4:1-3The enemies of Judah and Benjamin were people who had been relocated in the northern kingdom when Assyria conquered Israel (see 2 Kings 17 and the note on 3:3). In an attempt to infiltrate and disrupt the project, these people offered to help in the rebuilding project. They wanted to keep a close eye on what the Jews were doing. They were hoping to keep Jerusalem from becoming strong again. The Jews, however, saw through their ploy. Such a partnership with unbelievers would have led God’s people to compromise their faith.
Life Application Study BibleEzraChapter 4
Ezra 4
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 726, 727, 728, 729
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4Ezra 4
Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding
14 The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lor, the God of Israel. 2So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.” Sometimes God’s ownership of a project is recognized only after our best efforts have failed. It is dangerous to think that God is responsible for only insignificant details of a project while we take charge of the larger aspects. Instead, it is God who is in control and we only play a part in his overall plan. When God gives us important jobs to do, it isn't because he needs our help. Zerubbabel learned this lesson. God’s people had been exiled in Babylon for many years. Many had settled into comfortable life-styles there and wanted to stay. There were, however, almost 60,000 who had not forgotten Judah. When Babyion was defeated in 539 B.C., the Persian ruler, Cyrus, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. Zerubbabel led the first and largest group back to the Promised Land. Zerubbabel’s leadership was by right and recognition. Not only was he a descendant of David, he also had personal leadership qualities. When the people arrived in Judah, they were given time to establish living quarters and then were cafled to begin the work. They began not by laying the city walls or constructing government buildings, but by rebuilding the altar, worshiping God together, and celebrating a feast. Under Zerubbabel’s leadership, they established a spiritual foundation for their building efforts. The Temple foundation was then quickly completed, and another round of celebration followed. But soon two problems arose. A few old men remembered Solomon’s glorious Temple and were saddened at how much smaller and less glorious this one was. Also, some enemies of the Jews tried to infiltrate the workforce and stop the building with political pressure. Fear caused the work to grind to a halt. The people went to their homes, and 16 years passed. We do not know what Zerubbabel did during this time. His discouragement, following those first months of excitement and accomplishment, must have been deep. Those feelings eventually hardened into hopelessness. So God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to be Zerubbabel’s encouraging companions. They confronted the people’s reluctance and comforted their fears. The work began once again with renewed energy and was completed in four years. Zerubbabel, like many of us, knew how to start well but found it hard to keep going. His successes depended on the quality of encouragement he received. Zerubbabel let discouragement get the better of him. But when he let God take control, the work was finished. God is always in control. We must not let circumstances or lack of encouragement slow us from doing the tasks God has given us. Strengths and accomplishments Key verses Zerubbabel’s story is told in Ezra 2:2—5:2. He is also mentioned in 4Chronicles 3:19; Nehemiah 7:7; 12:1, 47; Haggai 1:1, 12, 14; 2:4, 21, 23; Zechariah 4:6—-10; Matthew 1:12, 13; Luke 3:27. 4Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. 5They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.* Later Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes 6Years later when Xerxes* began his reign, the enemies of Judah wrote a letter of accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. 7Even later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia,* the enemies of Judah, led by Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel, sent a letter to Artaxerxes in the Aramaic language, and it was translated for the king. 8*Rehum the governor and Shimshai the court secretary wrote the letter, telling King Artaxerxes about the situation in Jerusalem. They greeted the king for all their colleagues—the judges and local leaders, the people of Tarpel, the Persians, the Babylonians, and the people of Erech and Susa (that is, Elam). 10They also sent greetings from the rest of the people whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal* had deported and relocated in Samaria and throughout the neighboring lands of the province west of the Euphrates River.* 11This is a copy of their letter: “To King Artaxerxes, from your loyal subjects in the province west of the Euphrates River. 12"The king should know that the Jews who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls. 13And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you. 14“Since we are your loyal subjects* and do not want to see the king dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information. "We suggest that a search be made in your ancestors’ records, where you will discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past. In fact, it was destroyed because of its long and troublesome history of revolt against the kings and countries who controlled it. 16We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you.” 17Then King Artaxerxes sent this reply: “To Rehum the governor, Shimshai the court secretary, and their colleagues living in Samaria and throughout the province west of the Euphrates River. Greetings. 18“The letter you sent has been translated and read to me. 19I ordered a search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. In fact, rebellion and revolt are normal there! 20Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls. 21Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command. 2Be diligent, and don’t neglect this matter, for we must not permit the situation to harm the king's interests.” 23When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building.
The Rebuilding Resumes
2424So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.*
Textual footnotes
- April and May 536 8.c.
- name Binnui; Yehudah is probably another name for Hodaviah. Compare 2:40; Neh 7:43; 1 Esdras 5:58.
- another name for Ashurbanipal.
- 4:5 Darius reigned 521-486 B.c.
- 4:6 Hebrew Ahasuerus, another name for Xerxes. He reigned 486-465 B.c.
- 4:7 Artaxerxes reigned 465-424 B.c.
- 4:8 Hebrew Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
- 4:8 The original text of 4:86-6:18 is in Aramaic.
- 4:10a Aramaic Osnappar,
- 4:10b Aramaic the province beyond the river; also in 4:11, 16, 17, 20.
- 4:14 Aramaic Since we eat the salt of the palace.
Life Application Notes 11 notes
4:1-5and 4:6-22). Leaders should do everything to keep work from grinding to a halt; yet circumstances sometimes really are beyond our control. When you have been brought to a standstill, remember to still stand strong in the LORD.
4:1-6Believers can expect opposition when they do God’s work (2 Timothy 3:12). Unbelievers and evil spiritual forces are always working against God and his people. The opposition may offer compromising alliances (4:2), attempt to discourage and intimidate us (4:4, 5), or accuse us unjustly (4:6). If you expect these tactics, you won't be hindered by them. Move ahead with the work God has planned for you, and trust him to show you how to overcome the obstacles.
4:2These enemies claimed to worship the same God as Zerubbabel and the rest of the Jews. In one sense, this was true; they worshiped God, but they also worshiped many other gods (see 2 Kings 17:27-29, 32-34, 41). In God's eyes, this was not worship—it was sin and rebellion. True worship involves devotion to God alone (Exodus 20:3-5). To these foreigners, God was just another “idol” to be added to their collection. Their real motive was to disrupt the Temple project. Believers today must beware of those who claim to be Christians but whose actions clearly reveal they are using Christianity to serve their own interests.
4:4,5Discouragement and fear are two of the greatest obstacles to completing God's work. Most often they come when you least expect them. Discouragement eats away at our motivation, and fear paralyzes us so we don’t act at all. Recognize these common barriers. Remember that God’s people in every age have faced these problems and with God's help have overcome them. By standing together with other believers, you can overcome fear and discouragement and fulfill God’s purposes for your life.
4:5Cyrus was king over the entire region that had once been Assyria and Babylon. Assyria had deported the Israelites from the northern kingdom (Israel) in 722 B.C. Babylon, the next world power, had taken Israelites captive from the southern kingdom (Judah) in 586 B.C. Therefore, when the Medo-Persian Empire came to power, King Cyrus’s proclamation of freedom went to all the original 12 tribes, but only Judah and Benjamin responded and returned to rebuild God’s Temple. The 10 tribes of the northern kingdom had been so fractured and dispersed by Assyria, and so much time had elapsed since their captivity, that many may have been unsure of their real heritage. Thus, they were unwilling to share in the vision of rebuilding the Temple.
4:6-23In these verses, Ezra summarizes the entire story of the Opposition to building the Temple, the walls, and other important buildings in Jerusalem. Chronologically, 4:6 fits between chapters 6 and 7; 4:7-23 reters to the events between Ezra 7 and and he may have feared that another would arise if the city were rebuilt. Solomon had ruled a huge empire (1 Kings 4:21), and Jerusalem’s kings had rebelled against mighty powers. For example, Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar despite his oath of toyalty (2 Chronicles 36:13). Artaxerxes did not want to aid the rebuilding of a rebellious city and nation.
4:7When King Nebuchadnezzar ransacked the Temple, he took many of the valuable furnishings with him. What he did not take, he burned (2 Chronicles 36:18, 19). Most of the captured items were made of solid goid (1 Kings 7:48-50), and Cyrus kindly returned them to the Jews for the Temple they would soon rebuild.
4:8Either Sheshbazzar was the Babylonian name for Zerubbabel, one of the Jewish leaders during the firsf return (2:2; 3:8; 4:3), or he was a government official with responsibility for the returning party. The reasons Sheshbazzar may be identified with Zerubbabel are as follows: (1) Both were called governors (5:14, Haggai 1:1): (2) both laid the Temple foundation (3:8; 5:16); (3) Jews in exile were often given Babylonian names (see Daniel
4:23Setbacks and standstills are painful and discouraging to God's workers. These exiles had received a double dose (see
4:24Ezra resumes his chronological account here. It may have been 10 years since the Israelites had worked on the Temple. It did not begin again until 520 B.C., the second year of Darius’s reign (5:1 ff).
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Study feature · page 727
3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “ You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”
Led the first group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon © Completed the rebuilding of God’s Temple
• Demonstrated wisdom in the help he accepted and refused
• Started his building project with worship as the focal point
Weaknesses and mistakes
• Needed constant encouragement
• Allowed problems and resistance to stop the rebuilding work
Lessons from his life
• A leader needs to provide not only the initial motivation for a project but the continued encouragement necessary to keep the project going
• A teader must find his/her own dependable source of encouragement
• God's faithfulness is shown in the way he preserved David's line
Vital statistics
• Where: Babylon, Jerusalem
• Occupation: Recognized leader of the exiles Relatives: Father: Shealtiel. Grandfather: Jehoiachin
• Contemporaries: Cyrus, Darius, Zechariah, Haggai
“Then he said to me, ‘This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: “May God bless it! May God bless it!””” (Zechariah 4:6, 7).
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Study feature · page 728
Nehemiah 1. Ezra grouped them here to hightight the persistent opposition to God's people over the years and God’s ability to overcome it. 4:7 This letter sent to King Artaxerxes may have been inscribed ona clay tablet, a fragment of pottery, or sheets of parchment. 4:10 Ashurbanipal (669-627 B.C.) was the Assyrian king who completed the relocation of Israelite captives. He was the last of the strong Assyrian kings. After his death the nation quickly declined. Assyria was conquered by Babylon in 612. 4:19, 20 Artaxerxes said that Jerusalem had been “a hotbed of insurrection against many kings.” By reading the historical records, he learned that mighty kings had come from Jerusalem,
Study feature · page 729
THE PERSIAN KINGS OF EZRA’S DAY
Name Date of Reign Relationship to Israel
Scene eee eee 559-530 B.C........... Conquered Babylon. Established a policy of returning exiles to their homelands. Sent Zerubbabel to Jerusalem, financed
Darius..........00.. in Jerusalem.
Xerxes (Ahasuerus).... 486-465 Bc........... Was Esther’s husband. Allowed the Jews to protect themselves against Haman’s his project, and returned the gold and silver articles that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple. He probably knew Daniel.
522-486 B.C... 6.2... Supported construction of the Temple attempt to eliminate their people.
465-424 BC........00. Had Nehemiah as his cup-bearer. Allowed both Ezra and Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem. Artaxerxes I
God appoints prophetic voices to help us with our work (Ephesians 4:11-13). Their ministry should have the same effect upon us as Haggai’s and Zechariah’s had on Israel. “One who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them” (1 Corinthians 14:3). In turn, we should encourage those who bring God’s words to us. 5:3-5 The non-Jews who lived nearby attempted to hinder the construction of the Temple. But while the legal debate went on and the decision was under appeal, the Jews continued to rebuild. When we are doing God's work, others may try to delay, confuse, or frustrate us, but we can proceed confidently. God will accomplish his purposes in our world, no matter who attempts to block them. Just as he watched over the Jewish elders, he watches over you. Concentrate on God's purpose, and don’t be sidetracked by intrigues or slander.
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