The contents of this chapter are the offer the Samaritans made to the Jews, to assist them in building the temple, which having refused, they gave them all the trouble they could, Ezra 4:1–6 and a letter of theirs to Artaxerxes, king of Persia, full of accusations of them, Ezra 4:7–16 and the…

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin The Samaritans, as appears from (Ezra 4:2, Ezra 4:10) , heard that the children of the captivity; the Jews, who had been in captivity seventy years, and were just come out of it, and still were not quite free, but under the jurisdiction and control of…

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and the chief of the fathers, &c.] These they addressed, as knowing that if they could not prevail with them, they could never succeed in their design; and these were no doubt the principal of the Samaritans that applied: and said unto them, let us build with you; that…

But Zerubbabel, and Joshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers, said unto them The prince and high priest, and chief of the people: you have nothing to do with us to build an house to our God; being neither of the same nation, nor of the same religion: but we ourselves together will build to…

Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building. ] By threatening them, or by dissuading the workmen from going on, by endeavouring to hinder their having materials from the Tyrians and Zidonians, or money out of the king’s revenues to bear the…

And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, &c.] Either to advise and persuade the king of Persia’s officers in those parts not to supply them with money, or to influence the great men at his court to get the edict revoked: and this they did all the days of Cyrus king of Persia;…

And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, &c.] According to Jarchi, this was Ahasuerus the husband of Esther; but, as most think [[3]], was Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus; so Josephus [[4]]; who was an enemy to the Egyptians; and, fearing the Jews might take part with…

And in the days of Artaxerxes The same with Ahasuerus, in the preceding verse; and who also is Cambyses, which is his name in Heathen authors, Artaxerxes being a common name to the kings of Persia; though some [[5]] think this was Smerdis, the magician and impostor, who was between Cambyses and…

Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort. ] This means the same letter as before; which, according to Jarchi, was sent in the name of Mithredath Tabeel and his company, was endited by Rehum, master of words or sense, and…

Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions who all signed the letter; namely, the governors of the following nations; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites,…

And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over The river Euphrates: and set in the cities of Samaria; placed there in the room of the Israelites carried captive; this Asnappar was, according to Jarchi and others [[10]] Sennacherib; but, with Grotius, Shalmaneser; rather…

This is the copy of the letter they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king Which Ezra brought with him from Babylon, and is contained in the five following verses: thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time; this was the inscription of the letter, or the beginning of it.

Be it known unto the king The intent of this letter was, that it might be known to the king what follows: that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem; this they observe partly out of contempt of the Jews, having been lately captive in Babylon, and partly to insinuate what…

Be it known now unto the king And let it be seriously and thoroughly considered by him and his counsellors: that if this city be builded, and its walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom; being able to defend themselves against the king’s forces, sent to reduce them to…

Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace Have posts under the king, to which salaries were annexed, by which they were supported, and which they had from the king’s exchequer; or “salt” [[13]], as in the original, some places of honour and trust formerly being paid in salt; hence, as…

That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers That is, his predecessors in the Babylonian monarchy; though, as the Medes and Persians were included in that, and joined the Babylonians in their wars with others, and particularly with the Jews, the records of the Medes and…

We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up As it formerly was, and now attempted, as they suggest: by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river; the river Euphrates; intimating that the Jews would not only shake off his yoke, and refuse…

Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe This affair, upon examination, being found to be of importance, the king of Persia thought fit to send an answer to the above letter, which was doing them an honour, and gave them the power and authority they wished…

The letter which ye sent unto us The plural number is used, being now become courtly for kings thus to speak of themselves: hath been plainly before me; by such that understood both the Syrian and Persian languages; the letter was written in the Syrian language, and the king being a Persian, it was…

And I commanded, and search hath been made In the records of his predecessors, whether Chaldeans or Persians: and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein: and yet this could not be carried higher than to the…

There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river As David and Solomon; and the account of these they had in their records, see (1 Kings 4:21, 1 Kings 4:24) and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them; as appears from the places referred…

Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease From building: and that this city be not builded until another commandment shall be given from me; he might suspect that this case, in all its circumstances, was not truly stated, and that hereafter he might see reason to recede from the present…

Take heed now that ye fail not to do this To put his orders into execution, and at once, without any loss of time, oblige the Jews to desist from rebuilding the walls of their city, which he was told they were doing, though a great falsehood: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? of him…

Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions By him or them to whom it was particularly directed: they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews; not only in obedience to the king’s command, but from an eagerness of spirit to put…

Then ceased the work of the house of God, which is at Jerusalem How far they had proceeded is not said, whether any further than laying the foundation of it; though probably, by this time, it might be carried to some little height; however, upon this it was discontinued: so it ceased unto the…