Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Ver. 1. _Now when the adversaries of Judah_] Aroused by those loud acclamations and outcries, Ezra 3:12,13. These adversaries were those Samaritans, Ezra 4:3, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they came to Zerubbabel, 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 Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. Ver. 2. _Let us build with you_] Craftily and treacherousl... [ 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; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Ver. 3. _But Zerubbabel... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, Ver. 4. _Then the people of the land_] Who the nearer they came unto a conjunction with the Jews in matters of religion the deeper hatred they bare them. Thus at this day, a Jew hates a Christian w... [ Continue Reading ]
And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ver. 5. _And hired counsellors against them_] But good counsellors would not have been hired, either to bolster out a bad cause, or to outface a good;... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they [unto him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. Ver. 6. _And in the reign of Ahasuerus_] That is, of Cambyses, who is also called Artaxerxes in the next verse; for these two names were given to many ki... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter [was] written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. Ver. 7. _And in the days of Artaxerxes_] This seems to be Cambys... [ Continue Reading ]
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: Ver. 8. _Rehum the chancellor_] Or, president of the council. It is of the Chaldee termination; the whole history also following to Ezra 6:19, is Chaldee, transcribed, as some think, o... [ Continue Reading ]
Then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, [and] the Elamites, Ver. 9. _The Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpe... [ Continue Reading ]
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest [that are] on this side the river, and at such a time. Ver. 10. _The great and noble Asnapper_] Some great commander under the Assyrian monarch. There is, they say, a greatness... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _Thy servants_] Not thy subjects only, but thine officers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls [thereof], and joined the foundations. Ver. 12. _The rebellious and the bad city_] After so many years doth Jerusalem rue one perfidiou... [ 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, tribute, and custom, and [so] thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Ver. 13. _Be it known now unto the king_] _q.d._ This is no light business, but of greatest importance... [ Continue Reading ]
Now because we have maintenance from [the king's] palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; Ver. 14. Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace] Chaldee, are salted with the salt of the palace, _Salarium de regis palat... [ Continue Reading ]
That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: 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 which cause was this city destroy... [ Continue Reading ]
We certify the king that, if this city be builded [again], and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. Ver. 16. _We certify the king_] They doubt not of audience, while they sang a song of _Utile,_ which therefore they thus set on with more confide... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezra 4:17 [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, and [unto] the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. Ver. 17. _Peace, and at such a time_] As the Latins saluting say, _Ave,_ or... [ Continue Reading ]
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. Ver. 18. _Hath been plainly read before us_] This in the general was commendable; but he should have reserved (as Alexander used to do) ους αδιαβλητον, one ear free, and have heard both parties.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and [that] rebellion and sedition have been made therein. Ver. 19. _Hath made insurrection against kings_] Chaldee, lift up itself against kings. Pride is painted with a trip... [ Continue Reading ]
There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all [countries] beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. Ver. 20. _Beyond the river_] Euphrates, the boundary of Solomon's empire, 1Ki 4:21; 1 Kings 4:24, as it was also promised, Gen 15:18 Exodus 23... [ 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. Ver. 21. _Give you now commandment_] Chaldee, Make a decree; which yet did but carry on God's decree; for while persecutors sit backward to his command, they r... [ Continue Reading ]
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Ver. 22. _Take heed now that ye fail not_] This was to spur a free horse; like as letters were sent from King Philip and Queen Mary to Bishop Bonner, complaining that heretics were not so reformed as they sh... [ 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. Ver. 23. _They went up in haste_] _Perurgente diabolo,_ the devil driving them, and their... [ Continue Reading ]
Then ceased the work of the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ver. 24. _Then ceased the work of the house of God_] And now the adversaries have got the ball on the foot, thinking to carry the game before them; but "the tri... [ Continue Reading ]