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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z R A</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The good work of rebuilding the temple was no sooner begun than it met
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with opposition from those that bore ill will to it; the Samaritans
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were enemies to the Jews and their religion, and they set themselves to
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obstruct it.
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I. They offered to be partners in the building of it, that they might
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have it in their power to retard it; but they were refused,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. They discouraged them in it, and dissuaded them from it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:4,5">ver. 4, 5</A>.
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III. They basely misrepresented the undertaking, and the undertakers,
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to the king of Persia, by a memorial they sent him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:6-16">ver. 6-16</A>.
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IV. They obtained from him an order to stop the building
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:17-22">ver. 17-22</A>),
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which they immediately put in execution,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:23,24">ver. 23, 24</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Opposition Made to the Jews.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 535.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
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children of the captivity builded the temple unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of
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Israel;
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2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the
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fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek
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your God, as ye <I>do;</I> and we do sacrifice unto him since the days
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of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
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3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the
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fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us
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to build a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will
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build unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of
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Persia hath commanded us.
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4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people
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of Judah, and troubled them in building,
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5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their
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purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the
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reign of Darius king of Persia.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an instance of the old enmity that was put between the
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seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. God's temple cannot be
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built, but Satan will rage, and the <I>gates of hell</I> will <I>fight
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against it.</I> The gospel kingdom was, in like manner, to be set up
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with much struggling and contention. In this respect the glory of the
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latter house was greater than the glory of the former, and it was more
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a figure of the temple of Christ's church, in that Solomon built his
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temple when there was <I>no adversary nor evil occurrent,</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+5:4">1 Kings v. 4</A>);
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but this second temple was built notwithstanding great opposition, in
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the removing and conquering of which, and the bringing of the work to
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perfection at last in spite of it, the wisdom, power, and goodness of
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God were much glorified, and the church was encouraged to trust in
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him.</P>
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<P>
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I. The undertakers are here called the <I>children of the captivity</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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which makes them look very little. They had newly come out of
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captivity, were born in captivity, had still the marks of their
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captivity upon them; though they were not now captives, they were under
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the control of those whose captives they had lately been. Israel was
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God's son, his first-born; but by their iniquity the people sold and
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enslaved themselves, and so became children of the captivity. But, it
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should 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>
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II. The opposers of the undertaking are here said to be <I>the
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adversaries of Judah and Benjamin,</I> not the Chaldeans or Persians
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(they gave them no disturbance--"let them build and welcome"), but the
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relics of the ten tribes, and the foreigners that had joined themselves
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to them, and patched up that mongrel religion we had an account of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+17:33">2 Kings xvii. 33</A>.
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<I>They feared the Lord, and served their own gods too.</I> They are
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called <I>the people of the land,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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The worst enemies Judah and Benjamin had were those that <I>said they
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were Jews and were not,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:9">Rev. iii. 9</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. The opposition they gave had in it much of the subtlety of the old
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serpent. When they heard that the temple was in building they were
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immediately aware that it would be a fatal blow to their superstition,
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and set themselves to oppose it. They had not power to do it forcibly,
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but they tried all the ways they could to do it effectually.</P>
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<P>
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1. They offered their service to build with the Israelites only that
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thereby they might get an opportunity to retard the work, while they
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pretended to further it. Now,
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(1.) 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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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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This was false, for, though they sought the same God, they did not seek
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him only, nor seek him in the way he appointed, and therefore did not
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seek 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 are
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the <I>kisses of an enemy deceitful;</I> his words are smoother than
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butter when war is in his heart. But,
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(2.) The refusal of their proffered service was very just,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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<I>The chief of the fathers of Israel</I> were soon aware that they
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meant them no kindness, whatever they pretended, but really designed to
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do them a mischief, and therefore (though they had need enough of help
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if it had been such as they could confide in) told them plainly,
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"<I>You have nothing to do with us,</I> have no part nor lot in this
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matter, are not true-born Israelites nor faithful worshippers of God;
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<I>you worship you know not what,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:22">John iv. 22</A>.
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You are none of those with whom we dare hold communion, and therefore
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we ourselves will build it." They plead not to them the law of their
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God, which forbade them to mingle with strangers (though that
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especially they had an eye to), but that which they would take more
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notice of, the king's commission, which was directed to them only: "The
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king of Persia has commanded us to build this house, and we shall
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distrust and affront him if we call in foreign aid." Note, In doing
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good there is need of the <I>wisdom of the serpent,</I> as well as the
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<I>innocency of the dove,</I> and we have need, as it follows there, to
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<I>beware of men,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:16,17">Matt. x. 16, 17</A>.
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We 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 trust
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men with a prudent jealousy and caution.</P>
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<P>
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2. When this plot failed they did what they could to divert them from
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the work and discourage them in it. They weakened their hands by
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telling them it was in vain to attempt it, calling them <I>foolish
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builders,</I> who began what they were not able to finish, and by their
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insinuations troubled them, and made them drive heavily in the work.
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All were not alike zealous in it. Those that were cool and indifferent
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were by these artifices drawn off from the work, which wanted their
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help,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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And because what they themselves said the Jews would suspect to be ill
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meant, and not be influenced by, they, underhand, <I>hired counsellors
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against them,</I> who, pretending to advise them for the best, should
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dissuade them from proceeding, and so <I>frustrate their purpose</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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or dissuade the men of Tyre and Sidon from furnishing them with the
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timber they had bargained for
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+3:7"><I>ch.</I> iii. 7</A>);
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or whatever business they had at the Persian court, to solicit for any
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particular grants or favours, pursuant to the general edict for their
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liberty, there were those that were hired and lay ready to appear of
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counsel against them. Wonder not at the restlessness of the church's
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enemies in their attempts against the building of God's temple. He whom
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they serve, and whose work they are doing, is <I>unwearied</I> in
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<I>walking to and fro through the earth</I> to do mischief. And let
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those who discourage a good work, and weaken the hands of those that
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are employed in it, see whose pattern they follow.</P>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr4_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Jews Misrepresented.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 521.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign,
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wrote they <I>unto him</I> an accusation against the inhabitants of
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Judah and Jerusalem.
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7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath,
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Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of
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Persia; and the writing of the letter <I>was</I> written in the Syrian
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tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
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8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter
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against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
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9 Then <I>wrote</I> Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe,
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and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the
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Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites,
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the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, <I>and</I> the
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Elamites,
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10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble
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Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the
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rest <I>that are</I> on this side the river, and at such a time.
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11 This <I>is</I> the copy of the letter that they sent unto him,
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<I>even</I> unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this
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side the river, and at such a time.
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12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from
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thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and
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the bad city, and have set up the walls <I>thereof,</I> and joined the
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foundations.
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13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be
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builded, and the walls set up <I>again, then</I> will they not pay
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toll, tribute, and custom, and <I>so</I> thou shalt endamage the
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revenue of the kings.
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14 Now because we have maintenance from <I>the king's</I> palace,
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and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore
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have we sent and certified the king;
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15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy
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fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know
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that this city <I>is</I> a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and
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provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of
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old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
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16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded <I>again,</I>
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and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no
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portion on this side the river.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Cyrus stedfastly adhered to the Jews' interest, and supported his own
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grant. It was to no purpose to offer any thing to him in prejudice of
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it. What he did was from a good principle, and in the fear of God, and
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therefore he adhered to it. But, though his reign in all was thirty
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years, yet after the conquest of Babylon, and his decree for the
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release of the Jews, some think that he reigned but three years, others
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seven, and then either died or gave up that part of his government, in
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which his successor was Ahasuerus
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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called also <I>Artaxerxes</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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supposed to be the same that in heathen authors is called
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<I>Cambyses,</I> who had never taken such cognizance of the despised
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Jews as to concern himself for them, nor had he that knowledge of the
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God of Israel which his predecessor had. To him these Samaritans
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applied by letter for an order to stop the building of the temple; and
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they did it in the beginning of his reign, being resolved to lose no
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time when they thought they had a king for their purpose. See how
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watchful the church's enemies are to take the first opportunity of
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doing it a mischief; let not its friends be less careful to do it a
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kindness. Here is,</P>
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<P>
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I. The general purport of the letter which they sent to the king, to
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inform him of this matter. It is called
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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<I>an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.</I>
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The devil is the <I>accuser of the brethren</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:10">Rev. xii. 10</A>),
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and he carries on his malicious designs against them, not only by
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accusing them himself before God, as he did Job, but by acting as a
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lying spirit in the mouths of his instruments, whom he employs to
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accuse them before magistrates and kings and to make them odious to the
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many and obnoxious to the mighty. Marvel not if the same arts be still
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used to depreciate serious godliness.</P>
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<P>
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II. The persons concerned in writing this letter. The contrivers are
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named
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>)
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that plotted the thing, the writers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
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that put it into form, and the subscribers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>)
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that concurred in it and joined with them in this representation, this
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misrepresentation I should call it. Now see here,
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1. How the <I>rulers take counsel together against the Lord</I> and his
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temple, with their companions. The building of the temple would do them
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no harm, yet they appear against it with the utmost concern and
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virulence, perhaps because the prophets of the God of Israel had
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foretold the <I>famishing</I> and <I>perishing</I> of all the <I>gods
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of the heathen,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zep+2:11,Jer+10:11">Zeph. ii. 11; Jer. x. 11</A>.
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2. How the people concurred with them in imagining this vain thing.
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They followed the cry, though ignorant of the merits of the cause. All
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the several colonies of that plantation (nine are here mentioned), who
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had their denomination from the cities or countries of Assyria,
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Chaldea, Persia, &c., whence they came, set their hands, by their
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representatives, to this letter. Perhaps they were incensed against
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these returned Jews because many of the ten tribes were among them,
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whose estates they had got into their possession, and of whom they were
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|
therefore jealous, lest they should attempt the recovery of them
|
|
hereafter.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
<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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+1:5">Dan. i. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
2. They represent the Jews as disloyal, and dangerous to the
|
|
government, that Jerusalem was <I>the rebellious and bad city</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>hurtful to kings and provinces,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how Jerusalem, <I>the joy of the whole earth</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+48:2">Ps. xlviii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+6:4">Dan. vi. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+29:7">Jer. xxix. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was therefore very unfair, though not uncommon, thus to impute the
|
|
iniquity of the fathers to the children.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+1:3">Neh. i. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:3,4">Ps. cxx. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+29:12">Prov. xxix. 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ezr4_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ezr4_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ezr4_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ezr4_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ezr4_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ezr4_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ezr4_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ezr4_24"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
and withal that in times past kings had reigned there, to whom all the
|
|
countries on that side the river had been tributaries
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:21,22"><I>v.</I> 21, 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Their feet ran to evil,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:16">Prov. i. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:1-12"><I>ch.</I> vi.</A>)
|
|
|
|
they were reproved by the prophets for not doing it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:1,Hag+1:1"><I>ch.</I> v. 1</A>,
|
|
|
|
compared with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:1,Hag+1:1">Hag. i. 1</A>,
|
|
|
|
&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>
|
|
|
|
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