Ezra 4

Ezra 4:1-5

The work of God sent not with opposition. 1. The Samaritans, because refused admission among them, seek to discourage them, viz. 1—5. 2. They present a memorial against it, butely misrepresenting the design, viz. 6—16. 3. The king of Persia by an edict slips the building, viz. 17—24.

1. NOW when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel: 2. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you, for we seek your God, as ye do, and we do sacrifice unto him, since the days of Esar-haddon king of Affur, which brought us up hither. 3. But Zerubbabel and Jethua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, You 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 king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. 4. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people

of Judah, and troubled them in building. 5. And hired counfellers against them, to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Whoever sets his heart zealously to serve God, must expect opposition. Christ’s church is never built, but Satan rages. No sooner do Zerubbabel and the children of the captivity (for yet the least of this joke were not healed) begin to build, than the Samaritans put obstructions in their way: they were the people who had been settled in Israel by the king of Affuria; and by the teaching of one of Jeroboam’s priests, had established a mixed religion of the service of Jehovah, together with their own dreadful duties. Note, Precedents to religion, are generally the bitter enemies to true godliness.

1. They first, under pretence of joining in the work, desired to be incorporated among them, protecting to serve the same God; but they were born, and meant only to live discord, or to mar the service by introducing their own manged worship, and then better have no temple. Note, We may not believe every spirit; the darkest designs look often under the fairest professions.

2. The chief of the fathers, with Zerubbabel and Jethua, aware of their designs, refused any connection with them, resolved to keep united among themselves; and whilst the law of God enjoined them to separate themselves from the nations, the king’s commission authorised them. Note, (1.) Nothing is dangerous as had connections. (2.) It is prudent to make use of our privileges as men, when they serve as a barrier to guard our religion.

3. The failure of this plot discouraged not their restless foets; at home they sought to discourage the building, by ridiculing the attempt, or threatening to fall upon them, or preventing the necessary supplies from Tyre. Whilst by bringing the counfellers, who were about the perils of the king of Persia’s governors, or the great men at his court, they sought to retard or stop the work, and this they continued till the reign of Darius. Note, (1.) The devil and his servants are restless in their attempts; the people of God may expect no truce. (2.) Many a wicked counfeller, for the sake of the fee, little cares how bad the cause is, he is engaged in.

4. And in the reign of Ahaforrus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7. And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithridath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions unto Artaxerxes king of Persia: and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. 8. Rehum: the chancellor, and Shimshal the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, in this sort: 9. Theor wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshal the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharfathchites, the Tarpeites, the Apharfites, the Archavites, the Babylonans, the Sufarchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites. 10. And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Ahaforrus brought over and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. 11. ¶ This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king, They 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 the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. 13. Be it known now unto the king, that if this city be built, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toil, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. 14. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour: therefore we have sent and certified the king, 15. That search may be made in the book of the records of the fathers: So shalt thou shalt in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16. We certify the king, that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

Ezra 4:6-16

No sooner was Cyrus, the professed friend of the Jewish people, asleep in the grave, and Ahaforrus or Artaxerxes (supposed to be the Cambyles of the heathen hitherto) advanced

Surrendered

vanted to the throne of Persia, than the enemies of God’s people determined to improve the opportunity. Happy were us, if the church’s friends were as watchful to serve her interests, as her enemies to do her mischief.

1. The general design was to render them odious to the government, by representing them a turbulent, fiddifious people; and the vouchers for the accusation were the Samaritan governors, whom the king of Persia had appointed, backed and supported by all the colonies of different nations settled in Samaria. Note, (1.) Lying accusations are the lot of all God’s people. (2.) When jostlins’ is to be oppressed, subscriptions will not be wanting to support any charge, however malicious or unjust. (3.) The many join in the general cry, usually without knowing why or advertiser.

2. The particulars of the letter are here recited, and shew a much of the old serpent’s cunning and malice, as we might expect to find. [1.] To ingratiate themselves, and obtain the easter credit, they profess a high zeal for the king’s honour, and deep gratitude for the maintenance of Glarus they received from him, and therefore could not unconcerned fee his government injured. Note, Pretended fears of danger to the date, are a common plea for the oppression of God’s people. [2.] They brand the Jews as a people infamously dissuade, call Jerusalem the rebellious and bad city, which had in all time puff teen dangerous to kings and provinces; and for the combination of their affliction, appeal to the records which contained Zecharia’s rebellion. Note, (1.) The enemies of God’s people will not spare hard names; and the most are to easily influenced, that they conclude a bad name must imply a bad thing. [2.] Dangerous designs are often imputed to God’s people, when they of all others mean to be quiet in the land. (3.) If once an evil thing hath been done by professors of religion an age ago, they are lure to have it laid it at their door ever after, however much they disapprove and condemn it. (4.) When men defire occasion to disunity, the devil will not fail to supply them with it. [3.] They make a most lying report of the state of Jerusalem, and give a most malicious infatuation of the consequences: they declare the walls of the city are set up, when it does not appear that a alone had been taken from the radish, the temple alone engaged them; and that it was soon to be feared there would be a general result of all the conquested provinces on this side the Euphrates, encouraged by the example of the Jews, to the dismembering his kingdom, and the great lots of his revenue. Note, They who let their heart against God’s people, he learn not a lies; gross or improbable as they are, the world is ready to swallow them; as they say, throw dirt enough, and some will flick.

3. ¶ Then sent the king an answer unto Relsum the chancellor, and to Shimshas the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18. The letter which ye sent unto us, hath been plainly read before me. 19. And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found, that this city of old town hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toil, tribute, and custom was paid unto them. 21. Give you now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, untill another commandment shall be given from me. 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 city of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Relsum, and Shimshas the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 24. Then ceased 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.

Ezra 4:17-24

God in wisdom sometimes permits innocence to be oppressed, and suffers the lying misrepresentations of the customs of his people to prevail. But the day is coming when the lying lips shall be put to silence, and they who have loved as well as made a lie, shall lie down together in the pit.

1. The king, without sending persons on the spot to make enquiry, credits the representations which his counsellors that had been hired probably strenuously reported (for in a court what will not gold do?) and having found in the records Zecharia’s and Chosakim’s struggle for liberty, and that former kings of Jerusalem had extended their dominions to the river Euphrates, he readily concludes that the danger was imminent, and fails an immediate hope be put to building the city, and appoints his governors in Samaria to see his orders executed. Note,

It is a hard matter for kings, before with convicts and betterers, to know the truth.

2. With delight and expences their enemies run to rescue, yea to exceed their orders. They were only enjoined to cause the Jews to cease building the city that was never begun; however this was really construed to extend to the temple; and having power on their side, there could be no resistance: thus the work continued at a stand till the second year of Darius Hyfalepen. Note, (1.) Nothing gives greater pleasure to a eternal world, than the suppression of God’s cause and truth. (2.) Patient Edomilum under unjust oppression, is a hard lesson. (3.) Though for a while God permits wicked men and oppressors to ride over our heads, their triumphing is but for a moment.