Teks -- Ezra 4:19-24 (NET)

4:19 So I gave orders, and it was determined that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in rebellion and revolt. 4:20 Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates and who were the beneficiaries of tribute, custom, and toll. 4:21 Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct. 4:22 Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that kings sustain damage?” 4:23 Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped them with threat of armed force. 4:24 So the work on the temple of God in Jerusalem came to a halt. It remained halted until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Ezr 4:23 - To cease. &c.

_As they abused the king by their misinformations, in the obtaining of this order, so they abused him in the execution of it; for the order was only to prevent the walling of the city. But having power in their hands, they, on this pretence, stopt the building of the temple. See what need we have to pray, not only for kings, but for all in authority under them: because the quietness of our lives depends much on the integrity and wisdom of inferior magistrates as well as the supreme.

Wesley: Ezr 4:24 - Darius

Darius the son of Hystaspes, successor of Cambyses.

JFB: Ezr 4:24 - Then ceased the work of the house of God

It was this occurrence that first gave rise to the strong religious antipathy between the Jews and the Samaritans, which was afterwards greatly aggravated by the erection of a rival temple on Mount Gerizim.

Clarke: Ezr 4:19 - Hath made insurrection against kings

Hath made insurrection against kings - How true is the proverb, "It is an easy thing to find a staff to beat a dog!"The struggles of the Israelites to preserve or regain their independency, which they had from God, are termed insurrection, rebellion, and sedition: because at last they fell under the power of their oppressors. Had they been successful in these struggles, such offensive words had never been used. In 1688 the people of England struggled to throw off an oppressive government, that was changing the times and the seasons, and overthrowing the religion of the country, and setting up in its place the spurious off-spring of popery and arbitrary government. They were successful; and it is called the Revolution: had they failed it would have been called rebellion; and the parties principally concerned would have been put to death.

Clarke: Ezr 4:20 - Beyond the river

Beyond the river - That is, the Euphrates. Both David and Solomon carried their conquests beyond this river. See 2Sa 8:3, etc., and 1Ki 4:21, where it is said, Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) unto the land of the Philistines; and unto the borders of Egypt.

Clarke: Ezr 4:21 - Until another commandment shall be given from me

Until another commandment shall be given from me - The rebuilding was only provisionally suspended. The decree was, Let it cease for the present; nor let it proceed at any time without an order express from me.

Clarke: Ezr 4:23 - Made them to cease by force and power

Made them to cease by force and power - Commanded them on pain of the king’ s displeasure not to proceed, obliging all to remit their labors, and probably bringing an armed force to prevent them from going forward.

Clarke: Ezr 4:24 - So it ceased unto the second year of - Darius

So it ceased unto the second year of - Darius - They had begun in the first year of Cyrus, b.c. 536, to go up to Jerusalem, and they were obliged to desist from the building b.c. 522; and thus they continued till the second year of Darius, b.c. 519. See the chronology in Hag 1:1 (note) and Zec 1:1 (note) and the following chapter, Ezra 5 (note).

Defender: Ezr 4:24 - Darius

Darius Hystapses is known to history as Darius the Great. It was he who left the famous Behistun Inscription chronicling his military conquests in three languages (Persian, Elamite and Babylonian) on a great vertical escarpment northwest of Babylon. These writings enabled Sir Henry Rawlinson to decipher the ancient Babylonian language."

TSK: Ezr 4:19 - I commanded // search // and it is found // made insurrection

I commanded : Chal, by me a decree is set

search : Ezr 4:15, Ezr 5:17, Ezr 6:1, Ezr 6:2; Deu 13:14; Pro 25:2

and it is found : 2Ki 18:7, 2Ki 24:20; Eze 17:13-19

made insurrection : Chal, lifted up itself

TSK: Ezr 4:20 - mighty kings // beyond // toll

mighty kings : 1Ki 4:21, 1Ki 4:24; 1Ch 18:3; Psa 72:8

beyond : Ezr 4:16; Gen 15:18; Jos 1:3, Jos 1:4

toll : 1Ch 18:6, 1Ch 18:13, 1Ch 19:19; 2Ch 9:14, 2Ch 9:23, 2Ch 9:24, 2Ch 17:11, 2Ch 26:7, 2Ch 26:8

TSK: Ezr 4:21 - Give ye

Give ye : etc. Chal, Make a decree, Ezr 4:19

TSK: Ezr 4:22 - why should

why should : Ezr 4:13; Est 3:8, Est 3:9, Est 7:3, Est 7:4

TSK: Ezr 4:23 - Rehum // they went up // force

Rehum : Ezr 4:8, Ezr 4:9, Ezr 4:17

they went up : Pro 4:16; Mic 2:1; Rom 3:15

force : Chal, arm

TSK: Ezr 4:24 - So // Darius

So : Neh 6:3, Neh 6:9; Job 20:5; 1Th 2:18

Darius : This was Darius Hystaspes, one of the seven princes who slew the usurper Smerdiscaps1 . hcaps0 e ascended the throne of Persia, am 3483, bc 521, and reigned 36 years. Ezr 5:5, Ezr 6:1; Hag 1:15

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Ezr 4:24 - Then ceased the work of the house of God // Darius king of Persia

Then ceased the work of the house of God for they neither could nor might proceed in that work against their king’ s prohibition, without a special command from the King of heaven, which they had, Ezr 5:1,2 .

Darius king of Persia to wit, Darius the son of Hystaspes, successor of Cambyses; not, as some would have it, Darius Nothus, the son of Artaxerxes Longimanus, who was not emperor till above one hundred years after Cyrus, and consequently from the beginning of the building of the temple to the finishing of it must be about one hundred and thirty years, which is not credible to any one that considers,

1. That the same Zerubbabel did both lay the foundations and finish the work, Zec 4:9 .

2. That some of the same persons who saw the finishing of this second house, had seen the glory of the first house, Hag 2:3 .

Haydock: Ezr 4:19 - Seditions

Seditions: so are styled the just efforts of the Jews, to keep or to regain their liberty. (Calmet)

Haydock: Ezr 4:20 - Kings

Kings; only David and Solomon. (Menochius) ---

They had made some on the east side of the river pay tribute, though the king may speak of the countries on the west.

Haydock: Ezr 4:21 - Hear // Further

Hear. Chaldean, "give command," &c. ---

Further: literally, "perhaps." (Haydock) ---

This was a private edict, which might be rescinded, Daniel vi. 7.

Haydock: Ezr 4:23 - Beelteem // Arm

Beelteem, is not in Chaldean. ---

Arm, or "force." (Protestants) (Haydock)

Haydock: Ezr 4:24 - House // Darius

House. They went beyond the order, which only forbade the building of the city, ver. 21. ---

Darius, the year of the world 3485. (Calmet) ---

He was the son of Hystaspes, (St. Jerome) and not Nothus, the sixth from Cyrus, as Sulpitius and Scalinger believe. (Tirinus)

Gill: Ezr 4:19 - 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

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, 2Ki 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.

Gill: Ezr 4:20 - 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

There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river,.... As David and Solomon; and the account of these they had in their records, see 2Sa 8:1

and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them; as appears from the places referred to; and this served to strengthen the insinuation made to the king, that if these people were suffered to go on building, he would lose his tribute and taxes in those parts.

Gill: Ezr 4:21 - 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

Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease,.... From building:

and that this city be not builded until another commandment shall be given from me; he might suspect that this case, in all its circumstances, was not truly stated, and that hereafter he might see reason to recede from the present orders he gave; and the rather, as by searching, and perhaps on his own knowledge, must have observed, that his father Cyrus had shown favour to the Jews, and had not only set them at liberty, but had encouraged them to rebuild their temple; which might be what they were about, and was the case, and nothing else, except their houses to dwell in.

Gill: Ezr 4:22 - Take heed now that ye fail not to do this // why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings

Take heed now that ye fail not to do this,.... To put his orders into execution, and at once, without any loss of time, oblige the Jews to desist from rebuilding the walls of their city, which he was told they were doing, though a great falsehood:

why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? of him and his successors, to be deprived of their toll, tribute, and customs, and to have insurrections, mutinies, and rebellions, in the dominions belonging to them.

Gill: Ezr 4:23 - 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

Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions,.... By him or them to whom it was particularly directed:

they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews; not only in obedience to the king's command, but from an eagerness of spirit to put a stop to the proceedings of the Jews, to whom they had an aversion, instigated by the Samaritans:

and made them to cease by force and power; from going on with the building of the temple, which they reckoned a part of the city, and within their commission; this they did by showing the power and authority they had under the king's hand, and by the forces they brought with them to compel them to it, should they refuse to obey; or, however, they threatened them highly what they would do, if they did not desist.

Gill: Ezr 4:24 - 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

Then ceased the work of the house of God, which is at Jerusalem,.... How far they had proceeded is not said, whether any further than laying the foundation of it; though probably, by this time, it might be carried to some little height; however, upon this it was discontinued:

so it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia; not Darius Nothun, as some think, for from the first of Cyrus to the sixth of his reign, when the temple was finished, was upwards of one hundred years; yea, according to some, about one hundred and forty; which would carry the age of Zerubbabel, who both laid the foundation of the temple, and finished it, and the age of those who saw the first temple, to a length that is not probable; but this was Darius Hystaspis, who succeeded Cambyses the son of Cyrus, there being only, between, the short usurpation of Smerdis for seven months.