Ezra 4
PATShipping God purely; and therefore they would have nothing to clo with them. And, indeed, they soon discovered their hypocrisy by writing against the work, which they would have hindered by making divisions if thoy had been among (hem. But we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of, Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded vs.] They rcsolvo to admit no other people to join with them, but to pursue the grant which king Cyrus had made to them alone, and to none other. These M r ere the two reasons why they rejected them, because they were not of the same people, and the king of Persia had granted this licence to build the temple only to the Jews. him, evenunto Artaxerxes the king: Tliy servants, the men on this side the river, and at such a time.] This was the title of their letter: the letter itself followeth.
Ezra 4:1
1\ OW,ivhenthe adversaries of Judah and Benja r mm. These were the Samaritans, who were grieved at their return, (ver. 10.) \ Heard that the children of the captivity bnildedthe temple unto the Lord God of Israel.] They being neighbours were soon informed, not only of their return from captivity, but of their building the temple.
Ezra 4:2
Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build tvith you. This people, no doubt, were desirous to partake of the privileges which were granted to the Jews by the king of Per-’ sia: and so not only offered their assistance towards the building of the temple,’ but would have been one people with them. So the following words import. For we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto hint.] They pretend to be of the same religion with them, which is the greatest bond of union: but in truth they were not;, for though.they.wdrshipped God, yet they joined other feigned gods with him, and therefore could not be ad=- mitted into communion with them at the temple. Since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur,ivhic7i brought tis tip hither.] The same with him mentioned % Kings xixv 39. who brought a second colony, after that, brought by Shalmaneser when he first conquered them, to people the country better; and sent a priest also to instruct them, from whom they pretended to have received God’s true religion.
Ezra 4:3
-But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers, saidnnto them, You have nothing to do with us to build a house mito our God. They knew them very well what they were; viz. a mixed people, not purely of the seed of Israol, and of a medley, religion, not wor-
Ezra 4:4
Then the people of the land. That is, the forenamed Samaritans. Weakened the hands of the people of Judah.] Discouraged them in their undertakings by false reports and slanders, and, perhaps, by threatenings. And troubled them in building.] Laid all the impediments they could in their way, by hindering materials or provisions from coming to them, or by enticing away their workmen, or such-like means.
Ezra 4:5
And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose. They hribed some of the council of the king of Persia to obstruct the work; a frequent mischief in courts, as Grotius notes: or, perhaps, there were some of the officers of the king of Persia in Samaria, Syria, and Judea, whom they corrupted to cross this design. All the days of Cyrus king of Persia.] Who being engaged in war with the Lydians and Scythians, could not attend such affairs as this; but it went on slowly: which his son Cambyscs regarded not at all, being no friend of the Jews, nor of religion. Even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.] Till Darius the son of Ilystaspes, who, killing the magi (who after Cambyses had possessed themselves of the kingdom), was made. king; and marrying Artossa the daughter of Cyrus, and loving her very much, confirmedthe decree of Cyrus, arid followed his steps that he might stand the safer himself., It is a great controversy indeed between learned men, whether this Darius, or Darius Nothus, be here meant: and there arc strong arguments on both sides, which it is an immense labour to examine,, with the objections against them.. It hath been lately done in brief by a judicious writer, who after all is constrained to conclude.with a non liquet. But yet he thinks the most weighty reasons incline to Darius Ilystaspes. (Sec Hermannus Witsius, Miscellanea Sacra, lib. i. cap. 20.)
Ezra 4:6
And in the reign ofAhasuerus. Who this was is very uncertain; there being many who think, that after Cyrus this vr&snomen gentilitium (as they call it), the name of all their kings (as Pharaoh was of all the kings of Egypt), who were called Xerxes, or Artaxcrxes (from Ahasuerus, as Grotius thinks), besides the name they had before they came to the crown. Some therefore. say this was Cambyses, (so primate Usher, ad A. M. 3476.) [others Darius Ilystaspes, others Artaxcrxes Mncmon, or Longimanus; whose disputes arc very long about this matter, but leave one no more satisfied than before he began to read them. In the begin?ii?ig of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.’) Importing that they intended to set up for themselves, and not to depend upon the king of Persia.
Ezra 4:7
And in the days of Artaxerxes. Who is before called Ahasuerus; which is supposed to be his Chaldec name, as Artaxcrxes was his Persian. But Dr. Alix, who had examined these things, looks upon it as absurd to suppose Ahasuerus to have been the name of all the Persian kings, and takes this Artaxcrxes to have been the son of Xerxes, viz. Artaxcrxes Longimanus. Wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel,and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia.] These men first drew up the letter, which they intended to send to the king, being governors, I suppose, under him, on this side of Euphrates; such as the Greeks call tctraTchs. And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.] The meaning may be,.that they sent a brief address to the king in the Syrian tongue, and expounded their business more largely to some of his counsellors in the same tongue. Or, by the first we may understand the letter or characters, and by the other -.thewords: so that the meaning is, it, was wrote both in Syrian characters, and in Syrian words. For sometimes a letter or other -writing is sent in the character of one language, and in words of another; as Chaldce and Syrian words are wrote in the Hebrew characters, and we ofttimes write Hebrew words in the English characters. But this letter was wrote, and was to be read in the same language.
Ezra 4:8
Helium the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king. These two were principal persons in these countries; who either joined with the other three beforementioned in. the same letter, or wrote another letter of the same import. In this sort.] Containing the same complaint against the Jews.
Ezra 4:9
Then wrote Behum the chancellor, and Sliimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, theArchevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites.] These nine nations came out of Assyria, Persia, Media, Susiana, and other provinces of that.vast empire; who with one consent joined in this.lctter or petition. For, perhaps, the king being loath to do. any thing hastily upon the motion of that letter mentioned ver. 8. sent to have the opinion of all these nations,.or the principal persons among them; and of all other on this side the river Euphrates, as it here follows.
Ezra 4:10
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and therest that are on this side the river. Some take Asnapper to be another name for Shalmanescr, or for Esar-haddon, who sent these colonics hither. But it is more reasonable to think he was some great commander,.who was entrusted by one or both of those kings to conduct them, and bring them over (the river Euphrates), and see them settled in these countries. And at such a time.] Which was expressed, no. doubt, in the letter; but here it is only noted in general, that the year and. the day were mentioned, whcn.it was subscribed……..
Ezra 4:11
This is the copy of the letter that they sent xinto
Ezra 4:12
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews, ivhich came up from thee to us, are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the tvalls thereof, and joined the foundations.’] This was a mere calumny; for they attempted no such thing as to build the walls of Jerusalem. But they speak in ambiguous words (as Huetius observes) concerning the building of this city; which in one seilse was true. For they built houses, without which it could not be inhabited; but they did not go about to encompass it with walls, to defend the city against the incursions of their enemies; which was not begun till a great while after. They are fallacious words therefore, whereby they imposed upon the king’s belief, when they say, they set up the walls thereof: for they only set up the walls of their houses, not of their city. And there is a demonstration they did no more; for when it is said there was an order from the king, that this city should not be built, and accordingly the work was stopped, it is thus expressed, (ver. 24.) then ceased the work of the house of God, which is at Jerusalem..It is not said, The work of building the walls of the city ceased (for they were about no such thing),* but the work of the house of God, which was all they did. Thus wicked men compass their ends by lies and fallacies; with which they prepossess men’s minds against the truth. As for their calling it a rebellious and bad city, there was some colour for it; their latter kings having rebelled against the king of Babylon. And besides, the laws and customs of the Jews were such, as would not permit them to conform to the manner of other nations; which made their neighbours have an ill opinion of them, as an unsociable people.
Ezra 4:13
Be it known now unto the king, that if this city be bnilded, and the tvalls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom. They pretend the Jews would be no longer in subjection, if their city was built; but set up for themselves, as a free peoplo. By the first of these words Grotius understands that which every head paid to the king, which we call poll-money; by the second, the excise (as we now speak) that was upon commodities and merchandise; and by the last, the rent which their land paid. But a late learned man thinks, the, first word rather signifies that part which every man paid out of his estate^ according as it was valued; the second, that which was paid for every head; and the third, that which was paid upon the highways, by every traveller who brought in wares, or carried them out. (Herman. Witsius, in his Miscell, par. ii. Exerc. xi. n. 20.) Akd so thou shall endamage the revenue of the kings.] They pretend to study nothing but the profit of the king; and that neither he nor his successors might lose any of the duties owing to the crown.
Ezra 4:14
Now, because we have. maintenance from the king’s palace. In the Hebrew it is, we are salted with the salt of thepalace; i. e. received their salary from the king, as Junius translates it. For it seems, they received their stipend in salt (from whence it was called a salary), which the son of Sirach mentions among the things necessary to human life, (Ecclus. xxxix. 31.) And Homer calls it a Divine thing, because, as Plutarch expounds him, it. seasons all food, and gives a relish to it. (See Dr. Cudworth, of the Lord’s Supper, p. 68.) And it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour.’] It did not become them who received maintenance from the king to see him wronged any way. Tlierefore have we sent and certified the king.] Which they would have him think was the sole cause of their writing, to inform him in the truth.
Ezra 4:15
That search may be made in the book of the re-, cords of thy fathers. In the chronicles of the kings that had reigned before him; whom they call his fathers, because they were his predecessors in that kingdom, wherein he now reigned. This search shews, this letter was written a long time after the edict of Cyrus. 4 So shalt thou find 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 ivhich cause teas this city destroyed.] They mix some truth with abundance of falsehood: for this city could not be rebellious in old time, being subject to none; till, in latter times, it was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, against whom they rebelled. Ver. 16: We certify the king, that if this city be bnilded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.] This was a most groundless suggestion, that they should either be able to conquer all the neighbouring countries, as far as Euphrates/ or draw them all into a rebellion with them against the king.
Ezra 4:17
Then sent the king an answer unto Eehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai 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.] This was a matter of such concern, that the king dispatched a speedy answer to be communicated to all the people, mentioned ver. 9, 10.
Ezra 4:18
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. It was read, in all likelihood, before the king in council.
Ezra 4:19
And I commanded, and search hath been made. In the public records. (See chap. v. 17. vi. 1, 2. Esther ii.: 23. vi. 1.) And it is found, that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.] One instance or two of it, in latter’ times, served to fasten this odious character upon them; as if they had been always guilty of these crimes. Ver. 20; There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river.] Sueh, indeed, were David and Solomon,; who, as their records shewed, ruled over all countries on this side Euphrates. And toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.] As now they were to the king q( Persia: which seemed to justify what this people suggested in their letter, ver. 10. only they wanted such mighty kings as they then had, and were never likely to have such again. •
Ezra 4:21
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded. He gave no order about the temple, but only about the city; which he was made to believe they were fortifying. Until another commandment shall be given from me.] Ho kept his ears open, like a good king, to further information; which-if he should have different from theirs, Hosea 4R2 Microsoft ® A.COMMENTARY [chap. v. might give other orders. For this was “not & law of the Medes and Persians that could not be revoked; but only an edict, depending wholly upon the will and pleasure of Hie king, which he might have reason to alter hereafter.
Ezra 4:22
Take heed now that ye fall not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?. ’ By (heir negligence, if they permitted them to proceed to fortify Jerusalem. It is very observable, that in neither • of their letters, nor in the king’s answer, there is not one word of the command which Cyrus gave; nor any thing said of the building of the temple: which was the great thing in which they were employed; and the building of which could be no damage to the king. • But though we do not know by what trick the decree of Cyrus was now smothered, yet their silence about it proves (as the forenamed Dr. Alix suggests to me) that this complaint was moved neither in the time of Darius the First, who lived in the court of Cyrus, and married his daughter, nor of Xerxes his son, as Josephus thinks (taking Xerxes for Artaxerxes), but in the beginning of ArtaxerxesLongimanus; who began to;reign seventy-one years after the first of Cyrus, in which the edict was published. Ver; 23. Now; when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter tvas read before Rehnm, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went tip in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews.] So they of the captivity are now called, though there were many Israelites among them; because they chiefly consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. But it must be noted, that all Israel (as this author speaks, chap. ii. ult.) are included under the name of Jews. For liberty was granted to them all by the edictof Cyrus(which cannot be noted too often), in virtue of which they might return when they pleased. -But the holy writers mention only those who returned in a body: after which the prophets admonish those who remained in captivity to return to their own land; as we see in the book of Zechariah.. And made them to cease by force and power.] They threatened, I suppose, to force them to desist, if they did aot presently obey the king’s order; which was only that the city should not.be built: but the temple being a part of it, they would have it understood that it w r as comprehended in this order.
Ezra 4:24
Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. It did not quite cease; for when the Jews understood that this edict did not prohibit the building of thetemple,but only of the city, they went on with their work again without asking any leave; since they knew Artaxerxes did not forbid it. But it went on so slowly, that in a manner it ceased, till the beginning of the reign of Darius, as it here follows. s So it ceased nnto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.] They that take Darius Nothus to be here meant, arc pressed with very great difficulties. For, from the first year of Cyrus, who gave order for the building of the temple, till the sixth year of Darius Nothus, in which they suppose it was finished, there were at least a hundred and thirteen years, as Scaligcr and Calvisius make account: but as others think, a hundred and seventeen; and, according to Cocceius, a hundred forty and two. Now all this time Zerubbabel was in the government of Judea, and Jcshua in the high-priesthood: but so long an authority in church or state w r as never heard of in any age; and they must have lived some 4ime before and after, arid consequently they must be of a vast age: and therefore so long a space was not between the beginning and the conclusion of this work. Besides, Haggai supposes (chap. ii.4,) that some remembered the glory of the first house, and compared it with the glory of the second: which, if this was in the sixth year of Darius Nothus, they must be at least a hundred and fourscore years old; which is not likely. * Several solutions are given to.this, which, do not satisfy those who believe Darius Ilystaspes is here meant: whose second year was the eighteenth after the first of Cyrus, as Iluctius reckons: and this is the most ancient opinion. But it is built only upon the authority of Josephus, w T ho was followed by many after the second century: but before, they took this Darius to be Darius Ochus, as Dr. Alix assures me, w r ho thinks the long life of Zerubbabel and Jeshua is no objection against it; but is to be looked upon as an extraordinary effect of the Divine goodness, for the re-establishment of the commonwealth, and of the worship of God: as the life of Jehoiada was prolonged for the same reason, (2 Chron. xxiv: 15.) *