Ezra 4

Chap. V. ver. 1. — Zechariah the son of Iddo.] The grandson of Iddo; for his father’s name was Berachiah. Bp. Patrick.

— prophesied unto the Jews] Rather, “prophesied against” them, as the words of the original may be interpreted; for these Prophets reproved them because they did not build the temple. They both prophesied in the second year of Darius, as appears from the beginning of their prophecies; one in the sixth, the other in the eighth month. Bp. Patrick. We should here take notice, that, while the building of the temple was interrupted, God sent His Prophets to encourage the Jews, and to engage them to renew their application to that pious design. Thus it is that God never forsakes His church; He always, when He judges it necessary, commissions faithful ministers to labour in its edification; and we ought on no occasion to be disheartened when our enterprises are just and conformable to the will of God, for His providence will give them a happy issue, though it seem contrary to all appearance. Ostervald.

By the death of Artaxerxes, his edict prohibiting the building of the temple became of no effect: still the Jews neglected to resume the work, and on this account God smote their land with barrenness, so that both the vintage and harvest failed them; Hagg. i. 6, 11, &c. Haggai informed them of the cause of this judgment, and exhorted them to perform their duty, which would be the means of averting it: accordingly they again set about the work, and applied themselves with all dis-

Ezra 4:5

5. — all the days of Cyrus &c.] Since by these underhand and subtle dealings of the adversaries of the Jews, the work of the temple was much retarded, and the effect of Cyrus’s decree defeated in many particulars; this seems to have been the cause why, in the third year of Cyrus, Daniel gave himself up to mourning and fasting for three weeks together. Daniel died not long afterwards; and in him the Jews lost a powerful advocate at the Persian court. Still, though their enemies derived from this circumstance greater advantage in their designs against them, and though they prevailed to divert those encouragements which Cyrus had ordered for the carrying on of the work, yet in his reign they never were able to put a total stop to it. Dean Prideaux.

Ezra 4:6

6. — in the reign of Ahasuerus.] This Ahasuerus is known in profane history by the name of Cambyses: he began to reign B. C. 529. The name Ahasuerus seems rather to have been a title common to several kings of Media and Persia, than a proper name of any of them. It is evidently compounded of two Persick words, which signify the great chief or prince. Dr. Jennings.

Ezra 4:7

7. — In the days of Artaxerxes.] Otherwise called Smerdis, one of the magi who was made king, and reigned for a few months only. Univ. Hist.

— interpreted in the Syrian tongue.] There have been various conjectures of learned men respecting this passage. A probable meaning of the words, “was interpreted in the Syrian tongue,” is, that it was translated out of the Syrian tongue into the Persian, or that which was at this time used at the Persian court: the Hebrew words admit of this sense. Pyle.

Ezra 4:10

10. — whom the great and noble Asnapper] Some understand Asnapper to be another name for Shalmaneser, or Esar-haddon, who sent these colonies hither; but perhaps it is more reasonable to suppose he was some great commander, who was entrusted by one or both of those kings to conduct them, and bring them over the

Ezra 4:11

11. — Thy servants — on this side the river, and at such a time.] This is the title of the letter—the letter itself follows. “At such a time.” The time was expressed, no doubt, in the original letter; but here it is only noted in general, that the day and year were mentioned when the letter was written. Bp. Patrick.

Ezra 4:12

12. — building the rebellious and the bad city, &c.] The opposition of the Samaritans on this occasion was well-timed. Egypt had revolted from the Persian yoke immediately on hearing of the death of Xerxes. The Samaritans therefore could not have chosen a fairer opportunity to carry their point, or a stronger argument to work upon the king’s fears, than the danger, which might result from permitting the Jews to fortify their city, not only of their following the rebellious example of Egypt in refusing to pay tribute, but also of their obstructing the passage of the Persian army to be employed in the reduction of Egypt, either going or returning through Palestine. Dr. Hales.

Ezra 4:13

13. — toll, tribute, and custom.] The distinction between these words has been variously conjectured. One opinion is, that the first word signifies the part which every man paid out of his estate, according to the valuation; the second, that which was paid for every head; and the third, that which was paid for merchandise on the highway. Witsius.

Ezra 4:14

14. — because we have maintenance from the king’s palace.] Literally in the original, “Because we are salted with the salt of the palace.” As salt is reckoned among the principal necessaries of life, hence, by a very natural figure, it is used for food or maintenance in general. It is said to be still a common expression in the East, to say, “I have eaten the salt of such a person;” meaning “I have been fed by him.” Parkhurst.

A modern Persian monarch said in a tone of indignation, respecting one of his servants who had attempted

Ezra 4:21

21. Give ye now commandment &c.] Artaxerxes, the king who now reigned, had been a chief leader of the sect of the Magians, to whom the religion of the Jews was in the utmost degree opposed; and the aversion, which he had to them on this account, no doubt contributed to induce him to issue this decree against them. Dean Prideaux.

Ezra 4:23

23. — and made them to cease by force and power.] We learn from hence, that God sometimes permits the most holy undertakings to be retarded, and that His church has often had to contend with artifice and violence. But the sequel will shew us, that He does at length confound the crafty designs of the wicked, that He makes manifest the innocence of His children, and that, after He has tried them, He makes those, who had been their greatest enemies, become their friends. Ostervald.

As we see, from this part of Scripture, that God sometimes permits the best undertakings to be opposed, and the best men to be slandered; we discover that it is no new thing to meet with such conduct, and that good men should always bear it with patience. Bp. Wilson.

Ezra 4:24

24. Then ceased the work &c.] Artaxerxes, by whose decree the work of the temple was thus stopt, reigned in all but seven months, and was succeeded by Darius, in whose second year the building was resumed: the