Ezra 4
Lutheran reading notes
In Ezra chapter 4, the account continues the story of the return from exile and rebuilding of the temple. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; {the children...: Heb. the sons of the transportation}
Ezra 4:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye {do}; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
Ezra 4:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
Ezra 4:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
Ezra 4:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 4:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they {unto him} an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. {Ahasuerus: Heb. Ahashverosh}
Ezra 4:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter {was} written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. {Bishlam: or, in peace} {companions: Heb. societies}
Ezra 4:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: {scribe: or, secretary}
Ezra 4:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Then {wrote} Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, {and} the Elamites, {companions: Chaldee, societies}
Ezra 4:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest {that are} on this side the river, and at such a time. {at such...: Chaldee, Cheeneth}
Ezra 4:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
This {is} the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, {even} unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
Ezra 4:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Be 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 joined the foundations. {set up: or, finished} {joined: Chaldee, sewed together}
Ezra 4:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up {again, then} will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and {so} thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. {pay: Chaldee, give} {revenue: or, strength}
Ezra 4:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
Now because we have maintenance from {the king's} palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; {we have...: Chaldee, we are salted with the salt of the palace}
Ezra 4:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city {is} a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. {moved: Chaldee, made} {within...: Chaldee, in the midst thereof}
Ezra 4:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
We certify the king that, if this city be builded {again}, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
Ezra 4:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
{Then} sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and {to} Shimshai the scribe, and {to} the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and {unto} the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. {companions: Chaldee, societies}
Ezra 4:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
Ezra 4:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and {that} rebellion and sedition have been made therein. {I commanded: Chaldee, by me a decree is set} {made insurrection: Chaldee, lifted up itself}
Ezra 4:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
There 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.
Ezra 4:20 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until {another} commandment shall be given from me. {Give...: Chaldee, Make a decree}
Ezra 4:21 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
Ezra 4:22 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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 force and power. {by force...: Chaldee, by arm and power}
Ezra 4:23 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
Then ceased the work of the house of God which {is} at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 4:24 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.