Ezra 4:11-21

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.

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^[a] the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.

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^[b] toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

14 Now because we have^[c] 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;

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^[d] sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

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.

17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor*, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions^[e] that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19 And I commanded*,^[f] 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.

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.

21 Give^[g] ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.

Ezra 4:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 4

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, Ezr 4:1-6 and a letter of theirs to Artaxerxes, king of Persia, full of accusations of them, Ezr 4:7-16 and the answer of Artaxerxes to it, giving orders to command the Jews to cease building the temple, Ezr 4:17-22 which orders were accordingly executed, and the work ceased till the second year of Darius, Ezr 4:23,24.

Footnotes

• [a]. set up: or, finished
• [b]. pay: Chaldee, give
• [c]. we have...: Chaldee, we are salted with the salt of the palace
• [d]. moved: Chaldee, made
• [e]. companions: Chaldee, societies
• [f]. I commanded: Chaldee, by me a decree is set
• [g]. Give...: Chaldee, Make a decree