Ezra
Ezra 4
Chapter IV · Vol. II, pp. 896–897
1 The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it. 7 Their letter to Artaxerxes. 17 The decree of Artaxerxes. 23 The building is hindered.
1 Now when the aadversaries of Judah and Benjamin1 heard bthat the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel,
B.C. 535.
a The Samaritans, ver.7-9. Mat.4.1-10. 2 Ki.17.24.
b Heb. the sons of the transportation, ch.ii. Ne.vii.
1 The Samaritans are here meant. It is sometimes said that they were a mixed race, composed in part of the remnant of the ten tribes left in the kingdom of Israel after the first captivity, and in part of the new colonists introduced from Assyria. But for this opinion there is no historic evidence. In their letter to the king of Persia given below they describe themselves as 'the people whom the great Asnapper brought over and set in the cities of Samaria;' and when applying for permission to join in building the temple, they plead not their Jewish origin, but the fact that they had for a long period observed the Jewish ritual. This observance had been forced upon them by fear, as may be seen from the narrative of their settlement in 2 Ki. xvii.—P.
2 Then they came to cZerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, dLet us build with you: for we eseek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of fEsar-haddon2 king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
c ch.1.5;2.2;3.2,12.
A.M. 3469. B.C. 535.
d Es.8.17.
e 2 Ki.17.24-41. Jn.4.20.
f Is.37.38. 2 Ki.19.37;17.24.
2 We learn from 2 Ki. 17. 3, 6, 24, that not Esar-haddon, but Shalmaneser his grandfather originally settled the Samaritan colony. But this is perfectly consistent with the statement in the text, as Esar-haddon may have so enlarged and encouraged the settlement as to be considered its proper founder.—C.
3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, gYe have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as hking Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land iweakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,3
5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 And in the reign of 4Ahasuerus,5 in the beginning of his reign,6 wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
4 Heb. Ahashverosh, i.e. Cambyses.
5 Ahasuerus is commonly held to be Cambyses the successor of Cyrus, and Artaxerxes to be the impostor Smerdis. It seems much more probable, however, they were Xerxes and Artaxerxes Longimanus, and that the transactions recorded in their reigns relate to events posterior to the reign of Darius, viz. not to the opposition to the building of the temple, but to the building of the walls. See Haweis' Critical Observations, and Hales' Chronology.—C.
6 B.C. 521.
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes7 wrote Bishlam,8 Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their kcompanions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
7 Magus.
8 Or, in peace.
k Heb. societies, ver.9,17.
8 Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe,9 wrote a letter lagainst Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
9 Or, secretary.
l With Ps.112.6,7. Zec.1.15-21. Ac.14.22. Ro.8.28. Jn.16.33. 2 Ti.3.12.
9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their mcompanions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,1
m Chal. societies, 2 Ki.17.24-41. ch.5.6. Jn.4.9. Lu.9.52,53.
1 Some of these colonists can still be traced in geography, but the original seats of others are totally unknown. They serve, however, to illustrate an important evidence of the divine origin of the Scriptures. These different nations were all soon amalgamated into one people, in which all distinctive characters were lost; but the Jews, according to prophecy, still remain a separate people, mixed with every nation, never combined with any. This the Spirit of God could alone foresee—this divine providence could alone produce.—C.
10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and nat such a time.
n Chald. Cheeneth, ch.5.11;7.12.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building othe rebellious and the bad city, and have pset up the walls thereof, and qjoined the foundations.
13 Be it known now unto the king, that if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not rpay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue2 of the kings.
14 Now, because swe have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king,
15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and thurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved3 sedition within the same4 of old time; for which cause was this city destroyed.5
t Est.3.8. Ac.17.6,7. Ne.2.19;6.6. Da.6.13.
3 Chald. made.
4 Chald. in the midst thereof.
5 As is generally the case with the representations of enemies, these charges contained a mixture of truth and of falsehood. It was true that after the subjection of Judah to the kings of Babylon, the Jews had often manifested a very rebellious and treacherous spirit; but, so far as appears, it was not true that as yet they had begun to build the walls of the city. The Samaritans allude not to the real ground of the offence which they had themselves taken, but affect to be concerned solely for their sovereign's interest. The enemies of the church are always skilful in seeking plausible pretexts.—I.
16 We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means uthou shalt have no portion on this side the river.6
u ver.20. 2 Sa.8.3. 1 Ki.4.24.
6 By the river here is generally understood the Euphrates, which meaning seems to be confirmed by ver. 20. C. —— This was the origin of that bitter enmity which has ever since existed between the Jews and Samaritans. In the days of our Lord the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. Even in the present day the small and feeble remnant of the Samaritan nation still living in the ancient city of Sichem, beneath the shadow of their sacred mountain, hate the Jews, and are hated by them.—P.
17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their xcompanions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
x Chald. societies, ver.7,9.
18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
19 And I commanded,7 and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath ymade insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
20 There zhave been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
21 Give ye now commandment8 to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
8 Chald. make a decree.
22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 Now, when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease aby force and power.
a Chald. by arm and power, Zec.4.6.
24 Then ceased9 the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
9 That is, according to Hales, from the 2d of Cyrus til' the 2d of Darius, a period of nearly 20 years, at the end of which the building of the temple was resumed and completed, and the building of the walls begun; which latter event, he supposes, produced the opposition in the reigns of Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes.—C.
Notes
Reflections.—God's temple can never be built but Satan and his agents will rage and do all that they can to oppose it: and none are ordinarily more bitter opposers than pretended and mongrel professors. They will turn themselves into every shape to vent their malice; and will not spare money, labour, or villany to accomplish their purpose. Pretences of friendship, bribing of counsellors, flattery of princes, and boastful threatenings and reproaches are their common methods of working. Saints had therefore need to avoid intimacy with them, and to encourage themselves in the Lord their God, and be strong in him and in the power of his might. It is common for the faithful followers of Christ to be reproached as dangerous enemies to the state: and if once professors have done an ill thing, their successors in the church are sure to be upbraided with it, although they themselves should heartily condemn it. When princes desire occasions of stumbling the agents for hell will soon supply them therewith. And things the most false or improbable, are often readily believed by most against Christ and his church. Most kings neither can nor care to know the truth with respect to their religious subjects. To their great joy the attempts of persecutors are often successful for a time; and the friends of Christ and his truths are too easily checked in their reforming attempts.