Commentaryjournal EZRA 4

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

CommentaryJournal EZRA 4 ...... 4:3 While the allusion to the Persian imperial edict is the all his splendor—exercising authority over this entire explicit...... grounds for the returnees’ rejection of cooperation, region. Instead, the king reasons that if Jerusalem has paid ...... theiremphasison“ourGod”(cf.“yourGod”in4:2)suggests taxes, tribute, and duty to his imperial predecessors in that religious perceptions may lie at the root of their refusal. Babylon, then any activity that has the potential to reduce ...... If this is the case, the problem may well have been the or eliminate Jerusalem’s contribution to his own coffers perception (or indeed reality) that even after two centuries, should be actively discouraged. the...... practices of the immigrants’ ancestors had continued (2 Kgs 17:41a notes that while these people were worshiping 4:21–24 Royal investigation now gives way to instruction as YHWH,...... they were also serving their idols). If so, given the the addressees are authorized to order the work to be stopped until the king decides otherwise (4:21). What ...... Israelitetradition’sinsistencethatitwastheworshipofgods alongside YHWH that was instrumental in the fall of both might persuade the king to allow such work is unclear, but this final phrase may betray an awareness (or anticipation ...... the northern and southern kingdoms, the returnees’ reluctance is understandable, especially if involvement in perhaps)ofthesendingofNehemiahandtheworkthatwas rebuilding...... would have been understood to offer a eventually concluded under his supervision. Given that the precedent[...] obviousintentionoftheinitialcorrespondencefromRehum ...... and others was to halt the work, the king’s warning in 4:22 4:4–5 While we may assume that the people who set out to has a slightly ironic ring about it. We are thus not surprised discourage...... (lit., “weaken the hands”) and frighten off the when the writer of Ezra informs us (4:23) that the king’s returnees include those already mentioned, 4:5 suggests instructions are acted upon “immediately” and with “full ...... that others may have been added to their number over an force” (lit., “with power and strength”)...... extended period of time. The motif of external intimidation met here for the first time will be a recurring one in Ezra- Nehemiah...... Having dwelt at length on the initial progress of the returnees, the writer here offers a justification for the temple...... remaining unfinished until the time of Darius. 4:12–13...... While it is not clear precisely which group of returnees is being referred to or when they returned, that the...... foundations of the walls are still being repaired (4:12) ...... indicates a time prior to the walls’ completion in Nehemiah’s time. Eventually the returnees themselves will ...... confesstheirownwickednessandthatoftheirpredecessors (9:13). Here however the wickedness being alleged is clearly...... less theological than it is political, as may be seen from 4:13’s rehearsal of the potential threats to the financial interests...... of the crown posed by the city’s restoration.

4:17–20...... Having offered greetings to his addressees (4:17) and confirmed receipt of their correspondence (4:18), the ...... king reports his investigations and confirms their ...... allegations (4:19). While some suppose that 4:20 might refer to Judean kings’ own historic hegemony over and ...... exploitation of what was now the Persian district, the tradition does not remember David—nor even Solomon in ...... -20- INTERHIGH DEVOTIONSDEVOTIONA TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

BibleCommentary Text Ezra 4:1-24 (CSB) 1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful returned exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since of Israel,2 they approached Zerubbabel and the family ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We heads and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we also advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are worship your God and have been sacrificing to him since the finished, you will not have any possession west of the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.” Euphrates. 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel’s 17 The king sent a reply to his chief deputy Rehum, Shimshai families answered them, “You may have no part with us in the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues living in Samaria building a house for our God, since we alone will build it for and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates River: the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”4 Then the people who were already in Greetings. the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them 18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my afraid to build.5 They also bribed officials to act against presence.19 I issued a decree and a search was conducted. It them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King was discovered that this city has had uprisings against kings Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia. since ancient times, and there have been rebellions and 20 6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, the people who revolts in it. Powerful kings have also ruled over Jerusalem were already in the land wrote an accusation against the and exercised authority over the whole region west of the residents of Judah and Jerusalem.7 During the time of King Euphrates River, and tribute, duty, and land tax were paid 21 Artaxerxes of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the to them. Therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, rest of his colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes. The letter so that this city will not be rebuilt until a further decree has 22 was written in Aramaic and translated. been pronounced by me. See that you not neglect this matter. Otherwise, the damage will increase and the royal 8 Rehum the chief deputy and Shimshai the scribe wrote a interests will suffer. letter to King Artaxerxes concerning Jerusalem as follows: 23 As soon as the text of King Artaxerxes’s letter was read to 9 From Rehum the chief deputy, Shimshai the scribe, and Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they the rest of their colleagues—the judges and magistrates from immediately went to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly Tripolis, Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa (that is, the people of stopped them. Elam),10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and 24 illustrious Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Now the construction of God’s house in Jerusalem had Samaria and the region west of the Euphrates River. stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia. 11 This is the text of the letter they sent to him: To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the Go Deeper region west of the Euphrates River: Questions to help us go deeper 12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from Ezra 4:4-6 you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding • What emotional result did the adversaries of that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations.13 Let it now be known to the king that if Judah and Benjamin hope to cause through their that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay opposition to the rebuilding of the temple? tribute, duty, or land tax, and the royal revenue will suffer. • What attitude did the Israelites need in order to 14 Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king, and it continue this work amidst the opposition? is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to • Whatdiscouragement,fear,andfrustrationhaveI inform the king15 that a search should be made in your experienced in ““building a temple to theLord ” predecessors’ record books. In these record books you will (v.1)?

EZRA,NEHEMIAH,PSALMS-21- TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

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