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I. THE PROPOSAL MADE BY THE SAMARITANS

1. Plausible in its form.

2. But evil in itself.

(1) They were not Israelites.

(2) They did not worship Jehovah as the true God. To have received such a people into community and co-operation with the true people of God would have been an set of utter unfaithfulness and disloyalty to Him.

(3) Their design in making this proposal was an unworthy one.

(4) The acceptance of their proposal would have been perilous to the Jews.

II. THE PROPOSAL REJECTED BY THE JEWS.

1. An exclusive obligation in relation to the work is asserted.

2. The alleged similarity of worship is indirectly denied.

3. The command of Cyrus is adduced in support of this rejection. This was prudent. "Be ye wise as serpents," etc.

4. The rejection of the proposal was unanimous.

5. The rejection of the proposal was prompt and decided.

(William Jones.)

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KJV: Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

WEB: 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;