With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences be given out of the king's house:

Three rows of unpolished stones, and so rows of new timber: and the charges shall be given out of the king's house.

with three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:

three rows of rolled stones, and a row of new wood, and the outlay let be given out of the king's house.

With three lines of great stones and one line of new wood supports; and let the necessary money be given out of the king's store-house;

with three rows of rough stones, and so as to have rows of new timber, and that the expenses shall be given from the house of the king.

The word translated "row" occurs only in this passage. Some regard it as a "course," and suppose that after every three courses of stone there followed a course of timber. Others understand three "storeys" of stone, with a fourth "storey" of woodwork on the summit (compare 1-Kings 6:5-6). Others consider that Cyrus intended to limit the thickness of the walls, which were not to exceed a breadth of three rows of stone, with an inner wooden wainscotting.
Let the expenses be given out of the king's house - i. e., "out of the Persian revenue," a portion of the decree which was probably not observed during the later years of Cyrus and during the reign of Cambyses, and hence the burthen fell upon the Jews themselves Ezra 2:68-69.

Three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber - We have noticed this kind of building before, three courses of stones, and then a course of strong balk; and this continued to the square of the building.
And let the expenses be given - Cyrus had ordered wood to be cut at Libanus, and conveyed to Joppa at his expense; but it does not appear that he furnished the other expenses of the building, for we have already seen that the Jews contributed for the defraying of all others. But it appears that he provided at his own expense the sacrifices and offerings for the temple. See Ezra 6:9.

With three rows of great stones,.... Which Jarchi interprets of the walls of it, and these stones of marble; and so Ben Melech:
and a row of new timber; of cedar wood upon the rows of stone, see 1-Kings 6:36 or for the lining and wainscoting the walls:
and let the expenses be given out of the king's house; treasury, or exchequer; but it does not appear that this part of the decree was observed, at least hitherto; but the Jews built at their own expense, and perhaps did not exactly observe the directions given as to the dimensions of the house.