Ezra 4:1
New International Version
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

New Living Translation
The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the LORD, the God of Israel.

English Standard Version
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,

Berean Standard Bible
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

King James Bible
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

New King James Version
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel,

New American Standard Bible
Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,

NASB 1995
Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,

NASB 1977
Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel,

Amplified Bible
Now when [the Samaritans] the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles from the captivity were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,

Christian Standard Bible
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel,

American Standard Version
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel;

Contemporary English Version
The enemies of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people had come back to rebuild the temple of the LORD God of Israel.

English Revised Version
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded a temple unto the LORD, the God of Israel;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people who returned from exile were building a temple for the LORD God of Israel,

Good News Translation
The enemies of the people of Judah and Benjamin heard that those who had returned from exile were rebuilding the Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel.

International Standard Version
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the descendants of the Babylonian captivity had built their Temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,

Majority Standard Bible
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

NET Bible
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the former exiles were building a temple for the LORD God of Israel,

New Heart English Bible
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people from the exile were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel;

Webster's Bible Translation
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building the temple to the LORD God of Israel;

World English Bible
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And adversaries of Judah and Benjamin hear that the sons of the captivity are building a temple to YHWH, God of Israel,

Young's Literal Translation
And adversaries of Judah and Benjamin hear that the sons of the captivity are building a temple to Jehovah, God of Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin will hear that the sons of the captivity were building the temple to Jehovah God of Israel;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now the enemies of Juda and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to the Lord the God of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the enemies of Judah and of Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.

New American Bible
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

New Revised Standard Version
When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
NOW when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the captivity were building the temple to the LORD God of Israel,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the haters of Yehuda and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building the temple to LORD JEHOVAH God of Israel.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto the LORD, the God of Israel;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they that afflicted Juda and Benjamin heard, that the children of the captivity were building a house to the Lord God of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Adversaries Hinder the Work
1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”…

Cross References
Nehemiah 4:1-3
Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews / before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” / Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

Nehemiah 2:19-20
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” / So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah 6:1-2
When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— / Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

2 Kings 17:24-33
Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns. / Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. / So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.” ...

2 Kings 17:41
So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

2 Kings 17:34
To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.

2 Kings 17:29-30
Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. / The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,

2 Kings 17:32
So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places.

2 Kings 17:25-28
Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. / So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.” / Then the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.” ...

2 Kings 17:35-39
For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. / Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him. / And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ...

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

John 15:18-21
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. ...

Acts 4:1-3
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, / greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. / They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.

Acts 13:45-50
But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying. / Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. / For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” ...


Treasury of Scripture

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple to the LORD God of Israel;

Ezra 7:9
For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

1 Kings 5:4,5
But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent…

1 Chronicles 22:9,10
Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days…

children of the captivity.

Ezra 1:11
All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

Ezra 6:16,19,20
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, …

Ezra 10:7,16
And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; …

Jump to Previous
Adversaries Benjamin Builded Building Captivity Children Enemies Exile Exiles Haters Hear Heard Israel Judah News Temple
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Adversaries Benjamin Builded Building Captivity Children Enemies Exile Exiles Haters Hear Heard Israel Judah News Temple
Ezra 4
1. The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews,
4. endeavor to hinder it
7. Their letter to Artaxerxes
17. The answer and decree of Artaxerxes
23. The building is hindered














When the enemies
The term "enemies" here is significant, as it sets the stage for the opposition faced by the returning exiles. In Hebrew, the word used is "tsar," which can mean adversary or foe. Historically, these were the peoples who had settled in the land during the Jewish exile, including Samaritans and others who had mixed with the local population. Their opposition was not merely political but also spiritual, as they were resistant to the re-establishment of a pure worship of Yahweh.

of Judah and Benjamin
These two tribes represent the Southern Kingdom, which had been taken into Babylonian captivity. The mention of Judah and Benjamin is crucial because it highlights the remnant of Israel that remained faithful to God's covenant. Historically, these tribes were the core of the Kingdom of Judah, and their return signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to restore His people.

heard
The act of hearing in this context implies more than just receiving information; it suggests a reaction or response. The Hebrew word "shama" can mean to hear intelligently, often with the implication of attention and obedience. The enemies' hearing led to a proactive response to thwart the plans of the Israelites, indicating the threat they perceived in the rebuilding of the temple.

that the exiles
The term "exiles" refers to those who had been taken captive to Babylon and were now returning. This return was a significant event in Jewish history, fulfilling prophecies such as those in Jeremiah 29:10. The exiles were not just returning physically but were also spiritually recommitting to their identity as God's chosen people.

were building a temple
The construction of the temple was central to the Jewish faith, as it was the dwelling place of God among His people. The Hebrew word for temple, "bayith," can also mean house, emphasizing the personal and communal relationship between God and Israel. This rebuilding was a tangible sign of the restoration of worship and covenant relationship with God.

for the LORD
The use of "LORD" in all caps indicates the Hebrew name Yahweh, the covenant name of God. This highlights the personal and relational aspect of God with His people. The temple was not just a religious structure but a place dedicated to Yahweh, signifying His presence and favor upon Israel.

the God of Israel
This phrase reaffirms the identity of Yahweh as the God of the covenant people, Israel. It underscores the exclusivity of worship and the distinctiveness of Israel's relationship with God. In the historical context, this was a declaration of faith and identity amidst a pluralistic and often hostile environment. The rebuilding of the temple was a bold statement of allegiance to the God of their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

(1) The adversaries.--The Samaritans, so termed by Nehemiah (Ezra 4:11). These were a mixed race, the original Israelite element of which was nearly lost in the tribes imported into the northern part of the land by Sargon, Sennacherib, and Esar-haddon. (See 2Kings 17:24-34.)

Verse 1. - The adversaries. Notwithstanding the friendly guise in which they came, the historian sees from the first that the Samaritans are in reality "adversaries," or "persecutors" (tsazey), identical in spirit with Sanballat and his followers, whom Nehemiah designates by the same word (Ezra 4:11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When the enemies
צָרֵ֥י (ṣā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent

of Judah
יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

and Benjamin
וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן (ū·ḇin·yā·min)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites

heard
וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ (way·yiš·mə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

that
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the exiles
בְנֵ֤י (ḇə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

were building
בּוֹנִ֣ים (bō·w·nîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1129: To build

a temple
הֵיכָ֔ל (hê·ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1964: A large public building, palace, temple

for the LORD,
לַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT History: Ezra 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 3:13
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