rd

Ezra 4

2 The building of the Temple is hindered and how. 12 Letters to Artaxerxes, and the answer.
1.But athe adversaries of Judáh and Benjamín heard, that the children of the captivity builded the Temple unto the Lord God of Israél.
2.And they came to Zerubbabél, and to the chief fathers, and said unto them, We wil build with you: for we seek the Lord your God as ye do: and we have sacrificed unto him since the time of Esár Haddón King of Asshúr which brought us up hither.
3.Then Zerubbabél, and Jeshúa, and the rest of the chief fathers of Israél, said unto them, It is not for you, but for us to build the house of our God: bfor we ourselves together wil build it unto the Lord God of Israél, as King Cyrus the King of Persia hath commanded us.
4.Wherefore the people of the land ^discouraged the people of Judáh, and troubled them in building,
5.And they chired counsellors against them, to hinder their device, all the days of Cyrus King of Persia, even until the reign of Darius King of Persia.
6.And in the reign of dAhashuerósh (in the beginning of his reign) wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judáh and Jerusalém.
7.And in the days of eArtahshashte, Mithredáth, Tabeél, and the rest of their companions wrote when it was peace unto Artahshashte King of Persia, and the writing of the letter was the Aramites writing, and the thing declared was in the language of the Aramites.
8.Rehúm the ^chancellor, and Shimshái the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalém to Artahshashte the King, in this sort.
9.Then wrote Rehúm the chancellor, and Shimshái the scribe, and their companions fDinaié, and Apharsathcaié, Tarpelaié, Apharsaié, Archevaié, Bablaié, Shushanchaié, Dehavé, Elmaié,
10.And the rest of the people whom the great and noble gAsnappái brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and other that are beyond the hRiver and iCheéneth.
11.¶ This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto King Artahsháshte, THY SERVANTS the men beyond the River and Cheéneth,
12.Be it known unto the King that the Jewes, which came up from thee to us, are come unto Jerusalém (a city rebellious and wicked) and build, and lay the foundations of the walls, and have joined the foundations.
13.Be it known now unto the King, that if this city be built, and the foundations of the walls laid, they wil not give toll, tribute, nor kcustom: so shalt thou hinder the King’s tribute.
14.Now therefore because ^we have been brought up in the King’s palace, it was not mete for us to see the King’s dishonour: for this cause have we sent and certified the King,
15.That one may search in the book of the Chronicles of thy fathers, and thou shalt find in the book of the Chronicles, and perceive that this city is rebellious and noisome unto Kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition of old time, for the which cause this city was destroyed.
16.We certify the King therefore, that if this city be builded, and the foundation of the walls laid, by this means the portion beyond the River shal not be thine.
17.¶ The King sent an answer unto Rehúm chancellor, and Shimshái the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwelt in Samaria, and unto the other beyond the River, lShelám and mCheéth.
18.¶ The letter which ye sent unto us, hath been openly read before me,
19.And I have commanded and they have searched, and found, that this city of old time hath made insurrection against Kings, and hath rebelled, and rebellion hath been committed therein.
20.There have been mighty Kings also over Jerusalém, which have ruled over all beyond the River, and toll, tribute, and custom was given unto them.
21.Make ye now a decree, that those men may cease, and that the city be not built, til I have given another commandment.
22.Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to hurt the King?
23.When the copy of King Artahsháshte’s letter was read before Rehúm and Shimshái the scribe, and their companions, they went up in all the haste to Jerusalém unto the Jewes, and caused them to cease by force and power.
24.Then nceased the work of the house of God, which was in Jerusalém, and did stay unto the second year of Darius King of Persia.

Notes

1-a.
Meaning, the inhabitants of Samaria, whom the King of Assyria had placed in the stead of the ten tribes 2 Kings 17.24, 29 and 41. These professed God, but worshipped idols also, and therefore were the greatest enemies to the true servants of God.
3-b.
For they perceived what their pretence was, to wit, to erect idolatry in stead of true religion.
4-^.
Ebr., made their hands weak.
5-c.
They bribed the governors under the King, to hinder their work thus they that halt, can not abide, that God should be purely served.
6-d.
He was also called Artaxerxes, which is a Persian name some think it was Cambyses Cyrus son, or Darius, as verse 5.
7-e.
Called Artaxerxes, which signified in the Persian tongue, an excellent warrior.
8-^.
Or, counsellor.
9-f.
There were certain people, which the Assyrians placed in Samaria instead of the ten tribes.
10-g.
Some think it was Saneherib, but rather Salmansar.
10-h.
To wit, Euphrates, and he means in respect of Babel that they dwelt beyond it.
10-i.
Which were a certain people that envied the Jews.
13-k.
Meaning, the gifts that are wont to be given to King’s when they pass by any country.
14-^.
Ebr., In the Chalde, we have eaten the salt of the palace.
17-l.
Some read for Shelam, salutation or greeting.
17-m.
Called also Cheeneth, as verse 11.
24-n.
Not all together for the Prophets exhorted them to continue, but they used less diligence because of the troubles.