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Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

Ezra 4:24

It ceased - The stoppage of the building by the Pseudo-Smerdis is in complete harmony with his character. He was a Magus, devoted to the Magian elemental worship, and opposed to belief in a personal god. His religion did not approve of temples; and as he persecuted the Zoroastrian so would he naturally be hostile to the Jewish faith. The building was resumed in the second year of Darius (520 B.C.), and was only interrupted for about two years; since the Pseudo-Smerdis reigned less than one year.

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See also Ezra 4:24 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Ezra 4:24. _SO IT CEASED UNTO THE SECOND YEAR OF - DARIUS_] They had begun in the first year of Cyrus, B.C. 536, to go up to Jerusalem, and they were obliged to desist from the building B.C. 52...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The offer of the Samaritans refused (Ezra 4:1)_ 2. The letter to King Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:7) 3. The king's reply (Ezra 4:17) 4. The work is stopped ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EZRA 4:24 TO EZRA 5:17. The narrative which was broken off at the end of Ezra 4:5 is now resumed. There is silence regarding the period 536- 520 B.C.; in 516, however, it is said that the building had...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    GOD. Chaldee. _'elaha' (ha,_ emphatic), singular, same as Hebrew Eloah. App-4....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    This verse resumes the thread of the narrative, which was dropped at the close of Ezra 4:5. It must be admitted that the words -then ceased" refer most naturally to Ezra 4:23. The Compiler, who failed...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ Then ceased the work of the house of God - i:e., in conseque...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    4:24 God (c-9) Aramaic, _ Elah_ (Heb. _ Eloah_ . see Genesis 1:1 ). The parts of the book written in Aramaic are chs. 4.8 to 6.18, and ch. 7.12 to 26; they have always _ Elah_ . _ El_ does not occur i...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SECOND YEAR.. DARIUS] 520 b.c., if, as is most probable, Darius Hystaspis is meant, as in Ezra 4:5 (the closing words of which are here repeated). But some suppose Darius Nothus (423-405) to be in...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FEUD BETWEEN THE JEWS AND SAMARITANS This chapter describes the desire of the Samaritans to take part in the rebuilding of the Temple, and their successful opposition to the Jews on their request bei...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE *JEWS RETURN TO JERUSALEM EZRA _ROBERT BRYCE_ CHAPTER 4 V1 The enemies of the *descendants of Judah and Benjamin heard that they had returned from the *exile. Their enemies heard that they we...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE SECOND YEAR. — The record here returns to Ezra 4:5, with more specific indication of time. The suspension of the general enterprise — called “the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem” —...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    בֵּ אדַ֗יִן בְּטֵלַת֙ עֲבִידַ֣ת בֵּית ־אֱלָהָ֔א...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE ENEMY'S SHORT-LIVED TRIUMPH Ezra 4:11 The promoters of this letter were descendants of the heathen colonists who had been sent into the land by the Assyrians, 2 Kings 17:24. It was written to the...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In this chapter we have the story of the opposition of the Samaritans, and the consequent cessation of work on the Temple for a time. The historic chronology presents difficulties. The subject is not...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then (n) 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. (n) Not altogether for the prophets exhorted them to con...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _House. They went beyond the order, which only forbade the building of the city, ver. 21. --- Darius, the year of the world 3485. (Calmet) --- He was the son of Hystaspes, (St. Jerome) and not Nothus,...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The accomplishment of their wicked purpose may serve to show us how the Lord is pleased sometimes, for the exercise of faith in his people, to let the enemy triumph. And when the short-lived victories...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    REFLECTIONS WE have a very beautiful instruction given us by the Holy Ghost, in what this chapter holds forth to us of the opposition the people of God receive from false friends, as well as open enem...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But, in such a case, difficulties do not arise only from the weakness of the remnant; they proceed, also, from elements with which the remnant are outwardly connected, and which, at the same time, are...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN CEASED THE WORK OF THE HOUSE OF GOD, WHICH IS AT JERUSALEM,.... How far they had proceeded is not said, whether any further than laying the foundation of it; though probably, by this time, it mig...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then ceased the work of the house of God_ For they neither could nor might proceed in that work against their king's prohibition, without a special command from the King of heaven, which, however, th...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The aduersaries, being not accepted in the building of the Temple with the Iewes, endeauour to hinder it. 7 Their Letter to Artaxerxes. 17 The decree of Artaxerxes. 23 The building is hindred. 1...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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 T...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE LETTER TO ARTAXERXES...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    PRETENDED FRIENDSHIP AND OPPOSITION (vv. 1-5) Satan is subtle in the way he attacks a work of God. He appears to be friendly, as is seen in the way the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin came to Zeru...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But wher...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THEN CEASED THE WORK OF THE HOUSE OF GOD; for they neither could nor might proceed in that work against their king's prohibition, without a special command from the King of heaven, which they had, EZR...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ezra 4:24 Thus H116 work H5673 house H1005 God H426 Jerusalem H3390 ceased H989 (H8754) discontinued H1934 ...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Work hindered by adversaries. CHARACTERS: Zerubbabel, Ahasuerus, Jeshua, Artazerxes, Rehum, Shimshai. CONCLUSION: God's work cannot be advanced but Satan will rage and the gates of hell wi...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ezra 4:1. _The adversaries of Judah._ These were the Samaritans; that is, Jews of the ten tribes, apostate from the religion of their fathers, now intermarried with the heathen, who were worshippers o...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Them sent the king an answer._ THE TEMPORARY TRIUMPH OF THE WICKED I. Examine the letter of the king. This letter suggests-- 1. That the subtlety of the wicked frequently obtains a temporary trium...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah._ THE HOSTILITY OF THE SAMARITANS TO THE JEWS I. The tactics of the wicked. If they cannot bend the good to their wishes and ai...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EZRA 4:1 Enemies Stall the Project by Conspiring against It. The rebuilding project encounters opposition from other groups in the region, and the work ceases. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 4:24 The word THEN picks up the story from v. Ezra 4:5, going back to the period soon after the first return. It is implied that the temple rebuilding had ceased soon afte

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.] In this chapter we have—(i.) The proposal of the Samaritans to unite with the Jews in building the Temple, and its rejection (Ezra 4:1). (ii.) The opposition of the Sa...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION EZRA 4:17 THEN SENT THE KING AN ANSWER. The complaint made was of such importance that an answer was returned without delay. It was addressed both to Rehum and Shimshai, since they were in...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity [had built the towers,] started to build the temple of the Lord unto the LORD God of Israel; they came to Zerubb...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Thessalonians 2:18; Ezra 5:5; Ezra 6:1; Haggai 1:15; Job 20:5;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Darius — Darius the son of Hystaspes, successor of Cambyses....

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    How could the rebuilding have begun during the reign of Cyrus when Ezra 4:24 says it was in the reign of Darius I? PROBLEM: According to Ezra 3:8-13, the rebuilding of the temple began under the reign...

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