_A.M. 3469. B.C. 535._ The adversaries, not being allowed to build with them, endeavour to hinder the work, Ezra 4:1. They falsely accuse them to Artaxerxes, Ezra 4:6. Who thereupon orders the work to be stopped, Ezra 4:17. It is stopped, Ezra 4:23; Ezra 4:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now when the adversaries of Judah_, &c. The Samaritans, the relics of the ten tribes, and foreigners that had joined themselves to them, and patched up that mongrel religion of which we had an account 2 Kings 17:33, where it is said, _They feared the Lord, and served their own gods._ They are calle... [ Continue Reading ]
_They came to Zerubbabel, &c., and said, Let us build with you_ Hearing that the temple was in building, they were presently aware that it would be a fatal blow to their superstition, and therefore set themselves to oppose it. But as they had not power to do it openly and by force, they endeavoured... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye have nothing to do with us_ The chief of the fathers were soon aware that they meant them no kindness, whatever they might pretend, but really designed to do them an injury; and therefore, (though they had need enough of help, if it had been such as they could confide in,) they told them plainly... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the people of the land_ Hebrew _of that land;_ namely, the Samaritans, the present inhabitants of that province. _Weakened the hands of the people of Judah_ As they could not divert them from the work, they endeavoured to discourage them in it, by persuading them it was in vain to attempt it, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And hired counsellors against them_ Bribed some of the king's council, in order that by their artifices, and interests in his court, they might give some stop to the work, and frustrate the purpose of the Jews. _All the days of Cyrus king of Persia_ For though Cyrus still favoured the Jews, yet he... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the reign of Ahasuerus_ A common name of divers kings of Persia. This Ahasuerus was probably Smerdis, one of the magi who seized the kingdom after Cambyses. _Wrote they unto him an accusation against Judah and Jerusalem_ Importing that they intended to set up for themselves, and not to depend up... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the days of Artaxerxes_, &c. The sacred writer, having in the foregoing verse mentioned a stop being put to the building of the temple, till the reign of Darius, now proceeds to relate particularly how it was effected. By Artaxerxes here is probably meant the son of Cyrus, called Cambyses by hea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter,_ &c. These two, as it was their office, put into writing, or drew up, a letter, agreeable to what had been resolved on in a council of the great men, or governors, mentioned in the foregoing verse. _The Dinaites_, &c. These nine nations c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over_ Some take Asnapper to be another name for Shalmaneser, or for Esar-haddon, who sent these colonies hither. But it is more reasonable to think he was some great commander, or other person of eminence, who was appointed captain of this colony, and intru... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy servants, and at such a time_, &c. The particular time when the letter was written was no doubt expressed therein; but in this narrative it was sufficient to mention it in general. Ezra 4:12. _And have set up the walls thereof_ This was a mere calumny, for they had attempted no such thing as t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom_ “By the first of these, Grotius understands that which every head paid to the king, and which we call poll-money; by the second, the excise, as we now speak, which was upon commodities and merchandise; and by the last, the land- tax.” Dodd.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace_ In the Hebrew it is, _we are salted with the salt of the palace._ That is, are sustained by the king's munificence, or have a salary from him, as Junius translates it. In ancient times, it appears, it was usual to allow those who had deserved... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the book of the records of thy fathers_ That is, thy predecessors, the former emperors of this empire; namely, in the Assyrian and Babylonish records; which, together with the empire, were now in the hands of the Persian kings.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That rebellion and sedition have been found therein_ One instance or two of it, in latter times, had served to fasten this odious character upon them, as if they had been always guilty of these crimes. _There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem_ And therefore the king thought it not advisabl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease_ Thus he suffered himself to be imposed upon by their fraud and falsehood, and took no care to examine the allegations of their petition concerning what the Jews were now doing; but took all they had asserted for matter of fact, and therefore was... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take heed now that ye fail not_, &c. Let not a thing, which may be of such ill consequence, grow to a head, whereby others may be excited to follow the example, and rebel against the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And made them to cease by force and power_ As they abused the king by their misinformations, in the obtaining of this order, so they abused him in the execution of it; for the order was only to prevent the building of the city and its walls. But, having power in their hands, they on this pretence s... [ Continue Reading ]
_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, they afterward received. But even then they were cold and indifferent about it, and were accordingly r... [ Continue Reading ]