1The adversaries of the Jews offering to join in building the temple, and being rejected, endeavour to hinder the work. 7They write to Artaxerxes. 11The copy of their letter. 17The answer of Artaxerxes, and his decree to stop the progress of the work. 23The building is suspended for a time.
1NOW when the 1adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the 2captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
1 See of these in verses 7, 8, 9.
2 Hebr. the sons of the transportation, carrying away, exiles, that is, who had been carried away, and held captive in Babel; so often in the sequel.
2Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, 3Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto 4him since the days of 5Esarhaddona king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
3 Feigning friendship and fellowship in religion, but seeking under that cloak to hinder the good work, or to bring in their idolatry into the temple, or to intermix it with the pure worship of God. See 2 Kings 17:29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Therefore this hypocritical request was denied them.
4 Other, we have not offered.
5 Who was Sennacherib’s son, and reigned after him, 2 Kings 19:37.
a 2 Kings 17:29, etc.
3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye 6have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we 7ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, asb king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
6 Hebr. you and us not, or, you and we have not, namely, (any thing) to do with one another in this thing.
7 Thus may the Hebrew particle jachad (which often signifies together, jointly, with one another) be suitable taken in this place; as jachid signifies one alone, or, apart by himself, one only or single man or person. See likewise Job 34:29; Hosea 11:7. Likewise Psalm 33:15. Other, we that are here together will, etc. Or, we ourselves alone will together, etc.
b Ezra 1:1, 2, 3.
4Then the 8people of the land 9weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
8 As Ezra 3:3.
9 That is, they broke the courage and zeal of God’s people and made them fainthearted, and made them weak and more tardy in the work of building.
5And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate 10their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of 11Darius king of Persia.
10 Namely, the good intent and purpose of the Jews.
11 Hebr. Darjavesch. See on verse 24.
6And in the reign of 12Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
12 Hebr. Achaschverosch, otherwise called Assuerus. Who this man was, there are different opinions. Some perceive him to have been Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, others the famous Xerxes.
7¶And in the days of 13Artaxerxes wrote 14Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the 15rest of 16their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and 17interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
13 Hebr. Artachschaschtha, otherwise called Artaxerxes, whom some think to have been Artaxerxes Longimanus, that is, Longhand.
14 Other, in peace, that is, in time of peace, silently, when the Jews thought not of it. Or, peaceably, that is, wishing peace to the king.
15 Chald. the residue, remnant, remainder, and so in the sequel, that is, the other, the rest.
16 Understand the other members of the counsel, whom the kings of Persia had placed in these regions which were situated beyond the river Euphrates.
17 That is, not only written in Syrian characters or letters, but also in Syrian words, as some do expound it. Syrian, that is, Chaldean, which language the Jews did likewise learn in Babylon.
8Rehum the 18chancellor and Shimshai the 19scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king 20in this sort:
18 Chald. lord or master of the council, that is, president of the council, or chancellor.
19 Or, secretary.
20 Or, thus, as followeth, as we shall say, etc.
921Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the 22Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
21 Namely, was this written.
22 All these are the names of different pagan nations, whom the king of Assyria had sent over to go and dwell in the stead of the ten tribes of Israel, out of all which a council was gathered and set up in those parts for the king’s service.
10And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble 23Asnappar brought over, and set in the 24cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the 25river, and 26at such a time.
23 Called in verse 2 Esar-haddon.
24 Other, cities of the Samaritans.
25 Euphrates.
26 Or, at the same time. Chald. Cheheneth. This seems to be the date of the letter, which was put before or above it; as at this day many still use to do. Also verse 11, verse 17 in the king’s answer, and Ezra 7:12. Out of which places it may be gathered that Cheheneth is not the name of a certain people, as some do imagine.
11¶This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the 27men on this side the river, and at such a time.
27 Chald. the man, that is, everyone, every man.
12Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and 28joined the foundations.
28 Chald. properly: sow or patch them together.
13Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay 29toll, 30tribute, and 31custom, and so 32thou shalt endamagec the 33revenue of the kings.
29 The Chaldean word signifies properly measure, and consequently custom, tribute, taxation or scot, which everyone was to pay unto the king according to the proportion of his goods, Neh. 5:4. See also verse 20 and Ezra 7:24.
30 Tariff, which was wont to be set up of old upon all kind of merchandise. Other, head tax.
31 Set up in havens or ports and in passing on the roads or highways, or over rivers, etc. Some do make of these three kinds but two, and translate it thus: they will not give the ancient scot or toll.
32 If thou, O king, hinder not their purpose. Other, it shall, namely, Jerusalem.
c damage, cause or suffer loss
33 Or, the treasury.
14Now because we have 34maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s 35dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
34 Chald. the salt of the palace have salted, or, with the salt, etc. That is, because we are brought up in the king’s palace, and have our salary from there; or, our wages paid us. Thus the word salary (which is derived from salt), likewise wages, monthly incomes, and other clichés which are used today, because salt is very necessary for the sustenance of men; as the word bread is also commonly taken for man’s sustenance.
35 Chald. properly: nakedness, bareness, making bare, which some understand of the robbing and plundering him of his means, from the previous verse.
15That search may be made in the book of the 36records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and 37know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have 38moved sedition within the same 39of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
36 Chald. of the remembrances.
37 That is, perceive.
38 Chald. made. Also verse 19.
39 Chald. from the days of eternity. Also verse 19.
16We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means 40thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
40 That is, they shall withdraw from you and cause to revolt whatsoever you possess on this side Euphrates.
17¶Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor,d and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their 41companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, 42Peace, and at such a time.
d chief counseller, governor
41 That is, colleges or associates.
42 Chald. Schelam and Chehet. Compare verse 10. Others take both for names of places, where Rehum and Shimshai dwelt.
18The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
19And I 43commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city 44of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
43 Chald. set. And so often in the sequel.
44 As verse 15.
20There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
21Give ye now commandment to cause 45these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
45 The Jews.
22Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23¶Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by 46force and power.
46 That is, with armed strength.
24Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of 47Darius king of Persia.
47 By this man some do understand Darius, the son of Hystaspes, who reigned after Cambyses. Others think that it was Darius Nothus, who reigned after Artaxerxes Longimanus and before Artaxerxes Mnemon. The attentive reader may be able to judge thereof himself.