20 There have been H1934 mighty H8624 kings H4430 also over H5922 Jerusalem, H3390 which have ruled H7990 over all H3606 countries beyond H5675 the river; H5103 and toll, H4061 tribute, H1093 and custom, H1983 was paid H3052 unto them.
In the same H1931 day H3117 the LORD H3068 made H3772 a covenant H1285 with Abram, H87 saying, H559 Unto thy seed H2233 have I given H5414 this land, H776 from the river H5104 of Egypt H4714 unto the great H1419 river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates: H6578
He shall have dominion H7287 also from sea H3220 to sea, H3220 and from the river H5104 unto the ends H657 of the earth. H776
Every place H4725 that the sole H3709 of your foot H7272 shall tread upon, H1869 that have I given H5414 unto you, as I said H1696 unto Moses. H4872 From the wilderness H4057 and this Lebanon H3844 even unto the great H1419 river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates, H6578 all the land H776 of the Hittites, H2850 and unto the great H1419 sea H3220 toward the going down H3996 of the sun, H8121 shall be your coast. H1366
Then David H1732 put H7760 garrisons in Syriadamascus; H758 H1834 and the Syrians H758 became David's H1732 servants, H5650 and brought H5375 gifts. H4503 Thus the LORD H3068 preserved H3467 David H1732 whithersoever he went. H1980
And he put H7760 garrisons H5333 in Edom; H123 and all the Edomites H123 became David's H1732 servants. H5650 Thus the LORD H3068 preserved H3467 David H1732 whithersoever he went. H1980
And when the servants H5650 of Hadarezer H1928 saw H7200 that they were put to the worse H5062 before H6440 Israel, H3478 they made peace H7999 with David, H1732 and became his servants: H5647 neither would H14 the Syrians H758 help H3467 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 any more.
Beside that which chapmen H582 H8446 and merchants H5503 brought. H935 And all the kings H4428 of Arabia H6152 and governors H6346 of the country H776 brought H935 gold H2091 and silver H3701 to Solomon. H8010
And all the kings H4428 of the earth H776 sought H1245 the presence H6440 of Solomon, H8010 to hear H8085 his wisdom, H2451 that God H430 had put H5414 in his heart. H3820 And they brought H935 every man H376 his present, H4503 vessels H3627 of silver, H3701 and vessels H3627 of gold, H2091 and raiment, H8008 harness, H5402 and spices, H1314 horses, H5483 and mules, H6505 a rate H1697 year H8141 by year. H8141
Also some of the Philistines H6430 brought H935 Jehoshaphat H3092 presents, H4503 and tribute H4853 silver; H3701 and the Arabians H6163 brought H935 him flocks, H6629 seven H7651 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred H3967 rams, H352 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred H3967 he goats. H8495
And God H430 helped H5826 him against the Philistines, H6430 and against the Arabians H6163 that dwelt H3427 in Gurbaal, H1485 and the Mehunims. H4586 And the Ammonites H5984 gave H5414 gifts H4503 to Uzziah: H5818 and his name H8034 spread abroad H3212 even to the entering H935 in of Egypt; H4714 for he strengthened H2388 himself exceedingly. H4605
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.
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,