Ezra 4:14-24 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 4:6-16

Cyrus stedfastly adhered to the Jews? interest, and supported his own grant. It was to no purpose to offer any thing to him in prejudice of it. What he did was from a good principle, and in the fear of God, and therefore he adhered to it. But, though his reign in all was thirty years, yet after the conquest of Babylon, and his decree for the release of the Jews, some think that he reigned but three years, others seven, and then either died or gave up that part of his government, in which his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 4:17-24

Here we have, I. The orders which the king of Persia gave, in answer to the information sent him by the Samaritans against the Jews. He suffered himself to be imposed upon by their fraud and falsehood, took no care to examine the allegations of their petition concerning that which the Jews were now doing, but took it for granted that the charge was true, and was very willing to gratify them with an order of council to stay proceedings. 1. He consulted the records concerning Jerusalem, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:14

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" F15 מלח "salem vel sale", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis. , as in the original, some places of honour and trust formerly being paid in salt; hence, as Pliny F16 Nat. Hist. l. 31. c. 7. observes, such honours and rewards were called "salaries": and it was not meet for us to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:15

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 Persians might also be applied to: 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:16

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 to pay tribute themselves, but would seize on all his dominions on that side the river, and annex them to their own. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:17

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 to have: and to the rest of their companions that dwelt in Samaria ; in the kingdom, province, and cities of Samaria: and unto the rest beyond the river ; the river Euphrates, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:18

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 necessary it should be interpreted and explained to him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:19

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 times of Zedekiah and Jehoiakim, as before observed, which was not one hundred years ago, unless the rebellion of Hezekiah against the king of Assyria could be thought to be in these... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:20

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 2 Samuel 8:1 and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them ; as appears from the places referred to; and this served to strengthen the insinuation made to the king, that if these people were suffered to go on building, he would lose his tribute and taxes in those parts. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:21

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 orders he gave; and the rather, as by searching, and perhaps on his own knowledge, must have observed, that his father Cyrus had shown favour to the Jews, and had not only set them at... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 4:6-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 4:17-24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:21

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