Ezra 4:1-24
Q.1. What strategies did the enemies of Judah employ to stop the building of the temple? How did the leaders respond? How long did the opposition last? – (Ezra 4:1-7)
The enemies of Judah and Benjamin did all in their power to frustrate the people of God. Firstly, they tried to infiltrate their ranks by claiming to have the same goal (Ezra 4:2). When their plan was exposed and opposed, the enemy used scare tactics to discourage the people (Ezra 4:4). They even hired counsellors, presumably from Judah’s ranks, to undermine their leaders (Ezra 4:5). Finally, when nothing stopped them, they wrote letters of accusation to the new king, Artaxerxes, against the Jews at Jerusalem (Ezra 4:6-7). The enemy never let up. They kept opposing the work of God, from the reign of Cyrus to the reign of Darius, who were kings of the Persian Empire (Ezra 4:5).
Q.2. How united was the opposition against the rebuilding of Jerusalem? In what way did the letter sent to King Artaxerxes prejudice the outcome? – (Ezra 4:7-16)
It is amazing how an enemy can unite with their enemies against a common foe – namely, Judah and Benjamin. There were commanders, scribes, colleagues, judges, governors, officials, secretaries, exiles from Babylon, and the rest of the nations who found common ground in their opposition (Ezra 4:7-9). The letter was clever and mischievous, because it directed the search into Jerusalem’s past, in order to focus on her actions against Babylon – so that a search may be made in the record books of your fathers. And you will discover in the record books and learn that that city is a rebellious city and damaging to kings and provinces, and that they have incited revolt within it in past days; therefore that city was laid waste (Ezra 4:15). This completely avoided the leaders’ claim that authority had been granted by an edict of King Cyrus (c.f. Ezra 4:3c & 5b).
Q.3. What authority was granted to the enemies of God’s people by Artaxerxes? How was the reconstruction of the temple hindered? For how long? – (Ezra 4:17-24)
Given the narrow focus of the search, the king’s counsellors found evidence from the past, where Judah had rebelled against Babylon and its interests (Ezra 4:19-20). Therefore, the enemies were granted authority to stop the work in Jerusalem – 23 Then … they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force of arms. 24 Then work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it was stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia (Ezra 4:23-24). Force was used to stop the rebuilding, from the reign of Artaxerxes to the reign of Darius. However, divine help was underway (Ezra 5:1).