Ezra 4:5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 4:1-5

We have here an instance of the old enmity that was put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. God's temple cannot be built, but Satan will rage, and the gates of hell will fight against it. The gospel kingdom was, in like manner, to be set up with much struggling and contention. In this respect the glory of the latter house was greater than the glory of the former, and it was more a figure of the temple of Christ's church, in that Solomon built his temple when there was no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:5

And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose ,.... Either to advise and persuade the king of Persia's officers in those parts not to supply them with money, or to influence the great men at his court to get the edict revoked: and this they did all the days of Cyrus king of Persia ; who, though the hearty friend and patron of the Jews, yet being engaged in wars abroad with the Lydians and Scythians, and leaving his son as viceroy in his absence, who was no friend unto... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 4:5

Hired counsellors - They found means to corrupt some of the principal officers of the Persian court, so that the orders of Cyrus were not executed; or at least so slowly as to make them nearly ineffectual. Until the reign of Darius - This was probably Darius the son of Hystaspes. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 4:4-16

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 4:5

Hired counselors - Rather, “bribed” officials at the Persian court to interpose delays and create difficulties, in order to hinder the work.Darius - i. e., Darius, the son of Hystaspes read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 4:5

Ezra 4:5. And hired counsellors against them Bribed some of the king’s council, in order that by their artifices, and interests in his court, they might give some stop to the work, and frustrate the purpose of the Jews. All the days of Cyrus king of Persia For though Cyrus still favoured the Jews, yet he was then diverted by his wars, and his son Cambyses was left his viceroy, who was a wicked prince, and an enemy to the Jews. Even until the reign of Darius The son of Hystaspis, who,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:1-24

Opposition stops the work (4:1-24)As a result of Assyria’s resettlement program of two centuries earlier, a race of people grew up in the area around Samaria and Jerusalem who were of mixed blood and mixed religion. They were known as Samaritans (see notes on 2 Kings 17:24-33). The Jewish leaders refused their offered help in building the temple of God, no doubt to prevent wrong ideas from corrupting Israel’s religion. The Samaritan group reacted bitterly. They opposed the Jewish builders so... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezra 4:5

Cyrus. The son of Astyages and Esther. See App-57 . Darius: i.e. Darius Hystaspis (see App-57 , App-58 ). "Darius" being only an appellative (= the maintainer), needs "Hystaspis" to be added, to identify him; as Astyages, when called Darius, needs the addition of "the Mede". See App-58 , and notes on p. 618. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ezra 4:5

Ver. 5. Until the reign of Darius— The most probable opinion is, that the Darius here meant was Darius Hystaspes, whose second year was the eighteenth after the first of Cyrus, according to Huet. And it is plain that Ahasuerus, mentioned in the sixth verse, was Cambyses; and Artaxerxes, mentioned in the seventh, the false Smerdis; because they were kings of Persia, who reigned between the time of Cyrus and the time of that Darius by whose decree the temple was finished. But, as that Darius was... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 4:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 4:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:4-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 4:4-16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 4:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 4:5

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:1-24

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezra 4:5

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ezra 4:5

Group of Brands