Ezr 4:13 | KingComments | STEP | describe how the enemies are successful in stopping the work of the building of the temple. In the days of Ahasuerus or Arthahsasta, they write a letter to him in which they accuse the Jews. They do this as soon as he is king ( ). So they don’t waste any time. In order to carry out their purpose to stop the building of the temple the enemies join forces. From the enumeration of who these enemies are ( ), it becomes clear that all nations commit themselves in their purpose to stop the building of the temple. However much they may differ from each other, they are one in their striving against what is from and for God. In their enmity they unite ( ). Thus Herod and Pilate become “friends with one another” in their rejection of the Lord Jesus, “for before they had been enemies with each other” ( ). In their accusation, a copy of which has been preserved and is now quoted ( ), they mention several things that are intended to convince the king that construction should be stopped. In doing so, they use the necessary lies. The accusation that the Jews are rebuilding the city ( ) is a lie. It is about the temple and for that Cyrus has precisely given the order. Also the financial disadvantage that the king would suffer because the people “will not pay tribute, custom or toll” any longer ( ), is a lie. As for themselves, the enemies praise themselves at Ahasuerus as loyal subjects ( ). They pretend to care about the honor and the importance of his reign. Saying that they “are in the service of the palace” they say that they are paid by the king’s court and that without what they get from the palace they would not be able to live. They pretend that they are so grateful to the king that they now warn him about what the Jews are doing, because that is to “the king’s dishonor” and it is not fitting for them to see that . Similarly, enmity against Christ is often wrapped up in a hypocritical love for worldly rulers. The Jews hate the Roman regime but, because it serves their evil plans to kill Christ, they can shout: “We have no king but Caesar” ( ). Unfortunately, the accusation of a black past ( ) is partly true. The last kings of the two tribes, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, rebelled against their rulers to whom the LORD has surrendered them. The danger of loss of territory the enemies write about ( ), has also been made up again. They pull out all the stops to get the king to issue the commandment that the building of the temple should be stopped.

‏ Ezra 4:13

Accusations Against the Jews

Ezra 4:6-23 describe how the enemies are successful in stopping the work of the building of the temple. In the days of Ahasuerus or Arthahsasta, they write a letter to him in which they accuse the Jews. They do this as soon as he is king (Ezra 4:6). So they don’t waste any time.

In order to carry out their purpose to stop the building of the temple the enemies join forces. From the enumeration of who these enemies are (Ezra 4:7-10), it becomes clear that all nations commit themselves in their purpose to stop the building of the temple. However much they may differ from each other, they are one in their striving against what is from and for God. In their enmity they unite (Psa 2:2). Thus Herod and Pilate become “friends with one another” in their rejection of the Lord Jesus, “for before they had been enemies with each other” (Lk 23:12).

In their accusation, a copy of which has been preserved and is now quoted (Ezra 4:11), they mention several things that are intended to convince the king that construction should be stopped. In doing so, they use the necessary lies. The accusation that the Jews are rebuilding the city (Ezra 4:12) is a lie. It is about the temple and for that Cyrus has precisely given the order. Also the financial disadvantage that the king would suffer because the people “will not pay tribute, custom or toll” any longer (Ezra 4:13), is a lie.

As for themselves, the enemies praise themselves at Ahasuerus as loyal subjects (Ezra 4:14). They pretend to care about the honor and the importance of his reign. Saying that they “are in the service of the palace” they say that they are paid by the king’s court and that without what they get from the palace they would not be able to live. They pretend that they are so grateful to the king that they now warn him about what the Jews are doing, because that is to “the king’s dishonor” and it is not fitting for them to see that .

Similarly, enmity against Christ is often wrapped up in a hypocritical love for worldly rulers. The Jews hate the Roman regime but, because it serves their evil plans to kill Christ, they can shout: “We have no king but Caesar” (Jn 19:15).

Unfortunately, the accusation of a black past (Ezra 4:15) is partly true. The last kings of the two tribes, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, rebelled against their rulers to whom the LORD has surrendered them. The danger of loss of territory the enemies write about (Ezra 4:16), has also been made up again. They pull out all the stops to get the king to issue the commandment that the building of the temple should be stopped.