Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Ezra 4

Ezr 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin

Ezr 4:7-9.

Ezr 4:2 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 do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

we seek your God

The people of the land sought to hinder the work in three ways:

1. by seeking to draw the Jews into an unreal union, Ezr 4:3 (cf. 2Ki 17:32);
2. by "weakening the hands of the people of Judah," Ezr 4:4, i.e. by withholding supplies, etc.; and
3. by accusations lodged with Ahasuerus and Darius.

The first was by far the most subtle and dangerous. The lives of Ezra and Nehemiah afford many illustrations of true separation. See 2Co 6:14-18; 2Ti 2:19-21.

we do sacrifice unto him

2Ki 17:32.

brought us up hither

Ezr 4:10; 2Ki 17:24.

Ezr 4:3 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 an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God

Cf. Neh 2:20.

Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us

See Ezr 1:1-3.

Ezr 4:5 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.

Darius king of Persia

Ezr 6:1.

Ezr 4:6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

Ahasuerus

The Cambyses of secular history (529-521 B.C.); not the Ahasuerus of Esther, who is the Xerxes of secular history (485 B.C.). See Scofield Daniel 5:31, note.

Ezr 4:7 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 was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

Artaxerxes

• The Artaxerxes of Ezra 4:7 is identical with Ahasuerus of Ezr 4:6, i.e. the Cambyses of profane history.
• The Artaxerxes of Ezr 7:1 is the Longimanus of secular history, B.C. 418.

But see Scofield Daniel 5:31, note.

Ezr 4:20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

ruled over all countries

1Ki 4:21; Psa 72:8.

beyond the river

Gen 15:18; Jos 1:4.

Ezr 4:21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.

Give ye now commandment

Chald. make a new decree.