From Ezra 4-7

So the people began construction of the temple. It wasn’t long before some of the locals (people of the land) heard the Jews (Judeans) were building a temple. Today’s reading is about their opposition. In the gospel Jesus predicted the persecution of his followers. He himself was opposed to the point of his own death. So too, will his people experience opposition.

This post is part of my bible in a year series.

Passage and Comments

So the people began construction of the temple. It wasn’t long before some of the locals (people of the land) heard the Jews (Judeans) were building a temple. Today’s reading is about their opposition.

4 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” (Ezr 4:1–2)

It seems a fair enough request but something is amiss. They are described as ‘adversaries’. A couple scholars believe these are the ones who served other gods in addition to the LORD (cf. 2 Ki 17.24-41). Because they serve other gods, we have every right to suspect their motives.

3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezr 4:3–5)

The heads of Israel will not have anything to do with them and want to build the temple themselves.

The adversaries reveal their colours by going about discouraging the Jews.

They did this through the reigns of Cyrus and Darius. Just to put things in perspective see the tables below. I think the names and dates are quite confusing. The text jumps around a bit as well with name changes and in chronological order.

Median Empire (674–652 BC)

Name	Born	Entered Office	Left Office	Died	Scripture
Cyaxares II / Darius	600 BC	550 BC	535? BC	535 BC

Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC)

Name	Born	Entered Office	Left Office	Died	Scripture
Cyrus the Great	600 BC	559 BC	530 BC	530 BC	Ezra 4.5; Isa 45; Daniel
Cambyses	?	530 BC	522 BC	521 BC
Bardiya (Gaumata)	?	522 BC	522 BC	522 BC
Darius I	550 BC	522 BC	486 BC	486 BC	Ezra 4.5
Xerxes I (Ahasuerus)	519 BC	485 BC	465 BC	465 BC	Esther
Artaxerxes I	?	465 BC	424 BC	424 BC	Ezra 4.7; Nehemiah;
Xerxes II (Artaxerxes)	?	424 BC	424 BC	424 BC
(Sogdianus)	?	424 BC	423 BC	423 BC
Darius II	?	424 BC	404 BC	404 BC
Artaxerxes II	436 BC	404 BC	358 BC	358 BC
Artaxerxes III (Ochus)	?	358 BC	338 BC	338 BC
Artaxerxes IV (Arses)	?	338 BC	336 BC	336 BC
Darius III (Artashata)	380 BC	336 BC	330 BC	330 BC
Artaxerxes V (Bessus)	?	330 BC	329 BC	329 BC

Macedonian Empire (330–312 BC)

Name	Born	Entered Office	Left Office	Died	Scripture
Alexander the Great	356 BC	330 BC	323 BC	323 BC

So from approximately 559 to 486 BC (73 years) the temple builders were being opposed. That’s a fairly long time.

6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. (Ezr 4.6)

After their opponents write the letter to Ahasuerus. This is who married Esther. Ahasuerus by this time has no idea of the proclamation Cyrus issued many years earlier.

So here is the letter.

7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated. 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

9 Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River. 11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent.)

“To Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting.

And now 12 be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.

13 Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired.

14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king, 15 in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste.

6 We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.” (Ezr 4:7–16)

The letter is sent. Artaxerxes has it read to him and he does look into their records and finds out that Israel and Judah have a long history of opposing foreign kings.

At this time he does not know of Cyrus’ edict and so the work of the LORD is stopped.

Story of Israel

In Israel’s history the forces of evil are antagonistic towards God, his people and his work.

Sources of opposition include particular individuals and world powers. Behind all these the scriptures occasionally see evil spiritual powers (the devil).

In Ezra the people who opposed the LORD’s work used deceit and sustained pressure. God’s people must oppose them.

If God’s people know the LORD is on their side it’s helpful to keep the right perspective. Just like Elisha did.

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Ki 6.15-17)

If the LORD wills something to happen. It will happen. During opposition trust in him.

Story of Jesus

In the gospel Jesus predicted the persecution of his followers. He himself was opposed to the point of his own death. So too, will his people experience opposition. Speaking about the end times Jesus said;

3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Mk 13:3–13)

Jesus refers to the work God’s people are involved in. God’s work that is opposed to this day.

‘The gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations’ (v10)

It will bring a lot of opposition. So dont be surprised when it happens. Persevere.

Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2015. All Rights Reserved.