426 lines
32 KiB
XML
426 lines
32 KiB
XML
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<div2 id="Ez.v" n="v" next="Ez.vi" prev="Ez.iv" progress="90.10%" title="Chapter IV">
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<h2 id="Ez.v-p0.1">E Z R A</h2>
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<h3 id="Ez.v-p0.2">CHAP. IV.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="Ez.v-p1">The good work of rebuilding the temple was no
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sooner begun than it met with opposition from those that bore ill
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will to it; the Samaritans were enemies to the Jews and their
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religion, and they set themselves to obstruct it. I. They offered
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to be partners in the building of it, that they might have it in
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their power to retard it; but they were refused, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.1-Ezra.4.3" parsed="|Ezra|4|1|4|3" passage="Ezr 4:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II. They discouraged them in it,
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and dissuaded them from it, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.4-Ezra.4.5" parsed="|Ezra|4|4|4|5" passage="Ezr 4:4,5">ver. 4,
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5</scripRef>. III. They basely misrepresented the undertaking, and
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the undertakers, to the king of Persia, by a memorial they sent
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him, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.6-Ezra.4.16" parsed="|Ezra|4|6|4|16" passage="Ezr 4:6-16">ver. 6-16</scripRef>. IV. They
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obtained from him an order to stop the building (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.17-Ezra.4.22" parsed="|Ezra|4|17|4|22" passage="Ezr 4:17-22">ver. 17-22</scripRef>), which they immediately put in
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execution, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.23-Ezra.4.24" parsed="|Ezra|4|23|4|24" passage="Ezr 4:23,24">ver. 23,
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24</scripRef>.</p>
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<scripCom id="Ez.v-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4" parsed="|Ezra|4|0|0|0" passage="Ezr 4" type="Commentary"/>
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<scripCom id="Ez.v-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.1-Ezra.4.5" parsed="|Ezra|4|1|4|5" passage="Ezr 4:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.4.1-Ezra.4.5">
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<h4 id="Ez.v-p1.8">Opposition Made to the Jews. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.v-p1.9">b. c.</span> 535.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="Ez.v-p2">1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin
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heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto
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the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.v-p2.1">Lord</span> God of Israel; 2
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Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and
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said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye
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<i>do;</i> and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of
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Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 3 But
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Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of
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Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a
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house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the
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<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.v-p2.2">Lord</span> God of Israel, as king Cyrus
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the king of Persia hath commanded us. 4 Then the people of
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the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled
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them in building, 5 And hired counsellors against them, to
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frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even
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until the reign of Darius king of Persia.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p3">We have here an instance of the old enmity
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that was put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the
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serpent. God's temple cannot be built, but Satan will rage, and the
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<i>gates of hell</i> will <i>fight against it.</i> The gospel
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kingdom was, in like manner, to be set up with much struggling and
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contention. In this respect the glory of the latter house was
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greater than the glory of the former, and it was more a figure of
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the temple of Christ's church, in that Solomon built his temple
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when there was <i>no adversary nor evil occurrent,</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.4" parsed="|1Kgs|5|4|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:4">1 Kings v. 4</scripRef>); but this second temple
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was built notwithstanding great opposition, in the removing and
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conquering of which, and the bringing of the work to perfection at
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last in spite of it, the wisdom, power, and goodness of God were
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much glorified, and the church was encouraged to trust in him.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p4">I. The undertakers are here called the
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<i>children of the captivity</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.1" parsed="|Ezra|4|1|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), which makes them look very
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little. They had newly come out of captivity, were born in
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captivity, had still the marks of their captivity upon them; though
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they were not now captives, they were under the control of those
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whose captives they had lately been. Israel was God's son, his
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first-born; but by their iniquity the people sold and enslaved
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themselves, and so became children of the captivity. But, it should
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seem, the thought of their being so quickened them to this work,
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for it was by their neglect of the temple that they lost their
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freedom.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p5">II. The opposers of the undertaking are
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here said to be <i>the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin,</i> not
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the Chaldeans or Persians (they gave them no disturbance—"let them
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build and welcome"), but the relics of the ten tribes, and the
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foreigners that had joined themselves to them, and patched up that
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mongrel religion we had an account of, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.17.33" parsed="|2Kgs|17|33|0|0" passage="2Ki 17:33">2 Kings xvii. 33</scripRef>. <i>They feared the Lord,
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and served their own gods too.</i> They are called <i>the people of
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the land,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.v-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.4" parsed="|Ezra|4|4|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>.
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The worst enemies Judah and Benjamin had were those that <i>said
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they were Jews and were not,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.v-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.9" parsed="|Rev|3|9|0|0" passage="Re 3:9">Rev.
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iii. 9</scripRef>.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p6">III. The opposition they gave had in it
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much of the subtlety of the old serpent. When they heard that the
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temple was in building they were immediately aware that it would be
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a fatal blow to their superstition, and set themselves to oppose
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it. They had not power to do it forcibly, but they tried all the
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ways they could to do it effectually.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p7">1. They offered their service to build with
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the Israelites only that thereby they might get an opportunity to
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retard the work, while they pretended to further it. Now, (1.)
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Their offer was plausible enough, and looked kind: "<i>We will
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build with you,</i> will help you to contrive, and will contribute
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towards the expense; <i>for we seek your God as you do,</i>"
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<scripRef id="Ez.v-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.2" parsed="|Ezra|4|2|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. This was false,
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for, though they sought the same God, they did not seek him only,
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nor seek him in the way he appointed, and therefore did not seek
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him as they did. Herein they designed, if it were possible, to
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hinder the building of it, at least to hinder their comfortable
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enjoyment of it; as good almost not have it as not have it to
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themselves, for the pure worship of the true God and him only. Thus
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are the <i>kisses of an enemy deceitful;</i> his words are smoother
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than butter when war is in his heart. But, (2.) The refusal of
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their proffered service was very just, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.3" parsed="|Ezra|4|3|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. <i>The chief of the fathers of
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Israel</i> were soon aware that they meant them no kindness,
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whatever they pretended, but really designed to do them a mischief,
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and therefore (though they had need enough of help if it had been
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such as they could confide in) told them plainly, "<i>You have
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nothing to do with us,</i> have no part nor lot in this matter, are
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not true-born Israelites nor faithful worshippers of God; <i>you
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worship you know not what,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.v-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:John.4.22" parsed="|John|4|22|0|0" passage="Joh 4:22">John
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iv. 22</scripRef>. You are none of those with whom we dare hold
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communion, and therefore we ourselves will build it." They plead
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not to them the law of their God, which forbade them to mingle with
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strangers (though that especially they had an eye to), but that
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which they would take more notice of, the king's commission, which
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was directed to them only: "The king of Persia has commanded us to
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build this house, and we shall distrust and affront him if we call
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in foreign aid." Note, In doing good there is need of the <i>wisdom
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of the serpent,</i> as well as the <i>innocency of the dove,</i>
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and we have need, as it follows there, to <i>beware of men,</i>
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<scripRef id="Ez.v-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.10.16-Matt.10.17" parsed="|Matt|10|16|10|17" passage="Mt 10:16,17">Matt. x. 16, 17</scripRef>. We
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should carefully consider with whom we are associated and on whose
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hand we lean. While we trust God with a pious confidence we must
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trust men with a prudent jealousy and caution.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p8">2. When this plot failed they did what they
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could to divert them from the work and discourage them in it. They
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weakened their hands by telling them it was in vain to attempt it,
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calling them <i>foolish builders,</i> who began what they were not
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able to finish, and by their insinuations troubled them, and made
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them drive heavily in the work. All were not alike zealous in it.
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Those that were cool and indifferent were by these artifices drawn
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off from the work, which wanted their help, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.4" parsed="|Ezra|4|4|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. And because what they themselves
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said the Jews would suspect to be ill meant, and not be influenced
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by, they, underhand, <i>hired counsellors against them,</i> who,
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pretending to advise them for the best, should dissuade them from
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proceeding, and so <i>frustrate their purpose</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.5" parsed="|Ezra|4|5|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), or dissuade the men of
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Tyre and Sidon from furnishing them with the timber they had
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bargained for (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.7" parsed="|Ezra|3|7|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:7"><i>ch.</i> iii.
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7</scripRef>); or whatever business they had at the Persian court,
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to solicit for any particular grants or favours, pursuant to the
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general edict for their liberty, there were those that were hired
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and lay ready to appear of counsel against them. Wonder not at the
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restlessness of the church's enemies in their attempts against the
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building of God's temple. He whom they serve, and whose work they
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are doing, is <i>unwearied</i> in <i>walking to and fro through the
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earth</i> to do mischief. And let those who discourage a good work,
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and weaken the hands of those that are employed in it, see whose
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pattern they follow.</p>
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</div><scripCom id="Ez.v-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.6-Ezra.4.16" parsed="|Ezra|4|6|4|16" passage="Ezr 4:6-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.4.6-Ezra.4.16">
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<h4 id="Ez.v-p8.5">The Jews Misrepresented. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.v-p8.6">b. c.</span> 521.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="Ez.v-p9">6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the
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beginning of his reign, wrote they <i>unto him</i> an accusation
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against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the
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days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest
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of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the
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writing of the letter <i>was</i> written in the Syrian tongue, and
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interpreted in the Syrian tongue. 8 Rehum the chancellor and
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Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes
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the king in this sort: 9 Then <i>wrote</i> Rehum the
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chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their
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companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the
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Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the
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Dehavites, <i>and</i> the Elamites, 10 And the rest of the
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nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in
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the cities of Samaria, and the rest <i>that are</i> on this side
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the river, and at such a time. 11 This <i>is</i> the copy of
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the letter that they sent unto him, <i>even</i> unto Artaxerxes the
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king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a
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time. 12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came
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up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious
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and the bad city, and have set up the walls <i>thereof,</i> and
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joined the foundations. 13 Be it known now unto the king,
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that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up <i>again,
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then</i> will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and <i>so</i>
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thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. 14 Now because
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we have maintenance from <i>the king's</i> palace, and it was not
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meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and
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certified the king; 15 That search may be made in the book
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of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of
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the records, and know that this city <i>is</i> a rebellious city,
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and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved
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sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city
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destroyed. 16 We certify the king that, if this city be
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builded <i>again,</i> and the walls thereof set up, by this means
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thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p10">Cyrus stedfastly adhered to the Jews'
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interest, and supported his own grant. It was to no purpose to
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offer any thing to him in prejudice of it. What he did was from a
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good principle, and in the fear of God, and therefore he adhered to
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it. But, though his reign in all was thirty years, yet after the
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conquest of Babylon, and his decree for the release of the Jews,
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some think that he reigned but three years, others seven, and then
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either died or gave up that part of his government, in which his
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successor was Ahasuerus (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.6" parsed="|Ezra|4|6|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:6"><i>v.</i>
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6</scripRef>), called also <i>Artaxerxes</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.7" parsed="|Ezra|4|7|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), supposed to be the same that in
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heathen authors is called <i>Cambyses,</i> who had never taken such
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cognizance of the despised Jews as to concern himself for them, nor
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had he that knowledge of the God of Israel which his predecessor
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had. To him these Samaritans applied by letter for an order to stop
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the building of the temple; and they did it in the beginning of his
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reign, being resolved to lose no time when they thought they had a
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king for their purpose. See how watchful the church's enemies are
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to take the first opportunity of doing it a mischief; let not its
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friends be less careful to do it a kindness. Here is,</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p11">I. The general purport of the letter which
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they sent to the king, to inform him of this matter. It is called
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(<scripRef id="Ez.v-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.6" parsed="|Ezra|4|6|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>) <i>an
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accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.</i> The
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devil is the <i>accuser of the brethren</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.12.10" parsed="|Rev|12|10|0|0" passage="Re 12:10">Rev. xii. 10</scripRef>), and he carries on his
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malicious designs against them, not only by accusing them himself
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before God, as he did Job, but by acting as a lying spirit in the
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mouths of his instruments, whom he employs to accuse them before
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magistrates and kings and to make them odious to the many and
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obnoxious to the mighty. Marvel not if the same arts be still used
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to depreciate serious godliness.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p12">II. The persons concerned in writing this
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letter. The contrivers are named (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.7" parsed="|Ezra|4|7|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>) that plotted the thing, the
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writers (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.8" parsed="|Ezra|4|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>) that
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put it into form, and the subscribers (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.9" parsed="|Ezra|4|9|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>) that concurred in it and joined
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with them in this representation, this misrepresentation I should
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call it. Now see here, 1. How the <i>rulers take counsel together
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against the Lord</i> and his temple, with their companions. The
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building of the temple would do them no harm, yet they appear
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against it with the utmost concern and virulence, perhaps because
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the prophets of the God of Israel had foretold the <i>famishing</i>
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and <i>perishing</i> of all the <i>gods of the heathen,</i>
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<scripRef id="Ez.v-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.11 Bible:Jer.10.11" parsed="|Zeph|2|11|0|0;|Jer|10|11|0|0" passage="Zep 2:11,Jer 10:11">Zeph. ii. 11; Jer. x.
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11</scripRef>. 2. How the people concurred with them in imagining
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this vain thing. They followed the cry, though ignorant of the
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merits of the cause. All the several colonies of that plantation
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(nine are here mentioned), who had their denomination from the
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cities or countries of Assyria, Chaldea, Persia, &c., whence
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they came, set their hands, by their representatives, to this
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|||
|
letter. Perhaps they were incensed against these returned Jews
|
|||
|
because many of the ten tribes were among them, whose estates they
|
|||
|
had got into their possession, and of whom they were therefore
|
|||
|
jealous, lest they should attempt the recovery of them
|
|||
|
hereafter.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p13">III. A copy of the letter itself, which
|
|||
|
Ezra inserts here out of the records of the kingdom of Persia, into
|
|||
|
which it had been entered; and it is well we have it, that we may
|
|||
|
see whence the like methods, still taken to expose good people and
|
|||
|
baffle good designs, are copied.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p14">1. They represent themselves as very loyal
|
|||
|
to the government, and greatly concerned for the honour and
|
|||
|
interest of it, and would have it thought that the king had no such
|
|||
|
loving faithful subjects in all his dominions as they were, none so
|
|||
|
sensible of their obligations to him, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.14" parsed="|Ezra|4|14|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. <i>Because we are salted with
|
|||
|
the salt of the palace</i> (so it is in the <i>margin</i>), "we
|
|||
|
have our salary from the court, and could no more live without it
|
|||
|
than flesh could be preserved without salt;" or, as some think,
|
|||
|
their pay or pension was sent them in salt; or "Because we had our
|
|||
|
education in the palace, and were brought up at the king's table,"
|
|||
|
as we find, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.1.5" parsed="|Dan|1|5|0|0" passage="Da 1:5">Dan. i. 5</scripRef>. These
|
|||
|
were those whom he intended to prefer; they did <i>eat their
|
|||
|
portion of the king's meat.</i> "Now, in consideration of this,
|
|||
|
<i>it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonour;</i>" and
|
|||
|
therefore they urge him to stop the building of the temple, which
|
|||
|
would certainly be the king's dishonour more than any thing else.
|
|||
|
Note, A secret enmity to Christ and his gospel is often gilded over
|
|||
|
with a pretended affection to Caesar and his power. The Jews hated
|
|||
|
the Roman government, and yet, to serve a turn, could cry, <i>We
|
|||
|
have no king but Caesar.</i> But (to allude to this), if those that
|
|||
|
lived upon the crown thought themselves bound in gratitude thus to
|
|||
|
support the interest of it, much more reason have we thus to argue
|
|||
|
ourselves into a pious concern for God's honour; <i>we have our
|
|||
|
maintenance from the God of heaven</i> and are <i>salted with his
|
|||
|
salt,</i> live upon his bounty and are the care of his providence;
|
|||
|
and therefore it is not <i>meet for us to see his dishonour</i>
|
|||
|
without resenting it and doing what we can to prevent it.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p15">2. They represent the Jews as disloyal, and
|
|||
|
dangerous to the government, that Jerusalem was <i>the rebellious
|
|||
|
and bad city</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.12" parsed="|Ezra|4|12|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:12"><i>v.</i>
|
|||
|
12</scripRef>), <i>hurtful to kings and provinces,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.v-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.15" parsed="|Ezra|4|15|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. See how Jerusalem,
|
|||
|
<i>the joy of the whole earth</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.2" parsed="|Ps|48|2|0|0" passage="Ps 48:2">Ps.
|
|||
|
xlviii. 2</scripRef>), is here reproached as the scandal of the
|
|||
|
whole earth. The enemies of the church could not do the bad things
|
|||
|
they design against it if they did not first give it a bad name.
|
|||
|
Jerusalem had been a loyal city to its rightful princes, and its
|
|||
|
present inhabitants were as well affected to the king and his
|
|||
|
government as any of his provinces whatsoever. Daniel, who was a
|
|||
|
Jew, had lately approved himself so faithful to his prince that his
|
|||
|
worst enemies could find no fault in his management, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.6.4" parsed="|Dan|6|4|0|0" passage="Da 6:4">Dan. vi. 4</scripRef>. But thus was Elijah most
|
|||
|
unjustly charged with troubling Israel, the apostles with
|
|||
|
<i>turning the world upside down,</i> and Christ himself with
|
|||
|
<i>perverting the nation</i> and <i>forbidding to give tribute to
|
|||
|
Caesar;</i> and we must not think it strange if the same game be
|
|||
|
still played. Now here,</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p16">(1.) Their history of what was past was
|
|||
|
invidious, that <i>within this city sedition had been moved of old
|
|||
|
time,</i> and, for <i>that cause, it was destroyed,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.v-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.15" parsed="|Ezra|4|15|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. It cannot be denied but
|
|||
|
that there was some colour given for this suggestion by the
|
|||
|
attempts of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah to shake off the yoke of the
|
|||
|
king of Babylon, which, if they had kept close to their religion
|
|||
|
and the temple they were now rebuilding, they would never have come
|
|||
|
under. But it must be considered, [1.] That they were themselves,
|
|||
|
and their ancestors, sovereign princes, and their efforts to
|
|||
|
recover their rights, if there had not been in them the violation
|
|||
|
of an oath, for aught I know, would have been justifiable, and
|
|||
|
successful too, had they taken the right method and made their
|
|||
|
peace with God first. [2.] Though these Jews, and their princes,
|
|||
|
had been guilty of rebellion, yet it was unjust therefore to fasten
|
|||
|
this as an indelible brand upon this city, as if that must for ever
|
|||
|
after go under the name of <i>the rebellious and bad city.</i> The
|
|||
|
Jews, in their captivity, had given such specimens of good
|
|||
|
behaviour as were sufficient, with any reasonable men, to roll away
|
|||
|
that one reproach; for they were instructed (and we have reason to
|
|||
|
hope that they observed their instructions) to <i>seek the peace of
|
|||
|
the city where</i> they were <i>captives</i> and <i>pray to the
|
|||
|
Lord for it,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.v-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.7" parsed="|Jer|29|7|0|0" passage="Jer 29:7">Jer. xxix.
|
|||
|
7</scripRef>. It was therefore very unfair, though not uncommon,
|
|||
|
thus to impute the iniquity of the fathers to the children.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p17">(2.) Their information concerning what was
|
|||
|
now doing was grossly false in matter of fact. Very careful they
|
|||
|
were to inform the king that the Jews had <i>set up the walls of
|
|||
|
this city,</i> nay, had <i>finished</i> them (so it is in the
|
|||
|
<i>margin</i>) and <i>joined the foundations</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.12" parsed="|Ezra|4|12|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), when this was far from
|
|||
|
being the case. They had only begun to build the temple, which
|
|||
|
Cyrus commanded them to do, but, as for the walls, there was
|
|||
|
nothing done nor designed towards the repair of them, as appears by
|
|||
|
the condition they were in many years after (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.3" parsed="|Neh|1|3|0|0" passage="Ne 1:3">Neh. i. 3</scripRef>), all in ruins. <i>What shall be
|
|||
|
given,</i> and what <i>done, to these false tongues,</i> nay, which
|
|||
|
is worse, these false pens? <i>sharp arrows,</i> doubtless, <i>of
|
|||
|
the mighty,</i> and <i>coals of juniper,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.v-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.3-Ps.120.4" parsed="|Ps|120|3|120|4" passage="Ps 120:3,4">Ps. cxx. 3, 4</scripRef>. If they had not been
|
|||
|
perfectly lost to all virtue and honour they would not, and if they
|
|||
|
had not been very secure of the king's countenance they durst not,
|
|||
|
have written that to the king which all their neighbours knew to be
|
|||
|
a notorious lie. See <scripRef id="Ez.v-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.29.12" parsed="|Prov|29|12|0|0" passage="Pr 29:12">Prov. xxix.
|
|||
|
12</scripRef>.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p18">(3.) Their prognostics of the consequences
|
|||
|
were altogether groundless and absurd. They were very confident,
|
|||
|
and would have the king believe it upon their word, that if this
|
|||
|
city should be built, not only the Jews would <i>pay no toll,
|
|||
|
tribute, or custom</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.13" parsed="|Ezra|4|13|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:13"><i>v.</i>
|
|||
|
13</scripRef>), but (since a great lie is as soon spoken as a
|
|||
|
little one) that the king would have no portion at all on this side
|
|||
|
the river (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.16" parsed="|Ezra|4|16|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>),
|
|||
|
that all the countries on this side Euphrates would instantly
|
|||
|
revolt, drawn in to do so by their example; and, if the prince in
|
|||
|
possession should connive at this, he would wrong, not only
|
|||
|
himself, but his successors: <i>Thou shalt endamage the revenue of
|
|||
|
the kings.</i> See how every line in this letter breathes both the
|
|||
|
subtlety and malice of the old serpent.</p>
|
|||
|
</div><scripCom id="Ez.v-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.17-Ezra.4.24" parsed="|Ezra|4|17|4|24" passage="Ezr 4:17-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.4.17-Ezra.4.24">
|
|||
|
<p class="passage" id="Ez.v-p19">17 <i>Then</i> sent the king an answer unto
|
|||
|
Rehum the chancellor, and <i>to</i> Shimshai the scribe, and
|
|||
|
<i>to</i> the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and
|
|||
|
<i>unto</i> 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 <i>that</i> rebellion and sedition have been
|
|||
|
made therein. 20 There have been mighty kings also over
|
|||
|
Jerusalem, which have ruled over all <i>countries</i> 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 <i>another</i> 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 <i>was</i> 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
|
|||
|
<i>is</i> at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the
|
|||
|
reign of Darius king of Persia.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p20">Here we have,</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p21">I. The orders which the king of Persia
|
|||
|
gave, in answer to the information sent him by the Samaritans
|
|||
|
against the Jews. He suffered himself to be imposed upon by their
|
|||
|
fraud and falsehood, took no care to examine the allegations of
|
|||
|
their petition concerning that which the Jews were now doing, but
|
|||
|
took it for granted that the charge was true, and was very willing
|
|||
|
to gratify them with an order of council to stay proceedings. 1. He
|
|||
|
consulted the records concerning Jerusalem, and found that it had
|
|||
|
indeed rebelled against the king of Babylon, and therefore that it
|
|||
|
was, as they called it, a <i>bad city</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.19" parsed="|Ezra|4|19|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), and withal that in times past
|
|||
|
kings had reigned there, to whom all the countries on that side the
|
|||
|
river had been tributaries (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.20" parsed="|Ezra|4|20|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:20"><i>v.</i>
|
|||
|
20</scripRef>), and that therefore there was danger that if ever
|
|||
|
they were able (which they were never likely to be) they would
|
|||
|
claim them again. Thus he says as they said, and pretends to give a
|
|||
|
reason for so doing. See the hard fate of princes, who must see and
|
|||
|
hear with other men's eyes and ears, and give judgment upon things
|
|||
|
as they are represented to them, though often represented falsely.
|
|||
|
God's judgment is always just because he sees things as they are,
|
|||
|
and it is according to truth. 2. He appointed these Samaritans to
|
|||
|
stop the building of the city immediately, till further orders
|
|||
|
should be given about it, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.21-Ezra.4.22" parsed="|Ezra|4|21|4|22" passage="Ezr 4:21,22"><i>v.</i>
|
|||
|
21, 22</scripRef>. Neither they, in their letter, nor he, in his
|
|||
|
order, make any mention of the temple, and the building of that,
|
|||
|
because both they and he knew that they had not only a permission,
|
|||
|
but a command, from Cyrus to rebuild that, which even these
|
|||
|
Samaritans had not the confidence to move for the repeal of. They
|
|||
|
spoke only of the <i>city:</i> "Let not <i>that</i> be built," that
|
|||
|
is, as a city with walls and gates; "whatever you do, prevent
|
|||
|
<i>that, lest damage grow to the hurt of the kings:</i>" he would
|
|||
|
not that the crown should lose by his wearing it.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p22">II. The use which the enemies of the Jews
|
|||
|
made of these orders, so fraudulently obtained; upon the receipt of
|
|||
|
them they went up <i>in haste to Jerusalem,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.v-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.23" parsed="|Ezra|4|23|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. <i>Their feet ran to evil,</i>
|
|||
|
<scripRef id="Ez.v-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.1.16" parsed="|Prov|1|16|0|0" passage="Pr 1:16">Prov. i. 16</scripRef>. They were
|
|||
|
impatient till the builders were served with this prohibition,
|
|||
|
which they produced as their warrant to <i>make them cease by force
|
|||
|
and power.</i> As they abused the king in obtaining this order by
|
|||
|
their mis-informations, so they abused him in the execution of it;
|
|||
|
for the order was only to prevent the walling of the <i>city,</i>
|
|||
|
but, having force and power on their side, they construed it as
|
|||
|
relating to the <i>temple,</i> for it was that to which they had an
|
|||
|
ill will, and which they only wanted some colour to hinder the
|
|||
|
building of. There was indeed a general clause in the order, to
|
|||
|
<i>cause these men to cease,</i> which had reference to their
|
|||
|
complaint about building the walls; but they applied it to the
|
|||
|
building of the temple. See what need we have to pray, not only for
|
|||
|
kings, but for all in authority under them, and <i>the governors
|
|||
|
sent by them,</i> because the <i>quietness</i> and
|
|||
|
<i>peaceableness</i> of our lives, <i>in all godliness and
|
|||
|
honesty,</i> depend very much upon the integrity and wisdom of
|
|||
|
inferior magistrates, as well as the supreme. The consequence was
|
|||
|
that <i>the work of the house of God ceased</i> for a time, through
|
|||
|
the power and insolence of its enemies; and so, through the
|
|||
|
coldness and indifference of its friends, it stood still till the
|
|||
|
second year of Darius Hystaspes, for to me it seems clear by the
|
|||
|
thread of this sacred history that it was that Darius, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.24" parsed="|Ezra|4|24|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. Though now a stop was
|
|||
|
put to it by the violence of the Samaritans, yet that they might
|
|||
|
soon after have gone on by connivance, if they had had a due
|
|||
|
affection to the work, appears by this, that before they had that
|
|||
|
express warrant from the king for doing it (<scripRef id="Ez.v-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.6.1-Ezra.6.12" parsed="|Ezra|6|1|6|12" passage="Ezr 6:1-12"><i>ch.</i> vi.</scripRef>) they were reproved by the
|
|||
|
prophets for not doing it, <scripRef id="Ez.v-p22.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.1 Bible:Hag.1.1" parsed="|Ezra|5|1|0|0;|Hag|1|1|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:1,Hag 1:1"><i>ch.</i> v. 1</scripRef>, compared with
|
|||
|
<scripRef id="Ez.v-p22.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.1 Bible:Hag.1.1" parsed="|Ezra|5|1|0|0;|Hag|1|1|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:1,Hag 1:1">Hag. i. 1</scripRef>, &c.
|
|||
|
If they had taken due care to inform Cambyses of the truth of this
|
|||
|
case, perhaps he would have recalled his order; but, for aught I
|
|||
|
know, some of the builders were almost as willing it should cease
|
|||
|
as the adversaries themselves were. At some periods the church has
|
|||
|
suffered more by the coldness of its friends than by the heat of
|
|||
|
its enemies; but both together commonly make church-work slow
|
|||
|
work.</p>
|
|||
|
</div></div2>
|