Ezra 4

Adversaries Hinder the Work

1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, ‡ 1Ch 22:9-10Ezr 1:111Co 16:91Ki 5:4-5Dan 5:13Dan 9:25Ezr 10:16Ezr 10:7 +52 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.” ‡ 2Ki 17:242Ki 19:37Gal 2:42Ki 17:27-332Co 11:13-152Ki 17:412Pe 2:1-22Ti 3:8 +9

3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.” ‡ Neh 2:20Act 8:21Mat 10:162Ch 36:223Jn 1:9-10Ezr 6:3-5Isa 44:28Isa 45:4 +2

4 Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build. ‡ Ezr 3:3Jer 38:4Isa 35:3-4Neh 4:11Neh 6:9Neh 4:7-8 5 They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia. ‡ Nam 1:11Act 24:1-27Ezr 5:5Psa 2:1-2Ezr 4:24

Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, ¹ an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. ‡ Dan 9:1Est 1:1Act 24:13Act 24:5-9Act 25:7Mat 27:37Rev 12:10

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated. ² ‡ 2Ki 18:26Dan 2:4Ezr 4:17Ezr 4:9Isa 36:11Ezr 5:6

8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: ‡ Ezr 4:92Ki 18:182Sa 20:252Sa 8:17

9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, ‡ Ezr 5:6Ezr 6:62Ki 17:242Ki 17:30-31Act 2:9Dan 8:2Est 1:2Est 2:3 +510 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal ³deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates. ⁴ ‡ Ezr 4:17Ezr 4:11Ezr 7:122Ki 17:24-41Ezr 4:1Rom 13:7

11 (This is the text of the letter they sent to him.)

To King Artaxerxes,

From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:

12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations. ‡ 2Ch 36:13Ezr 5:3Ezr 5:91Pe 2:13-151Th 5:222Ki 18:202Ki 24:1Act 24:5 +10

13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer. ‡ Ezr 7:24Neh 5:4Rom 13:6-7Ezr 4:20Mat 17:25Mat 9:9Psa 119:69Psa 52:2

14 Now because we are in the service of the palace ⁵and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king ‡ Ezk 33:31Jhn 12:5-6Jhn 19:12-15 15 that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. ‡ Ezr 4:122Ki 24:202Ki 25:4Act 17:6-7Dan 6:4-13Est 3:5-8Jer 52:3-34Neh 2:19 +1

16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates. ‡ 1Ki 4:242Sa 8:3Ezr 4:20

The Decree of Artaxerxes

17 Then the king sent this reply: ‡ Act 23:26Ezr 4:7Ezr 4:9-11Ezr 5:7Ezr 7:12Luk 10:5Rom 1:7

To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates:

Greetings.

18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence. ‡ Neh 8:8 19 I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition. ‡ 2Ki 18:7Pro 25:22Ki 24:20Deu 13:14Ezk 17:13-19Ezr 4:15Ezr 5:17 20 And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them. ‡ 1Ki 4:21Gen 15:181Ch 18:3Psa 72:81Ch 18:131Ch 18:61Ch 19:191Ki 4:24 +8

21 Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22 See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer? ‡ Est 3:8-9Est 7:3-4Ezr 4:13

23 When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them. ‡ Ezr 4:17Ezr 4:8-9Mic 2:1Pro 4:16Rom 3:15

24 Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. ‡ Hag 1:15Ezr 5:5Ezr 6:1Job 20:5Neh 6:3Neh 6:91Th 2:18