Adversaries Hinder Work; Artaxerxes Orders Work Stopped
Ezra 4 KJV
1 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 Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Artaxerxes Grants Freedom To The Jews Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard Lawful Work On The Sabbath Work Of The Spirit God's Works And Word Servant-Son At Work Pastoral Work Of The True Elder Workers In The Vineyard Bezaleel And Aholiah Are Appointed For The Work Of The Tabernacle Bezaleel And Aholiab Are Called To The Work Offerings Are Delivered To The Workmen Borders Of The Land By Their Own Experience Of God's Great Works Moses Exhorts Them To Obedience, Reminding Of The Works They Had Seen Borders Of The Promised Land Borders Of The Lot Of Judah General Borders Of The Sons Of Joseph Saul's Unadvised Adjuration Hinders The Victory Number Of Solomon's Workmen And Laborers Hiram's Work Of The Two Pillars, In Solomon's Works The Gentiles Were His Bondmen, The Israelites Servants Solomon's Adversaries Were Hadad, Who Was Entertained In Egypt He Orders A Choir To Sing Thanksgiving Division Of The Sons Of Aaron By Lot Into Twenty-Four Orders Their Division By Lot Into Twenty-Four Orders Numbering Of The People Is Hindered His Ambassage To Huram For Workmen And Provisions Hezekiah Orders The Courses Of The Priests And Levites, Provides For Their Work Maintenance His Wealth And Works Workmen Employed In Preparing Materials Adversaries, Being Not Accepted In The Building Of The Temple With The Jews, Endeavor To Hinder It Their Letter To Artaxerxes Answer And Decree Of Artaxerxes Building Is Hindered Tattenai And Shethar-Bozenai Are Not Able To Hinder The Jews Gracious Commission Of Artaxerxes To Ezra Artaxerxes, Understanding The Cause Of Nehemiah's Sadness, While The Enemies Scoff, Nehemiah Prays And Continues The Work Work Is Finished, To The Terror Of The Enemies Bildad Shows God's Justice In Dealing With Men According To Their Works How Job's Sins Hinder God's Blessings God's Works Are To Be Magnified God Is To Be Feared Because Of His Great Works God, By His Mighty Works, Convinces Job Of Ignorance God's Glory Is Magnified By His Works, And By His Love To Man Observe His Great Works For His Great Works Victory Which He Had By Consideration Of God's Great And Gracious Works
