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Ezra 4:23 describes how the local officials in Samaria swiftly enacted a royal command against the returned exiles. Ezra writes, Then as soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ document was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force of arms. (v. 23) King Artaxerxes, who reigned in Persia from roughly 465-424 BC, had received letters accusing the Jews of potential rebellion if they were allowed to complete rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem. Once his prohibition was issued, Rehum and Shimshai acted promptly and aggressively to enforce the royal decree.
This event took place in Jerusalem, the capital of ancient Judah, which lay in the southern part of Israel. After the Jewish people were allowed by King Cyrus (who reigned from about 559-530 BC) to return to their homeland following the Babylonian exile, they began the task of reconstructing the temple and the city walls. However, their efforts met opposition from officials and adversaries in nearby regions, culminating in the intervention described here. The swift halt forced the people to pause their work until further instructions or a new decree could supersede the hostile command.
The abrupt suspension of the temple restoration shows the challenges that were faced by God’s people as they sought to honor Him through reconstruction. Their efforts reflect a pattern of perseverance in the face of opposition, ultimately paving the way for the rebuilding of the temple that would stand during the time of Jesus (see John 2:19-21). Like many accounts of political intervention in Scripture, it highlights how worldly power can momentarily impede God’s purposes yet cannot fully stop them.
Used with permission from TheBibleSays.com.
You can access the original article here.
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