(KJV) Ezra 41

<< Ezra 3 Ezra 5 >>

⥃Adversaries Hinder the Work

[1] Now when the adversaries2 of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity3 builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel; [2] Then they came to Zerubbabel4, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us5 build with you: for we seek your God, as ye [do]; and we do6 sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar–haddon7 king of Assur8, which brought us up hither. [3] But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing9 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 Cyrus10 the king of Persia hath commanded us. [4] Then the people of the land weakened11 the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled12 them in building, [5] And hired13 counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius14 king of Persia.

⥃Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

[6] And in the reign of Ahasuerus15, in the beginning of his reign, wrote16 they [unto him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.17

[7] [¶]And in the days of Artaxerxes18 wrote Bishlam19, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions20, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter [was] written in the Syrian tongue21, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.22 [8] Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe23 wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: [9] Then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions24; the Dinaites25, the Apharsathchites26, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites27, the Dehavites, [and] the Elamites28, [10] And the rest29 of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar30 brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest [that are] on this side the river, and at such a time31.

[11] [¶]This [is] the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, [even] unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy 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 rebellious32 and the bad city33, and have set up34 the walls [thereof], and joined35 the foundations. [13] Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city36 be builded, and the walls set up [again], [then] will they not pay37 toll38, tribute, and custom, and [so] thou shalt endamage the revenue39 of the kings. [14] Now because we have maintenance40 from [the king’s] palace, and it was41 not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; [15] That search may be made42 in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city43 [is] a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved44 sedition within the same of old time: for which45 cause was this city destroyed. [16] We certify the king that, if this city be builded [again], and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have46 no portion on this side the river.

⥃The Decree of Artaxerxes

[17] [Then] sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and [to] Shimshai the scribe, and [to] the rest of their companions47 that dwell in Samaria, and [unto] the rest beyond the river, Peace48, and at such a time49. [18] The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. [19] And I commanded50, and search51 hath been made, and it is found52 that this city of old time hath made insurrection53 against kings, and [that] rebellion and sedition have been made therein. [20] There have been mighty kings54 also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all [countries] beyond55 the river; and toll56, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. [21] Give ye57 now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until [another] commandment shall be given from me. [22] Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should58 damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

[23] [¶]Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter [was] read before Rehum59, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up60 in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force61 and power. [24] Then ceased the work of the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. So62 it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius63 king of Persia.

<< Ezra 3 Ezra 5 >>

  1. Ezra 4:1, The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it; Ezra 4:7, Their letter to Artaxerxes; Ezra 4:17, The answer and decree of Artaxerxes; Ezra 4:23, The building is hindered. ↩

  2. These were the Samaritans, the descendants of the various nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants captive. Ezra 7:9; 1Kgs 5:4-5; 1Chr 22:9-10; Neh 4:1-11; Dan 9:25; 1Cor 16:9 ↩

  3. Heb. sons of the transportation, Ezra 1:11 *marg. Ezra 6:16, Ezra 6:19-20, Ezra 10:7, Ezra 10:16; Dan 5:13 ↩

  4. Ezra 1:5, Ezra 2:2, Ezra 3:2, Ezra 3:12 ↩

  5. Prov 26:23-26; 2Cor 11:13-15; Gal 2:4; 2Tim 3:8; 2Pet 2:1-2 ↩

  6. 2Kgs 17:24, 2Kgs 17:27-33, 2Kgs 17:41 ↩

  7. Ezra 4:10, Asnappar, 2Kgs 19:37 ↩

  8. Gen 10:11; Ps 73:8; Isa 37:37, Assyria, Hos 14:3, Asshur ↩

  9. Neh 2:20; John 4:22-23; Acts 8:21; Rom 9:4-5; 3John 1:9-10 ↩

  10. Ezra 1:1-3, Ezra 6:3-5; 2Chr 36:22-23; Isa 44:28, Isa 45:1, Isa 45:4; Matt 10:16 ↩

  11. Ezra 3:3; Neh 6:9; Isa 35:3-4; Jer 38:4 ↩

  12. Neh 4:7-8, Neh 4:11 ↩

  13. Ps 2:1-2; Nah 1:11; Acts 24:1-27 ↩

  14. Ezra 4:24, Ezra 5:5-17, Ezra 6:1-18 ↩

  15. Heb. Ahashverosh, This was Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who succeeded his father, am 3475, and reigned seven years and five months. ↩

  16. Matt 27:37; Acts 24:5-9, Acts 24:13, Acts 25:7; Rev 12:10 ↩

  17. am 3475, bc 529 ↩

  18. This Artaxerxes was one of the Magi, who usurped the throne after the death of Cambyses, for seven months, feigning himself to be Smerdis, brother of Cambyses. He is called Oropoestus by Justin, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by AEschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias. ↩

  19. or, in peace ↩

  20. Heb. societies, Ezra 4:9, Ezra 4:17, Ezra 5:6 ↩

  21. That is, probably, both the language and character were Syrian or Chaldaic; and therefore, from the Ezra 4:8 of this chapter, to Ezra 7:27, the original is not Hebrew, but Chaldee, in those parts which consist of letters, decrees, etc., originally written in that language. 2Kgs 18:26; Isa 36:11; Dan 2:4 ↩

  22. am 3482, bc 522 ↩

  23. or, secretary, Ezra 4:9; 2Sam 8:17, 2Sam 20:25; 2Kgs 18:18 ↩

  24. Chal, societies ↩

  25. 2Kgs 17:24, 2Kgs 17:30-31 ↩

  26. Ezra 5:6, Ezra 6:6, Apharsachites ↩

  27. Esth 1:2, Esth 2:3; Dan 8:2 ↩

  28. Gen 10:22; Isa 21:2; Jer 25:25, Jer 49:34; Ezek 32:24; Acts 2:9 ↩

  29. Ezra 4:1; 2Kgs 17:24-41 ↩

  30. Rom 13:7 ↩

  31. Chal, Cheeneth, Ezra 4:11, Ezra 4:17, Ezra 7:12 ↩

  32. Ezra 4:15, Ezra 4:19; 2Kgs 18:20, 2Kgs 24:1; 2Chr 36:13; Jer 52:3; Ezek 17:12-21; Luke 23:2-5; Acts 24:5; 1Thess 5:22; 1Pet 2:13-15 ↩

  33. Ps 48:1-2; Isa 1:21-23; Luke 13:34 ↩

  34. or, finished, Neh 1:3; Dan 9:25 ↩

  35. Chal, sewed together ↩

  36. Neh 5:4; Ps 52:2, Ps 119:69 ↩

  37. Chal, give ↩

  38. Ezra 7:24; Matt 9:9, Matt 17:25; Rom 13:6-7 ↩

  39. or, strength ↩

  40. etc. Chal, are salted with the salt of the palace, Salt is reckoned among the principal necessaries of life (Ecclus. 39:26 or verse 31); hence, by a very natural figure, salt is used for food or maintenance in general. I am well informed, says Mr. Parkhurst, that it is a common expression of the natives in the East Indies, "I eat such a one's salt," meaning, I am fed by him. Salt was also, as it still is, among eastern nations, a symbol of friendship and hospitality; and hence, to eat a man's salt, is to be bound to him by the ties of friendship. ↩

  41. Ezek 33:31; John 12:5-6, John 19:12-15 ↩

  42. within the same, Chal, in the midst thereof ↩

  43. Ezra 4:12; Neh 2:19, Neh 6:6; Esth 3:5-8; Dan 6:4-13; Acts 17:6-7 ↩

  44. Chal ↩

  45. 2Kgs 24:20, 2Kgs 25:1, 2Kgs 25:4; Jer 52:3-34 ↩

  46. Ezra 4:20; 2Sam 8:3; 1Kgs 4:24 ↩

  47. Chal, societies, Ezra 4:7, Ezra 4:9 ↩

  48. Ezra 5:7, Ezra 7:12; Luke 10:5; Acts 23:26; Rom 1:7 ↩

  49. Ezra 4:10-11 ↩

  50. Chal, by me a decree is set ↩

  51. Ezra 4:15, Ezra 5:17, Ezra 6:1-2; Deut 13:14; Prov 25:2 ↩

  52. 2Kgs 18:7, 2Kgs 24:20; Ezek 17:13-19 ↩

  53. Chal, lifted up itself ↩

  54. 1Kgs 4:21, 1Kgs 4:24; 1Chr 18:3; Ps 72:8 ↩

  55. Ezra 4:16; Gen 15:18; Josh 1:3-4 ↩

  56. 1Chr 18:6, 1Chr 18:13, 1Chr 19:19; 2Chr 9:14, 2Chr 9:23-24, 2Chr 17:11, 2Chr 26:7-8 ↩

  57. etc. Chal, Make a decree, Ezra 4:19 ↩

  58. Ezra 4:13; Esth 3:8-9, Esth 7:3-4 ↩

  59. Ezra 4:8-9, Ezra 4:17 ↩

  60. Prov 4:16; Mic 2:1; Rom 3:15 ↩

  61. Chal, arm ↩

  62. Neh 6:3, Neh 6:9; Job 20:5; 1Thess 2:18 ↩

  63. This was Darius Hystaspes, one of the seven princes who slew the usurper Smerdis. He ascended the throne of Persia, am 3483, bc 521, and reigned 36 years. Ezra 5:5, Ezra 6:1; Hag 1:15 ↩