15 That search H1240 may be made in the book H5609 of the records H1799 of thy fathers: H2 so shalt thou find H7912 in the book H5609 of the records, H1799 and know H3046 that this H1791 city H7149 is a rebellious H4779 city, H7149 and hurtful H5142 unto kings H4430 and provinces, H4083 and that they have moved H5648 sedition H849 within the same H1459 of H4481 old H5957 time: H3118 for H5922 which H1836 cause was this H1791 city H7149 destroyed. H2718
And when Haman H2001 saw H7200 that Mordecai H4782 bowed H3766 not, nor did him reverence, H7812 then was Haman H2001 full H4390 of wrath. H2534 And he thought H5869 scorn H959 to lay H7971 hands H3027 on Mordecai H4782 alone; for they had shewed H5046 him the people H5971 of Mordecai: H4782 wherefore Haman H2001 sought H1245 to destroy H8045 all the Jews H3064 that were throughout the whole kingdom H4438 of Ahasuerus, H325 even the people H5971 of Mordecai. H4782 In the first H7223 month, H2320 that is, the month H2320 Nisan, H5212 in the twelfth H8147 H6240 year H8141 of king H4428 Ahasuerus, H325 they cast H5307 Pur, H6332 that is, the lot, H1486 before H6440 Haman H2001 from day H3117 to day, H3117 and from month H2320 to month, H2320 to the twelfth H8147 H6240 month, that is, the month H2320 Adar. H143 And Haman H2001 said H559 unto king H4428 Ahasuerus, H325 There is H3426 a certain H259 people H5971 scattered abroad H6340 and dispersed H6504 among the people H5971 in all the provinces H4082 of thy kingdom; H4438 and their laws H1881 are diverse H8138 from all people; H5971 neither keep H6213 they the king's H4428 laws: H1881 therefore it is not for the king's H4428 profit H7737 to suffer H3240 them.
For through H5921 the anger H639 of the LORD H3068 it came to pass in Jerusalem H3389 and Judah, H3063 till he had cast them out H7993 from his presence, H6440 that Zedekiah H6667 rebelled H4775 against the king H4428 of Babylon. H894 And it came to pass in the ninth H8671 year H8141 of his reign, H4427 in the tenth H6224 month, H2320 in the tenth H6218 day of the month, H2320 that Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 came, H935 he and all his army, H2428 against Jerusalem, H3389 and pitched H2583 against it, and built H1129 forts H1785 against it round about. H5439 So H935 the city H5892 was besieged H4692 unto the eleventh H6249 H6240 year H8141 of king H4428 Zedekiah. H6667 And in the fourth H7243 month, H2320 in the ninth H8672 day of the month, H2320 the famine H7458 was sore H2388 in the city, H5892 so that there was no bread H3899 for the people H5971 of the land. H776 Then the city H5892 was broken up, H1234 and all the men H582 of war H4421 fled, H1272 and went forth H3318 out of the city H5892 by night H3915 by the way H1870 of the gate H8179 between the two walls, H2346 which was by the king's H4428 garden; H1588 (now the Chaldeans H3778 were by the city H5892 round about:) H5439 and they went H3212 by the way H1870 of the plain. H6160 But the army H2428 of the Chaldeans H3778 pursued H7291 after H310 the king, H4428 and overtook H5381 Zedekiah H6667 in the plains H6160 of Jericho; H3405 and all his army H2428 was scattered H6327 from him. Then they took H8610 the king, H4428 and carried him up H5927 unto the king H4428 of Babylon H894 to Riblah H7247 in the land H776 of Hamath; H2574 where he gave H1696 judgment H4941 upon him. And the king H4428 of Babylon H894 slew H7819 the sons H1121 of Zedekiah H6667 before his eyes: H5869 he slew H7819 also all the princes H8269 of Judah H3063 in Riblah. H7247 Then he put out H5786 the eyes H5869 of Zedekiah; H6667 and the king H4428 of Babylon H894 bound H631 him in chains, H5178 and carried H935 him to Babylon, H894 and put H5414 him in prison H1004 H6486 till the day H3117 of his death. H4194 Now in the fifth H2549 month, H2320 in the tenth H6218 day of the month, H2320 which was the nineteenth H8672 H6240 H8141 year H8141 of Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon, H894 came H935 Nebuzaradan, H5018 captain H7227 of the guard, H2876 which served H5975 H6440 the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 into Jerusalem, H3389 And burned H8313 the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and the king's H4428 house; H1004 and all the houses H1004 of Jerusalem, H3389 and all the houses H1004 of the great H1419 men, burned H8313 he with fire: H784 And all the army H2428 of the Chaldeans, H3778 that were with the captain H7227 of the guard, H2876 brake down H5422 all the walls H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 round about. H5439 Then Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 carried away captive H1540 certain of the poor H1803 of the people, H5971 and the residue H3499 of the people H5971 that remained H7604 in the city, H5892 and those that fell away, H5307 that fell H5307 to the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and the rest H3499 of the multitude. H527 But Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 left H7604 certain of the poor H1803 of the land H776 for vinedressers H3755 and for husbandmen. H3009 Also the pillars H5982 of brass H5178 that were in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and the bases, H4350 and the brasen H5178 sea H3220 that was in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 the Chaldeans H3778 brake, H7665 and carried H5375 all the brass H5178 of them to Babylon. H894 The caldrons H5518 also, and the shovels, H3257 and the snuffers, H4212 and the bowls, H4219 and the spoons, H3709 and all the vessels H3627 of brass H5178 wherewith they ministered, H8334 took they away. H3947 And the basons, H5592 and the firepans, H4289 and the bowls, H4219 and the caldrons, H5518 and the candlesticks, H4501 and the spoons, H3709 and the cups; H4518 that which was of gold H2091 in gold, H2091 and that which was of silver H3701 in silver, H3701 took H3947 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 away. H3947 The two H8147 pillars, H5982 one H259 sea, H3220 and twelve H8147 H6240 brasen H5178 bulls H1241 that were under the bases, H4350 which king H4428 Solomon H8010 had made H6213 in the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 the brass H5178 of all these vessels H3627 was without weight. H4948 And concerning the pillars, H5982 the height H6967 of one H259 pillar H5982 was eighteen H8083 H6240 cubits; H520 and a fillet H2339 of twelve H8147 H6240 cubits H520 did compass H5437 it; and the thickness H5672 thereof was four H702 fingers: H676 it was hollow. H5014 And a chapiter H3805 of brass H5178 was upon it; and the height H6967 of one H259 chapiter H3805 was five H2568 cubits, H520 with network H7639 and pomegranates H7416 upon the chapiters H3805 round about, H5439 all of brass. H5178 The second H8145 pillar H5982 also and the pomegranates H7416 were like unto these. And there were ninety H8673 and six H8337 pomegranates H7416 on a side; H7307 and all the pomegranates H7416 upon the network H7639 were an hundred H3967 round about. H5439 And the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 took H3947 Seraiah H8304 the chief H7218 priest, H3548 and Zephaniah H6846 the second H4932 priest, H3548 and the three H7969 keepers H8104 of the door: H5592 He took H3947 also out of the city H5892 an H259 eunuch, H5631 which had the charge H6496 of the men H582 of war; H4421 and seven H7651 men H582 of them that were near H7200 the king's H4428 person, H6440 which were found H4672 in the city; H5892 and the principal H8269 scribe H5608 of the host, H6635 who mustered H6633 the people H5971 of the land; H776 and threescore H8346 men H376 of the people H5971 of the land, H776 that were found H4672 in the midst H8432 of the city. H5892 So Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 took H3947 them, and brought H3212 them to the king H4428 of Babylon H894 to Riblah. H7247 And the king H4428 of Babylon H894 smote H5221 them, and put them to death H4191 in Riblah H7247 in the land H127 of Hamath. H2574 Thus Judah H3063 was carried away captive H1540 out of his own land. H776 This is the people H5971 whom Nebuchadrezzar H5019 carried away captive: H1540 in the seventh H7651 year H8141 three H7969 thousand H505 Jews H3064 and three H7969 and twenty: H6242 In the eighteenth H8083 H6240 year H8141 of Nebuchadrezzar H5019 he carried away captive H1540 from Jerusalem H3389 eight H8083 hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and two H8147 persons: H5315 In the three H7969 and twentieth H6242 year H8141 of Nebuchadrezzar H5019 Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 carried away captive H1540 of the Jews H3064 seven H7651 hundred H3967 forty H705 and five H2568 persons: H5315 all the persons H5315 were four H702 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967 And it came to pass in the seven H7651 and thirtieth H7970 year H8141 of the captivity H1546 of Jehoiachin H3078 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 in the twelfth H8147 H6240 month, H2320 in the five H2568 and twentieth H6242 day of the month, H2320 that Evilmerodach H192 king H4428 of Babylon H894 in the first year H8141 of his reign H4438 lifted up H5375 the head H7218 of Jehoiachin H3078 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and brought him forth H3318 out of prison, H1004 H3628 And spake H1696 kindly H2896 unto him, and set H5414 his throne H3678 above H4605 the throne H3678 of the kings H4428 that were with him in Babylon, H894 And changed H8138 his prison H3608 garments: H899 and he did continually H8548 eat H398 bread H3899 before H6440 him all the days H3117 of his life. H2416 And for his diet, H737 there was a continual H8548 diet H737 given H5414 him of the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 every H3117 day H3117 a portion H1697 until the day H3117 of his death, H4194 all the days H3117 of his life. H2416
Then H116 the presidents H5632 and princes H324 sought H1934 H1156 to find H7912 occasion H5931 against Daniel H1841 concerning H6655 the kingdom; H4437 but H3606 they could H3202 find H7912 none H3809 occasion H5931 nor H3809 fault; H7844 forasmuch H6903 as he was faithful, H540 neither H3809 was there any H3606 error H7960 or fault H7844 found H7912 in him. H5922 Then H116 said H560 these H479 men, H1400 We shall not H3809 find H7912 any H3606 occasion H5931 against H5922 this H1836 Daniel, H1841 except H3861 we find H7912 it against him concerning the law H1882 of his God. H426 Then H116 these H459 presidents H5632 and princes H324 assembled together H7284 to the king, H4430 and said H560 thus H3652 unto him, H5922 King H4430 Darius, H1868 live H2418 for ever. H5957 All H3606 the presidents H5632 of the kingdom, H4437 the governors, H5460 and the princes, H324 the counsellors, H1907 and the captains, H6347 have consulted together H3272 to establish H6966 a royal H4430 statute, H7010 and to make a firm H8631 decree, H633 that whosoever shall ask H1156 a petition H1159 of H4481 any H3606 God H426 or man H606 for H5705 thirty H8533 days, H3118 save H3861 of thee, H4481 O king, H4430 he shall be cast H7412 into the den H1358 of lions. H744 Now, H3705 O king, H4430 establish H6966 the decree, H633 and sign H7560 the writing, H3792 that it be not H3809 changed, H8133 according to the law H1882 of the Medes H4076 and Persians, H6540 which altereth H5709 not. H3809 Wherefore H3606 H1836 H6903 king H4430 Darius H1868 signed H7560 the writing H3792 and the decree. H633 Now when Daniel H1841 knew H3046 that the writing H3792 was signed, H7560 he went H5954 into his house; H1005 and his windows H3551 being open H6606 in his chamber H5952 toward H5049 Jerusalem, H3390 he kneeled H1289 upon H5922 his knees H1291 three H8532 times H2166 a day, H3118 and prayed, H6739 and gave thanks H3029 before H6925 his God, H426 as H6903 H3606 he did H1934 H5648 aforetime. H4481 H1836 H6928 Then H116 these H479 men H1400 assembled, H7284 and found H7912 Daniel H1841 praying H1156 and making supplication H2604 before H6925 his God. H426 Then H116 they came near, H7127 and spake H560 before H6925 the king H4430 concerning H5922 the king's H4430 decree; H633 Hast thou not H3809 signed H7560 a decree, H633 that every H3606 man H606 that shall ask H1156 a petition of H4481 any H3606 God H426 or man H606 within H5705 thirty H8533 days, H3118 save H3861 of thee, H4481 O king, H4430 shall be cast H7412 into the den H1358 of lions? H744 The king H4430 answered H6032 and said, H560 The thing H4406 is true, H3330 according to the law H1882 of the Medes H4076 and Persians, H6540 which altereth H5709 not. H3809 Then H116 answered H6032 they and said H560 before H6925 the king, H4430 That Daniel, H1841 which is of H4481 the children H1123 of the captivity H1547 of Judah, H3061 regardeth H7761 H2942 not H3809 thee, H5922 O king, H4430 nor the decree H633 that thou hast signed, H7560 but maketh H1156 his petition H1159 three H8532 times H2166 a day. H3118
And G1161 when they found G2147 them G846 not, G3361 they drew G4951 Jason G2394 and G2532 certain G5100 brethren G80 unto G1909 the rulers of the city, G4173 crying, G994 G3754 These G3778 that have turned G387 the world G3625 upside down G387 are come G3918 hither G1759 also; G2532 Whom G3739 Jason G2394 hath received: G5264 and G2532 these G3778 all G3956 do G4238 contrary G561 to the decrees G1378 of Caesar, G2541 saying G3004 that there is G1511 another G2087 king, G935 one Jesus. G2424
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,