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Ezra

Ezrachapter 4

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A.Let us build with you: an offer refused, and counselors hiredvv. 1-5

1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.” 4 Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build. 5 They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

B.The letter to Artaxerxes: this rebellious and bad cityvv. 6-16

6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated. 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: 9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, 10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates. 11 (This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates: 12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer. 14 Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king 15 that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.

C.The king's answer stops the work by force and powervv. 17-24

17 Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings. 18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence. 19 I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition. 20 And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them. 21 Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22 See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer? 23 When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them. 24 Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

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Chapter summary

Opposition arrives first as an offer of partnership: 'Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do.' Zerubbabel refuses ('Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God') and the people of the land answer by weakening the hands of Judah and hiring counsellors against them from Cyrus's days even until Darius.

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾

Opposition arrives first as an offer of partnership: 'Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do.' Zerubbabel refuses ('Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God') and the people of the land answer by weakening the hands of Judah and hiring counsellors against them from Cyrus's days even until Darius. The chapter then leaps ahead to the Aramaic correspondence: Rehum and Shimshai warn Artaxerxes that Jerusalem is a rebellious city which, once rebuilt, will pay him no tribute. The king orders search made, learns that mighty kings had reigned there, and stops the work by force of arms. So it ceased until the second year of Darius.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Ezra — Ezra overview

  • A. 1–5 Let us build with you: an offer refused, and counselors hired
  • B. 6–16 The letter to Artaxerxes: this rebellious and bad city
  • C. 17–24 The king's answer stops the work by force and power
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
  • Ezra 46 verses
    • Ezra 4:9From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
    • Ezra 4:11(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:
    • Ezra 4:12Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.
    • Ezra 4:13Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
    • Ezra 4:17Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
    • Ezra 4:20And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
    • Read Ezra 4 →
  • Ezra 56 verses
    • Ezra 5:3At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
    • Ezra 5:5But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.
    • Ezra 5:6This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.
    • Ezra 5:7The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace.
    • Ezra 5:9So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
    • Ezra 5:17Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
    • Read Ezra 5 →
  • Nehemiah 42 verses
    • Nehemiah 4:1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
    • Nehemiah 4:11And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”
    • Read Nehemiah 4 →
  • 2 Kings 182 verses
    • 2 Kings 18:7And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.
    • 2 Kings 18:26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
    • Read 2 Kings 18 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
  • 2 Samuel 82 verses
    • 2 Samuel 8:3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.
    • 2 Samuel 8:17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;
    • Read 2 Samuel 8 →
  • Ezra 62 verses
    • Ezra 6:1Thus King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon.
    • Ezra 6:6Therefore Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!
    • Read Ezra 6 →
  • Ezra 72 verses
    • Ezra 7:12Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
    • Ezra 7:24And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
    • Read Ezra 7 →
  • 1 Kings 42 verses
    • 1 Kings 4:21And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
    • 1 Kings 4:24For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides.
    • Read 1 Kings 4 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.