以斯拉记 4:12-16 CUVS

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:4-16

The world's opposition to the Church. We observe, in reference to the world's opposition to the Church— I. THAT IT OFTEN SEEKS TO HINDER USEFUL ENTERPRISE , These Samaritans sought to "trouble them in building" ( Ezra 4:4 ). As Israel was employed in rebuilding the ruined temple, so the Church is engaged in erecting a great spiritual temple; this noble enterprise is hindered by the varied enmity of the world. The moral building is hindered as well by the pleasures as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:6-16

The work maligned. Besides "hiring counsellors," as mentioned in Ezra 4:5 ; or, it may be, in order to provide these counsellors with documents to present and act on; we are here told that the Samaritan "adversaries" sent various letters to the Persian kings against the temple builders at Jerusalem. One of these, sent to a king here styled Ahasuerus, is merely referred to as an "accusation." Another and more successful one, sent "in the days of Artaxerxes," is described at full length.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:6-16

The work maligned. Besides "hiring counsellors," as mentioned in Ezra 4:5 ; or, it may be, in order to provide these counsellors with documents to present and act on; we are here told that the Samaritan "adversaries" sent various letters to the Persian kings against the temple builders at Jerusalem. One of these, sent to a king here styled Ahasuerus, is merely referred to as an "accusation." Another and more successful one, sent "in the days of Artaxerxes," is described at full length.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:6-24

Three thoughts from old documents. The determined attempts made by the Samaritans to prevent the Jews from building the temple and the walls of Jerusalem are well illustrated in the correspondence between them and the king of Persia. Documents passed between the two of which we have the superscription and contents in these verses. They remind us— I. THAT MEN MAY TAKE AN IMMENSITY OF TROUBLE TO DO OTHER PEOPLE HARM AND MAKE THEMSELVES INFAMOUS . These... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:6-24

Three thoughts from old documents. The determined attempts made by the Samaritans to prevent the Jews from building the temple and the walls of Jerusalem are well illustrated in the correspondence between them and the king of Persia. Documents passed between the two of which we have the superscription and contents in these verses. They remind us— I. THAT MEN MAY TAKE AN IMMENSITY OF TROUBLE TO DO OTHER PEOPLE HARM AND MAKE THEMSELVES INFAMOUS . These... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:12

The Jews which came up from thee. i.e. from the central provinces—from that part of the empire where thou dwellest. To us. To our part of the world—to Palestine. Are … building the rebellious and the bad city. The ground of this accusation must be sought in the various revolts of the Jews from the Babylonians recorded in 2 Kings 24:1-20 ; 2 Kings 25:1-30 . There had been one, or perhaps two, previous revolts from Assyria ( 2 Kings 18:7 ; 2 Chronicles 33:11 ); but of these the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:13

Then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom. This was plausible reasoning. In Greece, if a subject city set to work to fortify itself, rebellion was immediately anticipated, not unfairly. But the circumstances of the Persian empire were different. In the remoter parts of that empire the central government was weak, and disorders frequently occurred. A city might need fortifications to protect it against its immediate neighbours, when it had not the slightest intention of asserting... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:14

We have maintenance from the king's palace . The marginal rendering is better, and shows the true sense. "Eating a man's salt" in the East is deriving one's subsistence from him. The man who eats another's salt is bound to look after his interests . It was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour. Rather, "the king's detriment or loss"— it was not meet for us to stand by tamely and see the king stript of his due. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:15

That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers. It was the practice at the Persian court to register all important events in a book, which from time to time was read to the kings ( Esther 2:23 ; Esther 6:1 ). The Samaritans suggest a consultation of this book, which would at any rate contain their own previous accusations against Jerusalem ( supra , Ezra 4:5 , Ezra 4:6 ), and might make some mention of the revolts from Babylon (see the comment on Ezra 4:12 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:16

Thou shalt have no portion on this side the river . It is not quite clear whether the river intended here and in Ezra 4:10 is the Euphrates or the Jordan. Generally in the Old Testament hannahar means the Euphrates, but the exaggeration is gross if that river was intended here. Only twice in their history had the Israelites advanced their frontier as far as that stream—under Solomon ( 1 Kings 4:21 ) and under Menahem ( 2 Kings 15:16 ); in their present depressed condition it was... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:4-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:6-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:6-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:6-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:6-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:16

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