CHAPTER IV _The Samaritans endeavour to prevent the rebuilding of the_ _temple_, 1-5. _They send letters to Artaxerxes, against the Jews_, 6-9. _A copy of the letter_, 10-16. _He commands the Jews to cease from building the temple, which_ _they do; nor was any thing farther done in the work ti... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 4:2. _LET US BUILD WITH YOU_] We acknowledge the same God, are solicitous for his glory, and will gladly assist you in this work. But that they came with no friendly intention, the context proves.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 4:3. _YE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH US_] We cannot acknowledge you as worshippers of the true God, and cannot participate with you in anything that relates to his worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 4:4. _WEAKENED THE HANDS_] Discouraged and opposed them by every possible means.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 4:5. _HIRED COUNSELLORS_] They found means to corrupt some of the principal officers of the Persian court, so that the orders of Cyrus were not executed; or at least so slowly as to make them nearly ineffectual. _UNTIL THE REIGN OF DARIUS_] This was probably _Darius_ the son of _Hystaspe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 4:6. _IN THE REIGN OF AHASUERUS_] This is the person who is called _Cambyses_ by the Greeks. He reigned seven years and five months; and during the whole of that time the building of the temple was interrupted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 4:7. _IN THE DAYS OF ARTAXERXES_] After the death of Cambyses, one of the _Magi_ named _Oropaestus_ by Trogus Pompeius, _Smerdis_ by Herodotus, _Mardus_ by AEschylus, and _Sphendatates_ by Ctesias, usurped the empire, feigning himself to be _Smerdis_, the brother of Cambyses, who had been... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 4:8. _REHUM THE CHANCELLOR_] With this verse the _Chaldee_ part of the chapter begins; and the same language continues to the end of Ezra 6:18. These men wrote to Darius in their own language; and the king in the same dialect returns an answer, chap. v. This circumstance adds authenticity... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 4:10. _THE GREAT AND NOBLE ASNAPPER_] Whether this was _Shalmaneser_, or _Esar-haddon_, or some _other person_, learned men and chronologists are not agreed. The Syriac terms him _Asphid_; but of this person we know no more than we do of _Asnapper_. He might have been the military officer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _AND AT SUCH A TIME._] The word וכענת _ucheeneth_ has greatly perplexed all commentators and critics. The versions give us no light; and the Vulgate translates it _et dicunt salutem_, "and they wish prosperity." Some translate it _and so forth_; and our translators supposed that it referre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _TOLL, TRIBUTE, AND CUSTOM_] The first term is supposed to imply the _capitation tax_; the second, an _excise on commodities_ and _merchandise_; the third, a sort of _land tax_. Others suppose the first means a _property tax_; the second, a _poll tax_; and the third, what was paid on _impo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE MAINTENANCE FROM_ THE KING'S _PALACE_] More literally: _Now because at all times we are salted_ _with the salt of the palace_; i.e., We live on the king's bounty, and must be faithful to our benefactor. Salt was used as the emblem of an incorruptible covenant; and thos... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _THE BOOK OF THE RECORDS OF THY FATHERS_] That is, the records of the _Chaldeans_, to whom the Persians succeeded.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _PEACE, AND AT SUCH A TIME_] The word וכעת _ucheeth_ is like that which we have already considered on Ezra 4:10, and probably has the same meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _HATH MADE INSURRECTION AGAINST KINGS_] Mow true is the proverb, "It is an easy thing to find a staff to beat a dog!" The struggles of the Israelites to preserve or regain their independency, which they had from God, are termed insurrection, rebellion, and sedition: because at last they fe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _BEYOND THE RIVER_] That is, the Euphrates. Both David and Solomon carried their conquests beyond this river. See 2 Samuel 8:3, c., and 1 Kings 4:21, where it is said, _Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river_ (Euphrates) _unto the land of the Philistines and unto the borders of E... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _UNTIL ANOTHER COMMANDMENT SHALL BE GIVEN FROM ME._] The rebuilding was only provisionally suspended. The decree was, Let it cease for the present; nor let it proceed at any time without an order express from me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _MADE THEM TO CEASE BY FORCE AND POWER._] Commanded them on pain of the king's displeasure not to proceed, obliging all to remit their labours, and probably bringing an armed force to prevent them from going forward.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. 522; and thus they continued till the second year of Darius, B.C. 519. See the chronology in the margin... [ Continue Reading ]