mh_parser/vol_split/15 - Ezra/Chapter 4.xml

<div2 id="Ez.v" n="v" next="Ez.vi" prev="Ez.iv" progress="90.10%" title="Chapter IV">
<h2 id="Ez.v-p0.1">E Z R A</h2>
<h3 id="Ez.v-p0.2">CHAP. IV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ez.v-p1">The good work of rebuilding the temple was no
sooner begun than it met with opposition from those that bore ill
will to it; the Samaritans were enemies to the Jews and their
religion, and they set themselves to obstruct it. I. They offered
to be partners in the building of it, that they might have it in
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,
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,
5</scripRef>. III. They basely misrepresented the undertaking, and
the undertakers, to the king of Persia, by a memorial they sent
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
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
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,
24</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ez.v-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4" parsed="|Ezra|4|0|0|0" passage="Ezr 4" type="Commentary"/>
<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">
<h4 id="Ez.v-p1.8">Opposition Made to the Jews. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.v-p1.9">b. c.</span> 535.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.v-p2">1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin
heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.v-p2.1">Lord</span> God of Israel;   2
Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and
said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye
<i>do;</i> and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of
Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.   3 But
Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of
Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a
house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.v-p2.2">Lord</span> God of Israel, as king Cyrus
the king of Persia hath commanded us.   4 Then the people of
the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled
them in building,   5 And hired counsellors against them, to
frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even
until the reign of Darius king of Persia.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p3">We have here an instance of the old enmity
that was put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the
serpent. God's temple cannot be built, but Satan will rage, and the
<i>gates of hell</i> will <i>fight against it.</i> The gospel
kingdom was, in like manner, to be set up with much struggling and
contention. In this respect the glory of the latter house was
greater than the glory of the former, and it was more a figure of
the temple of Christ's church, in that Solomon built his temple
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
was built notwithstanding great opposition, in the removing and
conquering of which, and the bringing of the work to perfection at
last in spite of it, the wisdom, power, and goodness of God were
much glorified, and the church was encouraged to trust in him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p4">I. The undertakers are here called the
<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
little. They had newly come out of captivity, were born in
captivity, had still the marks of their captivity upon them; though
they were not now captives, they were under the control of those
whose captives they had lately been. Israel was God's son, his
first-born; but by their iniquity the people sold and enslaved
themselves, and so became children of the captivity. But, it should
seem, the thought of their being so quickened them to this work,
for it was by their neglect of the temple that they lost their
freedom.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p5">II. The opposers of the undertaking are
here said to be <i>the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin,</i> not
the Chaldeans or Persians (they gave them no disturbance—"let them
build and welcome"), but the relics of the ten tribes, and the
foreigners that had joined themselves to them, and patched up that
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,
and served their own gods too.</i> They are called <i>the people of
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>.
The worst enemies Judah and Benjamin had were those that <i>said
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.
iii. 9</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p6">III. The opposition they gave had in it
much of the subtlety of the old serpent. When they heard that the
temple was in building they were immediately aware that it would be
a fatal blow to their superstition, and set themselves to oppose
it. They had not power to do it forcibly, but they tried all the
ways they could to do it effectually.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p7">1. They offered their service to build with
the Israelites only that thereby they might get an opportunity to
retard the work, while they pretended to further it. Now, (1.)
Their offer was plausible enough, and looked kind: "<i>We will
build with you,</i> will help you to contrive, and will contribute
towards the expense; <i>for we seek your God as you do,</i>"
<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,
for, though they sought the same God, they did not seek him only,
nor seek him in the way he appointed, and therefore did not seek
him as they did. Herein they designed, if it were possible, to
hinder the building of it, at least to hinder their comfortable
enjoyment of it; as good almost not have it as not have it to
themselves, for the pure worship of the true God and him only. Thus
are the <i>kisses of an enemy deceitful;</i> his words are smoother
than butter when war is in his heart. But, (2.) The refusal of
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
Israel</i> were soon aware that they meant them no kindness,
whatever they pretended, but really designed to do them a mischief,
and therefore (though they had need enough of help if it had been
such as they could confide in) told them plainly, "<i>You have
nothing to do with us,</i> have no part nor lot in this matter, are
not true-born Israelites nor faithful worshippers of God; <i>you
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
iv. 22</scripRef>. You are none of those with whom we dare hold
communion, and therefore we ourselves will build it." They plead
not to them the law of their God, which forbade them to mingle with
strangers (though that especially they had an eye to), but that
which they would take more notice of, the king's commission, which
was directed to them only: "The king of Persia has commanded us to
build this house, and we shall distrust and affront him if we call
in foreign aid." Note, In doing good there is need of the <i>wisdom
of the serpent,</i> as well as the <i>innocency of the dove,</i>
and we have need, as it follows there, to <i>beware of men,</i>
<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
should carefully consider with whom we are associated and on whose
hand we lean. While we trust God with a pious confidence we must
trust men with a prudent jealousy and caution.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p8">2. When this plot failed they did what they
could to divert them from the work and discourage them in it. They
weakened their hands by telling them it was in vain to attempt it,
calling them <i>foolish builders,</i> who began what they were not
able to finish, and by their insinuations troubled them, and made
them drive heavily in the work. All were not alike zealous in it.
Those that were cool and indifferent were by these artifices drawn
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
said the Jews would suspect to be ill meant, and not be influenced
by, they, underhand, <i>hired counsellors against them,</i> who,
pretending to advise them for the best, should dissuade them from
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
Tyre and Sidon from furnishing them with the timber they had
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.
7</scripRef>); or whatever business they had at the Persian court,
to solicit for any particular grants or favours, pursuant to the
general edict for their liberty, there were those that were hired
and lay ready to appear of counsel against them. Wonder not at the
restlessness of the church's enemies in their attempts against the
building of God's temple. He whom they serve, and whose work they
are doing, is <i>unwearied</i> in <i>walking to and fro through the
earth</i> to do mischief. And let those who discourage a good work,
and weaken the hands of those that are employed in it, see whose
pattern they follow.</p>
</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">
<h4 id="Ez.v-p8.5">The Jews Misrepresented. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.v-p8.6">b. c.</span> 521.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.v-p9">6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the
beginning of his reign, wrote they <i>unto him</i> an accusation
against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.   7 And in the
days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest
of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the
writing of the letter <i>was</i> written in the Syrian tongue, and
interpreted in the Syrian tongue.   8 Rehum the chancellor and
Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes
the king in this sort:   9 Then <i>wrote</i> Rehum the
chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their
companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the
Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the
Dehavites, <i>and</i> the Elamites,   10 And the rest of the
nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in
the cities of Samaria, and the rest <i>that are</i> on this side
the river, and at such a time.   11 This <i>is</i> the copy of
the letter that they sent unto him, <i>even</i> unto Artaxerxes the
king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a
time.   12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came
up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious
and the bad city, and have set up the walls <i>thereof,</i> and
joined the foundations.   13 Be it known now unto the king,
that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up <i>again,
then</i> will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and <i>so</i>
thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.   14 Now because
we have maintenance from <i>the king's</i> palace, and it was not
meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and
certified the king;   15 That search may be made in the book
of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of
the records, and know that this city <i>is</i> a rebellious city,
and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved
sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city
destroyed.   16 We certify the king that, if this city be
builded <i>again,</i> and the walls thereof set up, by this means
thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p10">Cyrus stedfastly adhered to the Jews'
interest, and supported his own grant. It was to no purpose to
offer any thing to him in prejudice of it. What he did was from a
good principle, and in the fear of God, and therefore he adhered to
it. But, though his reign in all was thirty years, yet after the
conquest of Babylon, and his decree for the release of the Jews,
some think that he reigned but three years, others seven, and then
either died or gave up that part of his government, in which his
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>
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
heathen authors is called <i>Cambyses,</i> who had never taken such
cognizance of the despised Jews as to concern himself for them, nor
had he that knowledge of the God of Israel which his predecessor
had. To him these Samaritans applied by letter for an order to stop
the building of the temple; and they did it in the beginning of his
reign, being resolved to lose no time when they thought they had a
king for their purpose. See how watchful the church's enemies are
to take the first opportunity of doing it a mischief; let not its
friends be less careful to do it a kindness. Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p11">I. The general purport of the letter which
they sent to the king, to inform him of this matter. It is called
(<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
accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.</i> The
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
malicious designs against them, not only by accusing them himself
before God, as he did Job, but by acting as a lying spirit in the
mouths of his instruments, whom he employs to accuse them before
magistrates and kings and to make them odious to the many and
obnoxious to the mighty. Marvel not if the same arts be still used
to depreciate serious godliness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.v-p12">II. The persons concerned in writing this
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
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
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
with them in this representation, this misrepresentation I should
call it. Now see here, 1. How the <i>rulers take counsel together
against the Lord</i> and his temple, with their companions. The
building of the temple would do them no harm, yet they appear
against it with the utmost concern and virulence, perhaps because
the prophets of the God of Israel had foretold the <i>famishing</i>
and <i>perishing</i> of all the <i>gods of the heathen,</i>
<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.
11</scripRef>. 2. How the people concurred with them in imagining
this vain thing. They followed the cry, though ignorant of the
merits of the cause. All the several colonies of that plantation
(nine are here mentioned), who had their denomination from the
cities or countries of Assyria, Chaldea, Persia, &amp;c., whence
they came, set their hands, by their representatives, to this
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>, &amp;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>