Dusk over small, ruined Jerusalem seen from the slope to the southeast: broken walls in heaps, a few rough houses among the rubble, and at the top of the ridge a plain stone altar with a thin thread of smoke beside a bare foundation course of great squared stones, no one at work, under a calm, empty amber sky.

The Book of

Ezra 4

The foundation is laid. Then come the offers, the counselors, the accusations and the letters, and the work stops for sixteen years.

24 verses≈ 5 min4 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–2The returnCyrus lets them go up
3The altarFoundations laid
4OppositionThe work stoppedChapter 4
5–6The templeFinished and dedicated
7–8Ezra comesThe good hand of God
9–10RepentanceFaithless marriages confessed

Adversaries Hinder the Work

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

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The enemies of Judah and Benjamin

they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

Zerubbabel

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”

Evening at the temple site: men of the returned families in plain wool walk slowly away from a bare foundation course of great squared stones, tools and baskets on their shoulders, heads low, while two well-dressed counselors in fine dyed robes watch from the roadside, one speaking behind his hand.

Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build. They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

0:14

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Reflect

Afraid to build

The people of the land did not send an army. They set out “to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build,” and hired counselors to frustrate their plans, and it worked for years. What is discouraging you from something God has given you to do, and what would it look like to keep building?

Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

Three kings, one story of opposition

Whiteboard

Verses 6–23 step aside from the story of the temple. The writer gathers later opposition of the same kind: an accusation under Xerxes, about 486 BC, and letters under Artaxerxes, about 460–446, that stopped the rebuilding of the city and its walls. Then at verse 24 he comes back to where he was: the work on the house of God, stopped from the days of Cyrus until the second year of Darius, 520 BC.

At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

From RehumTo King Artaxerxes

(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.

Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.

Ezra 4:11–16

Question

Quick question

The letter against Jerusalem went from Samaria to the king of Persia.

In what language was the letter to King Artaxerxes written?

The Decree of Artaxerxes

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Letters to the king

The writers lived in Samaria and the lands “west of the Euphrates,” but many of their peoples had been brought there long before from Erech and Babylon in Mesopotamia and from Susa in Elam. Their letter went east across the empire to the king’s court, perhaps at Susa, near Persia’s homeland: a journey of some months each way.

From ArtaxerxesTo Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates

Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.

The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence. I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition. And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.

Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?

Ezra 4:17–22

A gray morning at a broken stretch of Jerusalem's old city wall: men of the returned families who have been setting reused stones in a gap stand still and lower their baskets and stones to the ground, while Rehum the commander holds up a rolled, sealed scroll, Shimshai the scribe at his side and a few Persian guards with upright spears behind.

When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.

Ezra 4:4

Pray

When the work stops

Thank the LORD that He rules over every king and court, and that no letter can cancel His plans. Ask for courage when the work He gives you is opposed by words, accusations and fear. Pray for anyone who has stopped building, that He would stir them again, and trust Him to finish what He has begun.

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Ezra 4

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A verse to carry with you

Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.

Ezra 4:4

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