Ezr 4 | 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 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

Zerubbabel.

1:5; 2:2; 3:2,12

Let us.

Pr 26:23-26; 2Co 11:13-15; Ga 2:4; 2Ti 3:8; 2Pe 2:1,2

we do.

2Ki 17:24,27-33,41

Esarhaddon.

Asnappar.

2Ki 19:37

Assur.

Ge 10:11; Ps 73:8; Isa 37:37

Assyria.

Ho 14:3

Asshur.

Ye have nothing.

Ne 2:20; Joh 4:22,23; Ac 8:21; Ro 9:4,5; 3Jo 1:9,10

king Cyrus.

1:1-3; 6:3-5; 2Ch 36:22,23; Isa 44:28; 45:1,4; Mt 10:16

weakened.

3:3; Ne 6:9; Isa 35:3,4; Jer 38:4

troubled.

Ne 4:7,8,11

hired.

Ps 2:1,2; Na 1:11; Ac 24:1-27

Darius.

24; 5:5-17; 6:1-18

A.M. 3475. B.C. 529. Ahasuerus. Heb. Ahashverosh.This was Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who succeeded his father, A.M. 3475, and reigned seven years and five months.

wrote.

Mt 27:37; Ac 24:5-9,13; 25:7; Re 12:10

A.M. 3482. B.C. 522. Artaxerxes.This Artaxerxes was one of the Magi, who usurped the throne after the death of Cambyses, for seven months, feigning himself to be Smerdis, brother of Cambyses: he is called Oropoestus by Justin, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by AEschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias.

Bishlam. or, in peace. companions. Heb. societies.

9,17; 5:6

the Syrian tongue.That is, probably, both the language and character were Syrian or Chaldaic; and therefore, from the 8th verse of this chapter, to ch. 7:27, the original is not Hebrew, but Chaldee, in those parts which consist of letters, decrees, etc., originally written in that language.

2Ki 18:26; Isa 36:11; Da 2:4

scribe. or, secretary.

9; 2Sa 8:17; 20:25; 2Ki 18:18

companions. Chal. societies. the Dinaites.

2Ki 17:24,30,31

Apharsathchites.

5:6; 6:6

Apharsachites. Susanchites.

Es 1:2; 2:3; Da 8:2

Elamites.

Ge 10:22; Isa 21:2; Jer 25:25; 49:34; Eze 32:24; Ac 2:9

And the rest.

1; 2Ki 17:24-41

noble Asnappar.

Ro 13:7

at such a time. Chal. Cheeneth.

11,17; 7:12

rebellious.

15,19; 2Ki 18:20; 24:1; 2Ch 36:13; Jer 52:3; Eze 17:12-21

Lu 23:2-5; Ac 24:5; 1Th 5:22; 1Pe 2:13-15

bad city.

Ps 48:1,2; Isa 1:21-23; Lu 13:34

set up. or, finished.

Ne 1:3; Da 9:25

joined. Chal. sewed together.

if this city.

Ne 5:4; Ps 52:2; 119:69

pay. Chal. give. toll.

7:24; Mt 9:9; 17:25; Ro 13:6,7

revenue. or, strength.

have maintenance, etc. Chal. are salted with the salt of thepalace. Salt is reckoned among the principal necessaries of life, (Ecclus. 39:26 or 31;) hence, by a very natural figure, salt is used for food or maintenance in general. I am well informed, says Mr. Parkhurst, that it is a common expression of the natives in the East Indies, "I eat such a one's salt," meaning, I am fed by him. Salt was also, as it still is, among eastern nations, a symbol of friendship and hospitality; and hence, to eat a man's salt, is to be bound to him by the ties of friendship.

and it was.

Eze 33:31; Joh 12:5,6; 19:12-15

this city.

12; Ne 2:19; 6:6; Es 3:5-8; Da 6:4-13; Ac 17:6,7

moved. Chal. made. within the same. Chal. in the midstthereof. for which.

2Ki 24:20; 25:1,4; Jer 52:3-34

thou shalt have.

20; 2Sa 8:3; 1Ki 4:24

companions. Chal. societies.

7,9

Peace.

5:7; 7:12; Lu 10:5; Ac 23:26; Ro 1:7

at such a time.

10,11

I commanded. Chal. by me a decree is set. search.

15; 5:17; 6:1,2; De 13:14; Pr 25:2

and it is found.

2Ki 18:7; 24:20; Eze 17:13-19

made insurrection. Chal. lifted up itself.

mighty king.

1Ki 4:21,24; 1Ch 18:3; Ps 72:8

beyond.

16; Ge 15:18; Jos 1:3,4

toll.

1Ch 18:6,13; 19:19; 2Ch 9:14,23,24; 17:11; 26:7,8

Give ye, etc. Chal. Make a decree.

why should.

13; Es 3:8,9; 7:3,4

Rehum.

8,9,17

they went up.

Pr 4:16; Mic 2:1; Ro 3:15

force. Chal. arm.

So.

Ne 6:3,9; Job 20:5; 1Th 2:18

Darius.This was Darius Hystaspes, one of the seven princes who slew the usurper Smerdis: he ascended the throne of Persia, A.M. 3483, B.C. 521, and reigned 36 years.

5:5; 6:1; Hag 1:15