Verses 6-17
Tattenai’s letter 5:6-17
In contrast to Rehum and Shimshai’s letter to Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:11-16), Tattenai’s letter to Darius was fair and objective. He gave no indication of wanting to stop the Jews’ project. He only wanted to know if Cyrus had really given permission for the Jews to rebuild the temple and if Darius wanted that edict to stand.
The record of this letter in the text shows that high-ranking government officials had observed God’s care of His chosen people. This would have encouraged the original readers of Ezra with the assurance that what they had done was honest, and that God was moving governors and kings to accomplish His will (cf. Proverbs 21:1).
| Opposition to Temple ConstructionEzra 4-5 |
| Scripture | The form it took | What it tested | How they reacted |
| Ezra 4:1-2 (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14) | Israel’s enemies offered to help. | Their wisdom | Zerubbabel declined the offer. |
| Ezra 4:4-5 (cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) | They discouraged and frightened the builders. | Their faith | The Jews trusted God and pressed on. |
| Ezra 4:6-23 (cf. Matthew 16:18) | They tried legal action and red tape. | Their patience | God gave a favorable decision through Artaxerxes, and Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Jews. |
| Ezra 5:3 (cf. Matthew 28:19-20) | They demanded proof of authority to build. | Their perseverance | The builders kept on working. |
". . . against the background of rampant polytheism or even the dualism of newly emerging Zoroastrianism it was important to affirm that Yahweh is Lord of all in heaven and on earth. To their enemies the Jews affirmed this when they announced that they were building the second Temple as the ’servants of the God of heaven and earth’ (Ezra 5:11)." [Note: Merrill, "A Theology . . .," p. 191.]
"The God of heaven is probably an attempt by the Jews to create sympathy for their cause in the Persian court, because Ahuramazda, the Persian god, was also regarded as ’god of the heaven,’ and was known as the creator of heaven and earth." [Note: Fensham, The Books . . ., p. 83.]
Be the first to react on this!
