Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer. Let it now be known to the kingThis phrase indicates a formal communication to the Persian king, likely Artaxerxes I. The context is a letter from adversaries of the Jews who were rebuilding Jerusalem. Such letters were common in the ancient Near East as a means of influencing royal policy. The phrase underscores the political tension and the use of diplomacy to halt the rebuilding efforts. that if that city is rebuilt
The city in question is Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The rebuilding of Jerusalem was a significant event for the Jewish people, symbolizing the restoration of their national and religious identity. The opponents feared that a rebuilt Jerusalem would become a center of power and rebellion against Persian rule. and its walls are restored
Walls were crucial for the defense and autonomy of ancient cities. The restoration of Jerusalem's walls would signify not only physical security but also political independence. Nehemiah later undertakes this task, highlighting its importance in the narrative of Israel's restoration. they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll
Tribute, duty, and toll were forms of taxation imposed by empires on their subject territories. The concern expressed here is economic; a fortified Jerusalem might resist paying these taxes, which were vital for the maintenance of the Persian Empire. This reflects the broader theme of economic control as a means of imperial dominance. and the royal treasury will suffer
The mention of the royal treasury emphasizes the financial implications of the city's potential independence. The Persian Empire relied on the wealth of its provinces to sustain its vast bureaucracy and military. The letter's authors appeal to the king's economic interests, suggesting that a strong Jerusalem could disrupt the flow of resources to the empire.
This passage highlights the intersection of political, economic, and religious factors in the post-exilic period. It also foreshadows the challenges faced by the Jewish community in re-establishing their homeland, a theme that resonates throughout the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Persons / Places / Events 1. King ArtaxerxesThe Persian king to whom the letter is addressed, expressing concern over the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 2. JerusalemThe city in question, whose rebuilding is seen as a threat to the Persian Empire's control and revenue. 3. Rebuilders of JerusalemThe Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem with the intent to rebuild the city and the temple. 4. Adversaries of Judah and BenjaminThe people who opposed the rebuilding efforts and wrote to the king to halt the progress. 5. Persian EmpireThe ruling empire at the time, under which the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland. Teaching Points Opposition to God's WorkExpect resistance when undertaking God's work. Just as the Jews faced opposition, believers today may encounter challenges when following God's call. Faithfulness in AdversityRemain faithful despite opposition. The Jews' determination to rebuild Jerusalem serves as an example of steadfastness in the face of adversity. God's SovereigntyTrust in God's sovereignty. Despite the opposition, God's plans ultimately prevail, as seen in the eventual completion of Jerusalem's walls. The Cost of DisobedienceConsider the cost of disobedience. The adversaries feared losing revenue, highlighting how earthly concerns can conflict with spiritual obedience. Community and SupportSeek community support. The Jews worked together to rebuild, emphasizing the importance of unity and support among believers. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the opposition faced by the Jews in Ezra 4:13 compare to challenges faced by believers today when pursuing God's work? 2. In what ways can we remain faithful to God's calling despite external pressures and opposition? 3. How does the theme of God's sovereignty in Ezra 4:13 encourage us in our personal and communal spiritual journeys? 4. What lessons can we learn from the adversaries' fear of losing revenue, and how can we apply these lessons to prioritize spiritual over material concerns? 5. How can we foster a supportive community among believers to encourage one another in the face of opposition, as seen in the rebuilding efforts in Ezra? Connections to Other Scriptures Nehemiah 2Nehemiah also faced opposition when he sought to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, showing a recurring theme of resistance against God's people. Daniel 6Daniel's experience in the lion's den reflects the broader theme of God's people facing opposition from ruling authorities. Haggai 1The prophet Haggai encourages the people to rebuild the temple despite opposition, emphasizing obedience to God's command. Acts 4The early church faced opposition from authorities, similar to the resistance faced by the Jews in rebuilding efforts. People Ahasuerus, Apharesattechites, Apharesites, Apharsathchites, Apharsites, Archevites, Artaxerxes, Asnapper, Babylonians, Benjamin, Bishlam, Cyrus, Darius, Dehaites, Dehavites, Dehites, Dianites, Dinaites, Dinites, Elamites, Esarhaddon, Jeshua, Mithredath, Persians, Rehum, Shimshai, Shushanchites, Tabeel, Tarpelites, ZerubbabelPlaces Assyria, Beyond the River, Erech, Jerusalem, Persia, Samaria, SusaTopics Bring, Builded, Building, Built, Cause, Complete, Completed, Custom, Damage, Duty, Endamage, Finished, Forced, Goods, Hurtful, Impaired, Impost, Kings, Length, Loss, Paid, Pay, Payment, Payments, Rebuilt, Restored, Revenue, Revenues, Royal, Suffer, Tax, Taxes, Toll, Town, Tribute, Walls, WiltDictionary of Bible Themes Ezra 4:13 5577 taxation
5594 tribute Ezra 4:6-16 5202 accusation, false Ezra 4:6-23 7560 Samaritans, the Ezra 4:12-13 8796 persecution, forms of Ezra 4:12-15 7468 temple, rebuilding Library Building in Troublous Times
'Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel; 2. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto Him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 3. But Zerubbabel, and Joshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Original Text and Its History.
1. The original language of the Old Testament is Hebrew, with the exception of certain portions of Ezra and Daniel and a single verse of Jeremiah, (Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26; Dan. 2:4, from the middle of the verse to end of chap. 7; Jer. 10:11,) which are written in the cognate Chaldee language. The Hebrew belongs to a stock of related languages commonly called Shemitic, because spoken mainly by the descendants of Shem. Its main divisions are: (1,) the Arabic, having its original seat in the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
The Median wars--The last native dynasties of Egypt--The Eastern world on the eve of the Macedonian conquest. [Drawn by Boudier, from one of the sarcophagi of Sidon, now in the Museum of St. Irene. The vignette, which is by Faucher-Gudin, represents the sitting cyno-cephalus of Nectanebo I., now in the Egyptian Museum at the Vatican.] Darius appears to have formed this project of conquest immediately after his first victories, when his initial attempts to institute satrapies had taught him not …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 A Reformer's Schooling
'The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House Officers, Taxation, Publicans
It was the very busiest road in Palestine, on which the publican Levi Matthew sat at the receipt of "custom," when our Lord called him to the fellowship of the Gospel, and he then made that great feast to which he invited his fellow-publicans, that they also might see and hear Him in Whom he had found life and peace (Luke 5:29). For, it was the only truly international road of all those which passed through Palestine; indeed, it formed one of the great highways of the world's commerce. At the time …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Ninth Commandment
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.' Exod 20: 16. THE tongue which at first was made to be an organ of God's praise, is now become an instrument of unrighteousness. This commandment binds the tongue to its good behaviour. God has set two natural fences to keep in the tongue, the teeth and lips; and this commandment is a third fence set about it, that it should not break forth into evil. It has a prohibitory and a mandatory part: the first is set down in plain words, the other …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ezra 4:13 NIVEzra 4:13 NLTEzra 4:13 ESVEzra 4:13 NASBEzra 4:13 KJV
Ezra 4:13 Commentaries
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