Foreigners4.1 Foreigners: People from foreign countries who had been captured by Assyrian and Babylonian kings and forced to settle in Palestine. want to help rebuild the temple

1The enemies of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people had come back to rebuild the temple of the LORD God of Israel. 2So they went to Zerubbabel and to the family leaders and said, “Let us help! Ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria4.2 King Esarhaddon of Assyria: Ruled from 681 to 669 BC. These people may have been brought to Palestine in 677 or 676 BC, when Esarhaddon invaded Syria. brought us here, we have worshipped your God and offered sacrifices to him.”4.2: 2 K 17.24-41.

3But Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the family leaders answered, “You cannot take part in building a temple for the LORD our God! We will build it ourselves, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”

4Then the neighbouring people began to do everything possible to frighten the Jews4.4 Jews: This was the name given to those Israelites who settled in Judah after returning from Babylonia. and to make them stop building. 5During the time when Cyrus was king and even until Darius4.5 Cyrus…Darius: Cyrus ruled 539-530 BC (see the note at 1.1); Darius I, known as Darius the Great, ruled 522-486 BC. became king, they kept bribing government officials to slow down the work.

Later trouble rebuilding Jerusalem

Trouble rebuilding Jerusalem4.6 Jerusalem: Verses 6-23, which tell about the events of a later period, are placed here because they are also concerned with the problem of stopping or slowing down work on the temple.

6In the first year that Xerxes was king,4.6 first year that Xerxes was king: Either the end of 486 or the beginning of 485 BC. The Hebrew has the king's Persian name “Ahasuerus”, but he is better known as “Xerxes”, the Greek form of the name. the neighbouring people brought written charges against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.4.6: Es 1.1.

7Later, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their advisers got together and wrote a letter to Artaxerxes when he was king of Persia.4.7 Artaxerxes…Persia: Artaxerxes I (465-425 BC). It was written in Aramaic and had to be translated.4.7 It was…translated: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. Ezra 4.8—6.18 is written in Aramaic, instead of in Hebrew like most of the Old Testament.

8-10A letter was also written to Artaxerxes about Jerusalem by Governor Rehum, Secretary Shimshai, and their advisers, including the judges, the governors, the officials, and the local leaders. They were joined in writing this letter by people from Erech and Babylonia, the Elamites from Susa,4.8-10 the judges…Susa: One possible translation for the names and titles. and people from other foreign nations that the great and famous Ashurbanipal4.8-10 Ashurbanipal: King of Assyria 669-633 (or possibly 627) BC. In Aramaic the king's name is “Osnapper”, but he is better known as Ashurbanipal. had forced to settle in Samaria and other parts of Western Province.4.8-10 Western Province: The land from the River Euphrates west to the Mediterranean Sea.

11This letter said:

Your Majesty King Artaxerxes, we are your servants from everywhere in Western Province, and we send you our greetings.

12You should know that the Jews who left your country have moved back to Jerusalem and are now rebuilding that terrible city. In fact, they have almost finished rebuilding the walls and repairing the foundations. 13You should also know that if the walls are completed and the city is rebuilt, the Jews won't pay any kind of taxes, and there will be less money in your treasury.

14We are telling you this, because you have done so much for us, and we want everyone to respect you. 15If you look up the official records of your ancestors, you will find that Jerusalem has constantly rebelled and has led others to rebel against kings and provinces. That's why the city was destroyed in the first place. 16If Jerusalem is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will no longer have control over Western Province.

17King Artaxerxes answered:

Greetings to Governor Rehum, Secretary Shimshai, and to your advisers in Samaria and other parts of Western Province.

18After your letter was translated and read to me, 19I had the old records checked. It is true that for years Jerusalem has rebelled and caused trouble for other kings and nations. 20And powerful kings have ruled Western Province from Jerusalem and have collected all kinds of taxes.

21I want you to command the people to stop rebuilding the city until I give further notice. 22Do this straight away, so that no harm will come to the kingdom.

23As soon as this letter was read, Governor Rehum, Secretary Shimshai, and their advisers went to Jerusalem and forced everyone to stop rebuilding the city.

The temple is rebuilt

Work on the temple starts again

24The Jews were forced to stop work on the temple and were not able to do any more building until the year after Darius became king of Persia.4.24 year after…king of Persia: 520 BC.4.24: Hg 1.1; Zec 1.1.