Ezra 4:1-10
THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE HINDERED... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE HINDERED... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, the mixed population to the north of Judah, the Samaritans, who had mingled the Assyrian religion and customs with a remnant of the knowledge of Jehovah, besides continuing in their opposition to the members of the southern kingdom, HEARD THAT THE CHI... [ Continue Reading ]
then they came to Zerubbabel, the governor of the province, AND TO THE CHIEF OF THE FATHERS, AND SAID UNTO THEM, LET US BUILD WITH YOU; FOR WE SEEK YOUR GOD AS YE DO, AND WE DO SACRIFICE UNTO HIM SINCE THE DAYS OF ESAR-HADDON, KING OF ASSUR, WHICH BROUGHT US UP HITHER. Cf 2 Kings 17:24. The territor... [ Continue Reading ]
But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God, the strange mixture of religions which the Samaritans held was not a worship of the true God, nor did they accept a large part of divine Revelati... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, they tried to put obstructions of every kind in their way, not only by molesting the workmen, but also by eventually obtaining an injunction against the continuation of the work, AND TROUBLED THEM IN BUILDING,... [ Continue Reading ]
and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, in order to set aside the edict which gave the Jews permission to build the Temple, ALL THE DAYS OF CYRUS, KING OF PERSIA, EVEN UNTIL THE REIGN OF DARIUS (Hystaspes), KING OF PERSIA. For some sixteen years, by the use of various legal tri... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, known in secular history as Xerxes, the successor to Darius, who was favorably disposed to the Jews, as the next Chapter s show, IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS REIGN, WROTE THEY UNTO HIM AN ACCUSATION AGAINST THE INHABITANTS OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM.... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the days of Artaxerxes, commonly known as Artaxerxes Longimanus, who reigned from 465 to 424 B. C. WROTE BISHLAM, XITHREDATH, TABEEL, AND THE REST OF THEIR COMPANIONS, evidently all of them Samaritans, UNTO ARTAXERXES, KING OF PERSIA; AND THE WRITING OF THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN IN THE SYRIAN TO... [ Continue Reading ]
Rehum, the chancellor, and Shimshai, the scribe, apparently Persian officials in Samaria, WROTE A LETTER AGAINST JERUSALEM TO ARTAXERXES THE KING IN THIS SORT.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then wrote Rehum, the chancellor, and Shimshai, the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the communities transplanted to Palestine from the Eastern countries, which are now named according to their original homes: THE DINAITES, THE APHARSATHCHLTES, THE TARPELITES, THE APHARSITES, THE ARCHEVITES... [ Continue Reading ]
and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper, the official in charge of the colonizing of the northern territory, BROUGHT OVER AND SET IT IN THE CITIES OF SAMARIA, AND THE REST THAT ARE ON THIS SIDE THE RIVER, south and west of the river Euphrates, AND AT SUCH A TIME, literally, "an... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king, at least a summary of the contents, if not an exact copy. THY SERVANTS, THE MEN ON THIS SIDE THE RIVER, AND AT SUCH A TIME, that is, "and so forth," all the compliments of the introduction being omitted.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LETTER TO ARTAXERXES... [ Continue Reading ]
Be it known unto the king that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, they had been returning from Babylon for a matter of some seventy years then, and small companies were still coming in from the East, BUILDING THE REBELLIOUS AND THE BAD CITY, AND HAVE SET UP THE WALLS THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Be it known now unto the king that, if this city be builded and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, the individual poll-tax, tribute, property-tax, AND CUSTOM, all import and export duties, AND SO THOU SHALT ENDAMAGE THE REVENUE OF THE KINGS, and so their action would finally prepar... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, because we have maintenance from the king's palace, literally, "because with the salt of the palace we are salted," said of living on any one's bounty, AND IT WAS NOT MEET FOR TO SEE THE KING'S DISHONOR, THEREFORE HAVE WE SENT AND CERTIFIED THE KING, making known to him the following facts, sug... [ Continue Reading ]
that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers, this duty being performed by the keeper of the royal archives; 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, whose inhabitants are addicted to uproar... [ Continue Reading ]
We certify the king that, if this city be builded again and the walls thereof set up, all its defenses finished as in the days of its greatest power, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river, the implication being that the Jews would cause the entire territory south and west o... [ Continue Reading ]
Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum, the chancellor, and to Shimshai, the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, all the communities of colonists, AND UNTO THE REST BEYOND THE RIVER, PEACE, AND AT SUCH A TIME, the usual complimentary remarks at the opening of a letter... [ Continue Reading ]
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I commanded, by issuing a decree or edict, AND SEARCH HATH BEEN MADE, AND IT IS FOUND THAT THIS CITY OF OLD TIME HATH MADE INSURRECTION, rising up in haughty rebellion, AGAINST KINGS AND THAT REBELLION AND SEDITION HAVE BEEN MADE THEREIN.... [ Continue Reading ]
There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river, this being true of David and Solomon; AND TOLL, TRIBUTE, AND CUSTOM WAS PAID UNTO THEM, all the surrounding countries being tributary to their kingdom at that time.... [ Continue Reading ]
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? They should make no mistake in averting this damage, since it might so easily grow to be a pest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai, the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews and made them to cease by force and power, evidently using even troops to enforce their demand. This excursus, showing to what extent t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. The foundation had been laid and the altar of burnt offering erected in its former place, but no more work was done. SO IT CEASED UNTO THE SECOND YEAR OF THE REIGN OF DARIUS, KING OF PERSIA, 520 B. C. The false church is ever the enemy... [ Continue Reading ]