1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
The fourth chapter of the book of Ezra in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible continues the account of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. This chapter focuses on the opposition and challenges faced by the Israelites as they sought to rebuild the temple. It also highlights the role of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah in encouraging the people to continue their work despite the obstacles they faced. The main themes of this chapter include opposition and perseverance, the importance of obedience to God's commands, and the role of prophets in guiding God's people. Through the struggles and triumphs of the Israelites, this chapter teaches us about the power of faith, determination, and obedience in fulfilling God's plans.
The chapter begins by introducing the enemies of the Israelites, who were the inhabitants of the land that the king of Assyria had resettled in Samaria after the Israelites were exiled (Ezra 4:1-2). These people, known as the Samaritans, were a mixed race of people who had intermarried with the remaining Israelites and had adopted some of their religious practices. However, they were not considered true descendants of the Israelites and were therefore not allowed to participate in the rebuilding of the temple.
The Samaritans, along with other neighboring nations, began to oppose the rebuilding of the temple. They first tried to deceive the Israelites by offering to help in the rebuilding, but their true intentions were revealed when they wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes, accusing the Israelites of rebelling against the king and seeking to rebuild their city and walls (Ezra 4:12-15). This caused the king to order the work on the temple to stop until further notice.
The opposition faced by the Israelites was not limited to external enemies. Even within their own community, there were people who hindered the rebuilding of the temple. The descendants of the priests and Levites who had intermarried with the local people did not want to be excluded from the temple service, and they also opposed the rebuilding (Ezra 4:3).
Despite the opposition they faced, the Israelites did not give up on rebuilding the temple. They understood the importance of obedience to God's commands and were determined to complete the task. When the work was halted by the king's order, the Israelites did not turn to other sources for help, but instead, they turned to God in prayer (Ezra 4:23-24). They trusted in God's faithfulness and believed that He would see them through the challenges they faced.
The Israelites also remained obedient to God's commands by not compromising with their enemies. When the Samaritans offered to help in the rebuilding, the Israelites refused, knowing that the Samaritans were not true descendants of Israel and were not allowed to participate in the temple service. This shows us the importance of remaining faithful to God's commands, even when it may be easier to compromise or give in to pressure from others.
In the midst of the opposition and challenges faced by the Israelites, God raised up two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage and guide His people. Haggai reminded the people of their purpose in rebuilding the temple and encouraged them to continue their work despite the obstacles (Ezra 5:1-2). Zechariah also played a role in encouraging the people and reminding them of God's promises (Ezra 5:1-2). These prophets were instrumental in keeping the Israelites focused on their task and reminding them of God's faithfulness.
This chapter teaches us the importance of listening to and following the guidance of God's prophets. In our own lives, we may face challenges and opposition, and it is important to seek guidance from those who have been called by God to lead and guide His people.
The fourth chapter of the book of Ezra teaches us about the struggles and triumphs of God's people as they sought to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. It shows us the importance of remaining faithful to God's commands and trusting in His faithfulness, even in the face of opposition and challenges. This chapter also highlights the role of prophets in guiding and encouraging God's people. Through the example of the Israelites, we learn the power of perseverance, obedience, and faith in fulfilling God's plans.
This chapter also serves as a reminder that as believers, we will face opposition and challenges in our own lives, but we must not give up. We must remain faithful to God and trust in His plans for us. Just as God used Haggai and Zechariah to guide and encourage the Israelites, He will also provide us with guidance and support through His prophets and His word. Ultimately, this chapter reminds us that God is faithful and will see us through any challenges we may face.
In conclusion, the fourth chapter of the book of Ezra is a powerful reminder of the importance of faith, perseverance, and obedience in fulfilling God's plans. It teaches us about the opposition and challenges we may face as believers, but also about the faithfulness and guidance of God through His prophets. This chapter encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith and trust in God, knowing that He will see us through any obstacles we may encounter.
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