravery, ſuch as draweth love and liking. It might have beene called The faire havens, as well as that place nigh unto the City of Laſea, Acts 27.8. which retaineth the ſame name unto this day.

According to the grant] Or licenſe, which they took in the largeſt extent, as we alſo ought to do Gods gracious promiſes. Promiſſa ſunt amplianda; and we muſt labour to ſee our own names written in them.