Ezra 4

2 they came to Zerubbabel. These were descendants of the heathen colonists who had been sent into the country by the Assyrian kings, and possibly of the few Israelites who had been left in the land: see 2 Kings xvii. 24-41, and notes.

3. Ye have nothing to do with us. As the Samaritans did not worship Jehovah alone, but joined false gods with Him, they could not be admitted to the pure worship of His people.

5. Darius king of Persia. Darius Hystaspis.

6. Ahasuerus. This is not a proper name, but a royal title, supposed to mean the lion-king. Xerxes is the king here styled Ahasuerus.

7 written in the Syrian tongue, etc. i.e., written in Aramaic and translated.

8 in this sort. The letters, decrees, etc., recited in this and the two following chapters, are given not in Hebrew, but in Aramaic. They were probably transcribed by Ezra from public records; and are interesting specimens of the form and style of the official correspondence and state orders of that period.

9 the Dinaites, etc. The different tribes that colonised Palestine: see 2 Kings xvii. 24. Little is known of them distinctively.

10 this side the river. Rather, “beyond”; i.e., on the west side of “the River” Euphrates.

and at such a time. Rather, “and so forth” (R.V.), meaning et cetera: and so in ver. 11.

12 the Jews. As the greater part of those who returned from Babylon were of the tribe of Judah, the name “Jews” (or Judahites) was now given to the whole nation, although there were many belonging to the ten tribes among them; and the land was for a time called “Judæa,” though this appellation afterwards came to be restricted to the southern part of Palestine.

have set up the walls thereof. This was a misrepresentation: see Neh. ii. 13-17.

13 and so thou shalt, etc. “And in the end thou shalt cause damage to kings.”

14 we have maintenance, etc. Or, “we have eaten the salt of the palace”; a phrase still in use, as meaning servants dependent on a master.

18 hath been plainly read. i.e., “translated.”

22 that ye fall not. R.V., “that ye be not slack”; losing no time.

24. So it ceased. The enemies of the Jews easily prevailed, their opposition being aided by the indifference and worldly-mindedness of the Jews themselves (see Hag. i. 2-9). The rebuilding of the Temple was suspended; but in the second year of Darius Hystaspis (520 B.C.) it was resumed, and was then finished in four years, nineteen years after its commencement: see Zech. viii. 9; Hag. ii. 18.