Ezra 4:19

4:6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king suffered himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes see and hear with other men's eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them, which are often done falsely. But God's judgment is just; he sees things as they are.

And I commanded, and search hath been made,.... In the records of his predecessors, whether Chaldeans or Persians: and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein: and yet this could not be carried higher than to the times of Zedekiah and Jehoiakim, as before observed, which was not one hundred years ago, unless the rebellion of Hezekiah against the king of Assyria could be thought to be in these records, 2 Kings 18:7, and yet from hence it is concluded as if in ages past they had been guilty of rebellion and sedition, and even always.

Ezra 4:19-20 . That rebellion and sedition have been found therein — One instance or two of it, in latter times, had served to fasten this odious character upon them, as if they had been always guilty of these crimes. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem — And therefore the king thought it not advisable to permit them to go on with rebuilding the city, lest they should become powerful again.

Verse 19. - I commanded, and search has been made . The Pseudo-Smerdis, who was a fanatical adherent of Magism, which disallowed temples altogether (Herod., 1:130), and who had already destroyed the temples of Ormuzd in Persia ('Behistun Ins.,' col. 1. par. 14, 5), was naturally willing enough to do as the Samaritans desired, and stop the restoration of the Jewish temple. Accordingly, he had a search made among the state records, and found, as they had expected he would, evidence of insurrections on the part of the Jews against the foreign countries to which they had been subject, as Assyria ( 2 Kings 18:7 ) and Babylon ( ibid. 24:1; Jeremiah 52:3 ), and also proof of the formidable power possessed by certain Jewish or Israelite kings; upon which he thought himself justified in complying with the Samaritan request, and ordering the work that was going on at Jerusalem to cease (see ver. 21). Ezra 4:19

19 . And I commanded ] R.V. decreed . A more authoritative word. Literally, ‘and from me was a decree made’; and they searched, ‘and found’. of old time ] Cf. Ezra 4:15 . hath made insurrection against kings ] By the insurrections against kings and the sedition and rebellion of Jerusalem here mentioned as being recorded in the chronicles of the state is probably meant the treacherous and unstable policy of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah (see 2 Kings 24:1 ; 2 Kings 24:10 ; 2 Kings 24:20 ). Of this the Babylonian records would preserve the testimony. It is less likely that the more ancient records of the Assyrian Empire containing the account of Hezekiah’s revolt from Sennacherib would have been consulted.

8 . The injunction; official support, ( a ) money for the building. I make a decree ] cf. Ezra 6:11 , Ezra 4:19 , Ezra 7:13 . of the king’s goods , even of the tribute beyond the river ] The king addressing the governor of the whole country W. of the Euphrates refers to that portion of the territorial tribute which the governor would remit to the king’s treasury, the greater portion being reserved for his own use and for satrapial administration. goods ] So the LXX. ‘possessions’ ( ἀπὸ ὑπαρχόντων ): Vulgate ‘treasury’ (arcâ). The Aramaic word occurs again in Ezra 7:26 . The royal contribution lays no burden upon the rest of the satrapy. It literally fulfilled the edict of Cyrus: it was ‘given out of the king’s house’ ( Ezra 6:4 ) when it was paid out of the royal share in the tribute. forthwith expences be given ] R.V. expenses be given with all diligence , ‘with all diligence’ (A.V. ‘forthwith’), see note on chap. Ezra 5:8 . LXX. ἐπιμελῶς . that they be not hindered ] According to this translation, the words depend upon the previous clause. So also Vulg. ‘ne impediatur opus’. The verb occurs in Ezra 4:21 ; Ezra 4:23 . Here the hindrance apprehended seems rather to be to the execution of the royal command than to the activity of the Jews.