Table of Contents
The Opposition from the Adversaries (Ezra 4:1-5)
Ezra 4:1-3 When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of families. They said to them, “Let us build with you. We worship your God just as you do. We have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building the temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” These verses introduce the main conflict of the chapter. The “adversaries” were the people who lived in the land. They had been settled there by the Assyrians. They offered to help with the rebuilding. Their claim was that they also worshipped the same God. This offer seemed helpful on the surface. However, the Jewish leaders knew better. They understood the offer was not genuine. Their worship was mixed with pagan practices. The leaders wisely rejected the offer. They wanted to maintain the purity of their faith. Their response was firm. It showed their commitment to God’s command. They were building the temple for God, not for a shared deity.
Ezra 4:4-5 Then the peoples of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They made them afraid to build. They bribed officials to work against them. They did this to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia. They continued this until the reign of Darius king of Persia. These verses describe the adversaries’ reaction to the rejection. Their true intentions were revealed. They resorted to hostile tactics. They tried to intimidate the builders. They used political and financial means to stop the work. The opposition was not a short-term problem. It lasted for many years. It spanned the reigns of two kings. This shows the persistence of the enemy. It also shows the difficulty of the task before the people of Israel. The opposition was both direct and indirect. The people were discouraged. The work was delayed.
The Letters of Accusation (Ezra 4:6-16)
Ezra 4:6 In the reign of Xerxes, at the beginning of his reign, the adversaries wrote an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. This verse marks a shift in the timeline. The narrative now jumps forward many years. This section provides examples of the opposition in later periods. The enemies of Judah were persistent. They continued to use legal and political tactics. The accusations were meant to defame the people. They wanted to make the Jews look bad in the eyes of the king.
Ezra 4:7-16 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes king of Persia. It was written in Aramaic and translated. Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king. They wrote this letter with the help of their associates. They were from various places. The letter was sent to Artaxerxes the king. It was a request to stop the building. The letter said that the city was rebellious. It had a history of rebellion. It would not pay taxes. They said that if the city was rebuilt, the king would lose revenue. They claimed the Jews were dangerous. They wanted the king to search the royal records. They said the records would confirm their claims. They said the city was a threat. This section details the specific letter of accusation. The adversaries were well-organized. They used officials to write the letter. They used a strong argument. They appealed to the king’s financial and political interests. They brought up the city’s past. They claimed it was a rebellious city. They made a convincing case. They also requested an official investigation. Their claims were designed to stop the work completely.
The Royal Decree Halting the Work (Ezra 4:17-24)
Ezra 4:17-22 The king sent this answer: “To Rehum the commanding officer, to Shimshai the scribe and to the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings. The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. I issued a decree. The search was made. It was found that this city has a history of rising against kings. It has been a place of rebellion. Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem. They have ruled over the whole province of Trans-Euphrates. They have collected tribute, custom, and tolls. Now issue a decree to stop these men. This city is not to be rebuilt until I give the order. Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why should the king suffer damage?” The king’s response was swift and decisive. He agreed with the accusations. He ordered the work to stop. The historical record was on the side of the adversaries. The king was concerned about his own power and revenue. He was not concerned with God’s will. The command was firm. The work was to be stopped immediately. This shows that the adversaries’ plan was successful.
Ezra 4:23-24 As soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went to Jerusalem. They went to the Jews. They used force and power to make them stop. So the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a halt. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. This verse details the final outcome. The adversaries were successful. They used the king’s authority to enforce the decree. The work stopped. The time reference at the end of the verse is important. It shows the end of the long delay. The work would not resume until a later time. The people of Israel were discouraged. Their work was stopped. The temple was unfinished.
A Verse by Verse Commentary
Ezra 4:1-3: Rejected Alliance The adversaries offered to help. Their offer was a trick. The Jewish leaders, led by Zerubbabel and Jeshua, rejected the offer. They wanted to keep their faith pure. Their loyalty was to God alone.
Ezra 4:4-5: Opposition Revealed The adversaries became enemies. They tried to discourage the people. They used bribes. This shows their true motive was to stop the work. Their opposition was long-term.
Ezra 4:6-16: The Accusation The adversaries wrote a letter to the king. They accused the Jews of rebellion. They used strong arguments. They appealed to the king’s self-interest. They also used historical claims to support their case.
Ezra 4:17-24: Work Halted The king agreed with the accusations. He ordered the work to stop. The king’s decree was a setback for the Jews. The enemies used force to stop the rebuilding. The temple lay unfinished for many years.
Cross references
Ezra 4:1-3 with Nehemiah 2:19-20 The rejection of the adversaries’ offer is similar to Nehemiah’s rejection of help. Nehemiah also rejected help from adversaries to rebuild the wall. Both leaders were careful to maintain the integrity of their work.
Ezra 4:4-5 with Haggai 1:2 The book of Haggai gives the reason for the delay. Haggai 1:2 says the people were discouraged. They said, “The time has not yet come to build the house of the Lord.” This confirms the discouragement mentioned in Ezra.
Ezra 4:6 with Ezra 7:1-5 Ezra 7 introduces Ezra. Ezra came to Jerusalem in the reign of Artaxerxes. This shows the historical context. The book of Ezra is not a continuous narrative. It is a collection of events.
Ezra 4:24 with Haggai 1:1, Zechariah 1:1 The work on the temple resumed in the second year of Darius. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people to restart the work. Their prophecies were critical to the completion of the temple. They motivated the people.