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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezra 4

1 The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the
temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it. 7 Their letter to Artaxerxes.
17 The answer and decree of Artaxerxes.
23 The building is hindered.

1

the adversaries. These were the Samaritans, the descendants of the various nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants captive. 7:9; 1Ki 5:4,5; 1Ch 22:9,10; Ne 4:1-11; Da 9:25; 1Co 16:9;

children of the captivity. Heb. sons of the transportation. 1:11; 6:16,19,20; 10:7,16; Da 5:13;

2

Zerubbabel. 1:5; 2:2; 3:2,12;

Let us. Pr 26:23-26; 2Co 11:13-15; Ga 2:4; 2Ti 3:8; 2Pe 2:1,2;

we do. 2Ki 17:24,27-33,41;

Esarhaddon. ver. 10;

Asnappar. 2Ki 19:37;

Assur. Ge 10:11; Ps 73:8; Isa 37:37;

Assyria. Ho 14:3;

Asshur.

3

Ye have nothing. Ne 2:20; Joh 4:22,23; Ac 8:21; Ro 9:4,5; 3Jo 1:9,10;

king Cyrus. 1:1-3; 6:3-5; 2Ch 36:22,23; Isa 44:28; 45:1,4; Mt 10:16;

4

weakened. 3:3; Ne 6:9; Isa 35:3,4; Jer 38:4;

troubled. Ne 4:7,8,11;

5

hired. Ps 2:1,2; Na 1:11; Ac 24:1-27;

Darius. ver. 24; 5:5-17; 6:1-18;

6

A.M. 3475. B.C. 529. Ahasuerus. Heb. Ahashverosh. This was Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who succeeded his father, A.M. 3475, and reigned seven years and five months.

wrote. Mt 27:37; Ac 24:5-9,13; 25:7; Re 12:10;

7

A.M. 3482. B.C. 522. Artaxerxes. This Artaxerxes was one of the Magi, who usurped the throne after the death of Cambyses, for seven months, feigning himself to be Smerdis, brother of Cambyses: he is called Oropoestus by Justin, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by AEschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias.

Bishlam. or, in peace. companions. Heb. societies. ver. 9,17; 5:6;

the Syrian tongue. That is, probably, both the language and character were Syrian or Chaldaic; and therefore, from the 8th verse of this chapter, to ch. 7:27, the original is not Hebrew, but Chaldee, in those parts which consist of letters, decrees, etc., originally written in that language. 2Ki 18:26; Isa 36:11; Da 2:4;

8

scribe. or, secretary. ver. 9; 2Sa 8:17; 20:25; 2Ki 18:18;

9

companions. Chal. societies. the Dinaites. 2Ki 17:24,30,31;

Apharsathchites. 5:6; 6:6;

Apharsachites. Susanchites. Es 1:2; 2:3; Da 8:2;

Elamites. Ge 10:22; Isa 21:2; Jer 25:25; 49:34; Eze 32:24; Ac 2:9;

10

And the rest. ver. 1; 2Ki 17:24-41;

noble Asnappar. Ro 13:7;

at such a time. Chal. Cheeneth. ver. 11,17; 7:12; ver. 11;

12

rebellious. ver. 15,19; 2Ki 18:20; 24:1; 2Ch 36:13; Jer 52:3; Eze 17:12-21; Lu 23:2-5; Ac 24:5; 1Th 5:22; 1Pe 2:13-15;

bad city. Ps 48:1,2; Isa 1:21-23; Lu 13:34;

set up. or, finished. Ne 1:3; Da 9:25;

joined. Chal. sewed together.

13

if this city. Ne 5:4; Ps 52:2; 119:69;

pay. Chal. give. toll. 7:24; Mt 9:9; 17:25; Ro 13:6,7;

revenue. or, strength.

14

have maintenance, etc. Chal. are salted with the salt of the palace. Salt is reckoned among the principal necessaries of life, (Ecclus. 39:26; or 31;) hence, by a very natural figure, salt is used for food or maintenance in general. I am well informed, says Mr. Parkhurst, that it is a common expression of the natives in the East Indies, "I eat such a one's salt," meaning, I am fed by him. Salt was also, as it still is, among eastern nations, a symbol of friendship and hospitality; and hence, to eat a man's salt, is to be bound to him by the ties of friendship.

and it was. Eze 33:31; Joh 12:5,6; 19:12-15;

15

this city. ver. 12; Ne 2:19; 6:6; Es 3:5-8; Da 6:4-13; Ac 17:6,7;

moved. Chal. made. within the same. Chal. in the midst thereof. for which. 2Ki 24:20; 25:1,4; Jer 52:3-34;

16

thou shalt have. ver. 20; 2Sa 8:3; 1Ki 4:24;

17

companions. Chal. societies. ver. 7,9;

Peace. 5:7; 7:12; Lu 10:5; Ac 23:26; Ro 1:7;

at such a time. ver. 10,11; ver. 18;

19

I commanded. Chal. by me a decree is set. search. ver. 15; 5:17; 6:1,2; De 13:14; Pr 25:2;

and it is found. 2Ki 18:7; 24:20; Eze 17:13-19;

made insurrection. Chal. lifted up itself.

20

mighty king. 1Ki 4:21,24; 1Ch 18:3; Ps 72:8;

beyond. ver. 16; Ge 15:18; Jos 1:3,4;

toll. 1Ch 18:6,13; 19:19; 2Ch 9:14,23,24; 17:11; 26:7,8;

21

Give ye, etc. Chal. Make a decree. ver. 19;

22

why should. ver. 13; Es 3:8,9; 7:3,4;

23

Rehum. ver. 8,9,17;

they went up. Pr 4:16; Mic 2:1; Ro 3:15;

force. Chal. arm.

24

So. Ne 6:3,9; Job 20:5; 1Th 2:18;

Darius. This was Darius Hystaspes, one of the seven princes who slew the usurper Smerdis: he ascended the throne of Persia, A.M. 3483, B.C. 521, and reigned 36; years. 5:5; 6:1; Hag 1:15;

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