John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:7
And in the days of Artaxerxes ,.... The same with Ahasuerus, in the preceding verse; and who also is Cambyses, which is his name in Heathen authors, Artaxerxes being a common name to the kings of Persia; though some F6 Prideaux's Connect. par. 1. p. 175. Authors of the Universal History, vol. 5. p. 199,203. So Vitringa, Hypotypos. Hist. Sacr. p. 108. think this was Smerdis, the magician and impostor, who was between Cambyses and Darius; but as he reigned but seven months, it is not... read more
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