13 Be it known H3046 H1934 now H3705 unto the king, H4430 that, if H2006 this H1791 city H7149 be builded, H1124 and the walls H7792 set up H3635 again, then will they not H3809 pay H5415 toll, H4061 tribute, H1093 and custom, H1983 and so thou shalt endamage H5142 the revenue H674 of the kings. H4430
Also we certify H3046 you, that touching any H3606 of the priests H3549 and Levites, H3879 singers, H2171 porters, H8652 Nethinims, H5412 or ministers H6399 of this H1836 house H1005 of God, H426 it shall not H3809 be lawful H7990 to impose H7412 toll, H4061 tribute, H1093 or custom, H1983 upon H5922 them.
Thy tongue H3956 deviseth H2803 mischiefs; H1942 like a sharp H3913 razor, H8593 working H6213 deceitfully. H7423
The proud H2086 have forged H2950 a lie H8267 against me: but I will keep H5341 thy precepts H6490 with my whole heart. H3820
And as G2532 Jesus G2424 passed forth G3855 from thence, G1564 he saw G1492 a man, G444 named G3004 Matthew, G3156 sitting G2521 at G1909 the receipt of custom: G5058 and G2532 he saith G3004 unto him, G846 Follow G190 me. G3427 And G2532 he arose, G450 and followed G190 him. G846
He saith, G3004 Yes. G3483 And G2532 when G3753 he was come G1525 into G1519 the house, G3614 Jesus G2424 prevented G4399 him, G846 saying, G3004 What G5101 thinkest G1380 thou, G4671 Simon? G4613 of G575 whom G5101 do G2983 the kings G935 of the earth G1093 take G2983 custom G5056 or G2228 tribute? G2778 of G575 their own G846 children, G5207 or G2228 of G575 strangers? G245
For G1063 for G1223 this G5124 cause G1223 pay ye G5055 tribute G5411 also: G2532 for G1063 they are G1526 God's G2316 ministers, G3011 attending continually G4342 upon G1519 this G5124 very thing. G846 Render G591 therefore G3767 to all G3956 their dues: G3782 tribute G5411 to whom G3588 tribute G5411 is due; custom G5056 to whom G3588 custom; G5056 fear G5401 to whom G3588 fear; G5401 honour G5092 to whom G3588 honour. G5092
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezra 4
Commentary on Ezra 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
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.
Ezr 4:1-5
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 gates of hell will fight against it. 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 no adversary nor evil occurrent, (1 Ki. 5:4); 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.
Ezr 4:6-16
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 (v. 6), called also Artaxerxes (v. 7), supposed to be the same that in heathen authors is called Cambyses, 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,
Ezr 4:17-24
Here we have,