Ezr 4:1, 6:16, 19-20, 10:7, 16, Dan 2:25, 6:13 | TSK | STEP | The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it. Their letter to Artaxerxes. The answer and decree of Artaxerxes. The building is hindered. the adversaries.These were the Samaritans, the descendants of the various nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants captive. children of the captivity. Heb. sons of the transportation.

Ezra 4:1

1 The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it.

7 Their letter to Artaxerxes.

17 The answer and decree of Artaxerxes.

23 The building is hindered.

the adversaries.These were the Samaritans, the descendants of the various nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants captive.

7:9; 1Ki 5:4,5; 1Ch 22:9,10; Ne 4:1-11; Da 9:25; 1Co 16:9

children of the captivity. Heb. sons of the transportation.

1:11; *marg:

6:16,19,20; 10:7,16; Da 5:13

Ezra 6:16

the children.

1Ch 9:2; Ne 7:73

children of the captivity. Chal. sons of the transportation.

4:1

the dedication.

1Ki 8:63; 2Ch 7:5,9; Joh 10:22

with joy.

22; 3:11,12; De 12:7; 1Ch 15:28; 2Ch 7:10; 30:23,26; Ne 8:10; 12:43

Ps 122:1; Php 4:4Having set up the worship of God in this dedication, they took care to keep it up, and made the book of Moses their rule, to which they had an eye in this establishment. Though the temple service could not now be performed with so much pomp and plenty as formerly, because of their poverty, yet no doubt it was performed with as much purity and close adherence to the Divine institutions as ever. No beauty is like the beauty of holiness.