Ezra 4

The adversaries of the people of God desire craftily to build the Temple with them, and to have one common worship or religion with them, vers.1, etc. Which being denied them, they prevail so much at court by money and false accusations in writing, that the building of the Temple, City, and walls, is forbidden and hindered, until the second year of the reign of king Darius, 4, etc.

1. Now when the adversaries of Juda and Benjamin [See of these vers.7,8,9.] heard, that the children of the captivity, [Hebr. transportation, carrying away, wander; that is, which had been carried away, and held captive in Babel: so often in the sequel] builded the Temple unto the LORD the God of Israel;

2. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of the fathers, and said unto them; Let us build with you, for we will seek your God, as ye (do:) [Feigning friendship, and community or fellowship in religion, but seeking under that cloak to hinder the good work, or to bring in their idolatry into the Temple, or to intermix it with the pure worship of God. See 2 Kings 17:29,30,31,32,33,34. Therefore this hypocritical request was denied them] also we have offered [others, we have not offered] unto him since the days of Esar-Haddon, [that was Sanherib’s son, and reigned after him, 2 Kiings 19.37.] the king of Assur, who caused us to come up hither.

3. But Zerubbabel, and Jesua, and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel said unto them; it is not fitting that you and we [Hebr. you and us not: or, you and we have not, to wit, (any thing) to do with one another in this thing] should build an house unto our God: but we alone will build it [thus may the Hebrew Particle Jachad (which often signifieth together, jointly, with one another) be fitly taken in this place: as Jachid, also signifieth one alone, or, apart by himself, one onely or single man, or person. See likewise Job 34:29. Hos.11.7. Item Psalms 33:15. Others, we (that are here) together will, etc. Or, we our selves (alone) will together, etc.] unto the LORD, the God of Israel, according as the king Cores, king of Persia, hath commanded us.

4. Never the less, the people of the land [As above chap.3.3.] weakened the hands of the people of Juda, and troubled them in the building. [That is, they brake the courage and zeal of Gods people, and made them fainthearted, and (to go on) the flower in the work of building.]

5. And they hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their counsel: [To wit, the good intent and purpose of the Jews] all the days of Cores, the king of Persia, until the reign of Darius, [Hebr. Darjavesch. See below on vers.24.] the king of Persia.

6. And under the reign of Ahasuerus, [Hebr. Achaschveroscho, otherwise called Assuerus. Who this man was, thereof are divers opinions. Some conceive him to have been Cambyses, the son of Cyrus; Others, the famous Xerxes] in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.

7. And in the days of Artaxerxes Longinamus; that is, the Long-handed Artaxerxes] wrote Bisam, [oth. in peace, that is, in time of peace; silently, when the Jews, thought not of it. Or, peaceably; that is, wishing peace to the king] Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest [Heb. the residue, remnant, remainder; that is, the other, the rest] of his company, [meaning the other members of the Council, whom the kings or Persia had placed in these countries that beyond the river Euphrates] unto Arthahsasta king of Persia: And the writing of the letter was writ in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. [that is, not only written in Syrian characters or letters, but also in Syrian words, as some do expound it. Syrian, that is, Chaldean, which Language the Jews did likewise learn in Babylon.]

8. Rehum the Chancellor, [Chald. Lord, or, Master of the Council; that is, President of the Council or Chancellor] and Simsai the Scribe, [or Secretary] wrote a letter against Jerusalem to king Arthahsasta, in this manner; [or thus, as followeth, as we shall say, etc.]

9. Then [To wit, was this written] (wrote) Rehum the Chancellor, and Simsai the Scribe, and the rest of their company: The Dinattes, the Apharsathekites, the Tarpelie, the Dehavites, the Elamites; [all these are names of divers heathenish nations, whom the King of Assyria had sent over to go and dwell in the room of the ten tribes of Israel, out of all which a Council was gathered and set up in those parts for the Kings service.]

10. And the rest of the nations, whom the great and famous Asnapper [Called Eserhaddon, above vers.2.] carried over, and caused to dwell in the city of Samaria: [oth. cities of the Samaritans] also the rest on this side of the River, [Euphrates] and at such a time. [or, at (the same) time. Chald. Cheheneth. This seemeth to be the date of the many still use to do. So below vers.10.and vers.17. in the Kings answer: And chap.7.12. out of which places it may be gathered, that Cheheneth is not the name of a certain people, as some do imagine.]

11. This is a copy of the letter which they sent to him, (even) unto king Arthahsasta: Thy servants, the men [Chald. The man; that is, every one, every man] 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, are come to us to Jerusalem, building that rebellious and that evil city, the walls whereof they finish, and join the Foundations together. [Chald. Properly, sow, or, patch (them) together.]

13. Be it now known unto the king, that if the same city shall be built up, and the wall finished, that they will not give (or pay) tribute, [The Chaldee word signifieth properly measure, and consequently custom, tribute, taxation, or scot; which every one was to pay unto the King according to the proportion of his goods, Nehem.5.4. See likewise below vers.20. and chap.7.24.] ancient impost, [that is, impost, that was of old wont to be set upon all kind merchandise. Oth. head tax, or, polmoney] and toll, [set upon Havens or Ports, and in passing on the roads or high-ways, or over rivers, etc. Some do make of these three sorts or kinds but two, and render it thus: they will give (or pay) the ancient scot or toll] and (so) thou shalt [to wit, if thou, O king, hinder not their purpose. Oth. it shall; to wit, Jerusalem] endamaged the revenue [or, the treasury] of the kings.

14. Now because we draw (or have) salary from the (kings) palace, [Chal. The salt of the palace, or, with the salt, etc.; that is, because we are brought up in the kings palace, and have our maintenance from thence, or, our wages paid us. Thus the word salary is derived from salt, because salt is very necessary for the sustenance of men: as the word bread is also commonly taken for mans sustenance] and it is not meet for us to see the kings dishonour; [Chald. Properly, nakedness, bareness, making bare; which some understand of the robbing and plundering him of his means, from the former verse] therefore have we sent, and made (this) known unto the king,

15. That they may search in the book of the Chronicles [Chald. Of the remembrances] of thy Fathers, so shalt thou find in the book of the Chronicles, and know [that is, perceive] that the same city hath been a rebellious city, and endamaging kings and countries, and that they have raised [Chald. Made. So ver.19.] sedition within the same of old time: [Chald. From the days of eternity. So vers.19.] therefore was the same city laid waste.

16. We then certify the king, that if the same city shall be built up (again), and the walls thereof finished, by that means thou shalt have no portion on this side the River. [That is, they shall withdraw from thee, and cause to revolt what so ever thou possesses on this side Euphrates.]

17. The king sent answer unto Rehum the Chancellor, etc Simsai the Scribe, and the rest of their companies, [That is, colleges, or associates] that dwelt at Samaria, together with the rest on this side the River, (thus:) Peace, and at such a time. [Chald. Schelam, Chehet. Compare above vers.10. Others take both for names of places, where Rehum and Simsai dwelt.]

18. The letter which he sent to us, hath been plainly read before me.

19. And as command was given [Chald. Set. And so often in the sequel] by me, they have searched and found, that same city from old times [as above vers.15.] lift up it self against kings, and rebellion and revolting hath been raised therein.

20. (There) have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem that have ruled over all (countries) on the other side of the River: And tribute, ancient impost and toll hath been given (or paid) unto them.

21. Now then give command to hinder those men, [To wit, the Jews] that that same be not built up, until command shall be given by me.

22. Be (ye) warned, (from) committing default in this (thing): Why should destruction grow to the damage of the king.

23. Now from that (time) the copy of King Arthasahsta’s letter was read before Rehum, and Simsai the Scribe, and their companies, they went in hast to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and hindered them with arm [That is, with armed strength] and power.

24. Then ceased the work of the house of God, who (dwelleth) at Jerusalem, yea it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius, [By this man some do understand Darius the son of Hystaspis, who reigned after Cambyses. Others think that it was Darius Nothus, who reigned after Artaxerxes Longimanus, and before Artaxerxes Mnemon. The attentive Reader may be able to judge thereof himself] the king of Persia.