1 The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it
7 Their letter to Artaxerxes
17 The answer and decree of Artaxerxes
23 The building is hindered

the adversaries (These were the Samaritans, the descendants of the various nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants captive.) 7:9 1Ki 5:4,5 1Ch 22:9,10 Ne 4:1-11 Da 9:25 1Co 16:9

children of the captivity. Heb. sons of the transportation 1:11 6:16,19,20 10:7,16 Da 5:13

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.

Zerubbabel 1:5 2:2 3:2,12

Let us Pr 26:23-26 2Co 11:13-15 Ga 2:4 2Ti 3:8 2Pe 2:1,2

we do 2Ki 17:24,27-33,41

Esarhaddon 10

Asnappar 2Ki 19:37

Assur Ge 10:11 Ps 73:8 Isa 37:37

Assyria Ho 14:3

Asshur

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.

Ye have nothing Ne 2:20 Joh 4:22,23 Ac 8:21 Ro 9:4,5 3Jo 1:9,10

king Cyrus 1:1-3 6:3-5 2Ch 36:22,23 Isa 44:28 45:1,4 Mt 10:16

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

weakened 3:3 Ne 6:9 Isa 35:3,4 Jer 38:4

troubled Ne 4:7,8,11

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.

hired Ps 2:1,2 Na 1:11 Ac 24:1 *etc:

Darius 24 5:5 *etc: 6:1 *etc:

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.

A.M. 3475. B.C. 529. Ahasuerus. Heb. Ahashverosh (This was Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who succeeded his father, A.M. 3475, and reigned seven years and five months.)

wrote Mt 27:37 Ac 24:5-9,13 25:7 Re 12:10

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.

A.M. 3482. B.C. 522. Artaxerxes (This Artaxerxes was one of the Magi, who usurped the throne after the death of Cambyses, for seven months, feigning himself to be Smerdis, brother of Cambyses: he is called Oropoestus by Justin, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by AEschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias.)

Bishlam. or, in peace. companions. Heb. societies 9,17 5:6

the Syrian tongue (That is, probably, both the language and character were Syrian or Chaldaic; and therefore, from the 8th verse of this chapter, to ch. 7:27, the original is not Hebrew, but Chaldee, in those parts which consist of letters, decrees, etc., originally written in that language.) 2Ki 18:26 Isa 36:11 Da 2:4

8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

scribe. or, secretary 9 2Sa 8:17 20:25 2Ki 18:18

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,

companions. Chal. societies. the Dinaites 2Ki 17:24,30,31

Apharsathchites 5:6 6:6

Apharsachites. Susanchites Es 1:2 2:3 Da 8:2

Elamites Ge 10:22 Isa 21:2 Jer 25:25 49:34 Eze 32:24 Ac 2:9

10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

And the rest 1 2Ki 17:24

noble Asnappar Ro 13:7

at such a time. Chal. Cheeneth 11,17 7:12

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.

rebellious 15,19 2Ki 18:20 24:1 2Ch 36:13 Jer 52:3 Eze 17:12-21 Lu 23:2-5 Ac 24:5 1Th 5:22 1Pe 2:13-15

bad city Ps 48:1,2 Isa 1:21-23 Lu 13:34

set up. or, finished Ne 1:3 Da 9:25

joined. Chal. sewed together

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.

if this city Ne 5:4 Ps 52:2 119:69

pay. Chal. give. toll 7:24 Mt 9:9 17:25 Ro 13:6,7

revenue. or, strength

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;

have maintenance, etc. Chal. are salted with the salt of the palace (Salt is reckoned among the principal necessaries of life, (Ecclus. 39:26 or 31;) hence, by a very natural figure, salt is used for food or maintenance in general. I am well informed, says Mr. Parkhurst, that it is a common expression of the natives in the East Indies, 'I eat such a one's salt,' meaning, I am fed by him. Salt was also, as it still is, among eastern nations, a symbol of friendship and hospitality; and hence, to eat a man's salt, is to be bound to him by the ties of friendship.)

and it was Eze 33:31 Joh 12:5,6 19:12-15

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.

this city 12 Ne 2:19 6:6 Es 3:5-8 Da 6:4-13 Ac 17:6,7

moved. Chal. made. within the same. Chal in the midst thereof. for which 2Ki 24:20 25:1,4 Jer 52:3

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.

thou shalt have 20 2Sa 8:3 1Ki 4:24

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.

companions. Chal. societies 7,9

Peace 5:7 7:12 Lu 10:5 Ac 23:26 Ro 1:7

at such a time 10,11

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.

I commanded. Chal. by me a decree is set. search 15 5:17 6:1,2 De 13:14 Pr 25:2

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

made insurrection. Chal. lifted up itself

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.

mighty king 1Ki 4:21,24 1Ch 18:3 Ps 72:8

beyond 16 Ge 15:18 Jos 1:3,4

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

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, etc. Chal. Make a decree 19

22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

why should 13 Es 3:8,9 7:3,4

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.

Rehum 8,9,17

they went up Pr 4:16 Mic 2:1 Ro 3:15

force. Chal. arm

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.

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

Darius (This was Darius Hystaspes, one of the seven princes who slew the usurper Smerdis: he ascended the throne of Persia, A.M. 3483, B.C. 521, and reigned 36 years.) 5:5 6:1 Hag 1:15