Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
video advertismenet
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Commentaries
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers Ellicott's Commentary
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Ellicott, Charles John. "Commentary on Ezra 4". "Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ebc/ezra-4.html. 1905.
Ellicott, Charles John. "Commentary on Ezra 4". "Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers". https://studylight.org/
Whole Bible (46)Old Testament (1)Individual Books (4)
Introduction
IV.
(1-24) The opposition of the Samaritans and its temporary success.
Verse 1
(1) The adversaries.âThe Samaritans, so termed by Nehemiah (Ezra 4:11). These were a mixed race, the original Israelite element of which was nearly lost in the tribes imported into the northern part of the land by Sargon, Sennacherib, and Esar-haddon. (See 2 Kings 17:24-34.)
Verse 2
(2) As ye do.ââThey feared the Lord, and worshipped their own godsâ (2 Kings 17:33): thus they came either in the spirit of hypocrites or with an intention to unite their own idolatries with the pure worship of Jehovah. In any case, they are counted enemies of the God of Israel.
We do sacrifice unto Him since the days of Esar-haddon.âHe ended his reign B.C. 668, and therefore the Samaritans speak from a tradition extending backwards a century and a half.
Which brought us up hither.âThus they entirely leave out of consideration what residue of Israel was yet to be found among them.
Verse 3
(3) Ye have nothing to do with us.âThe account in 2 Kings 17:0 carefully studied will show that the stern refusal of the leaders was precisely ill harmony with the will of God; there was nothing in it of that intolerant spirit which is sometimes imagined. The whole design of the Great Restoration would have been defeated by a concession at this point. The reference to the command of Cyrus is another and really subordinate kind of justification, pleaded as subjects of the King of Persia, whose decree was absolute and exclusive.
Verse 5
(5) And hired counsellors against them.âThey adopted a systematic course of employing paid agents at the court: continued for eight years, till B.C. 529. Cambyses, his son, succeeded Cyrus; he died B.C. 522; then followed the pseudo-Smerdis, a usurper, whose short reign Darius did not reckon, but dated his own reign from B.C. 522. A comparison of dates shows that this was the first Darius, the son of Hystaspes.
Verse 6
(6) In the beginning of his reign.âThis Ahasuerus, another name for Cambyses, reigned seven years; and his accession to the throne was the time seized by the Samaritans for their âaccusation,â of which we hear nothing more; suffice that the building languished.
Verse 7
(7) In the days of Artaxerxes.âThis must be Gomates, the Magian priest who personated Smerdis, the dead son of Cyrus, and reigned only seven months: note that the expression used is âdays,â and not âreignâ as in the previous verse. This Artaxerxes has been thought by many commentators to be the Longimanus of the sequel of this book and of Nehemiah, and they have identified the Ahasuerus of Ezra and Esther with Xerxes. This would explain the reference to âthe wallsâ in Ezra 4:12; but in Ezra 4:23-24 the sequence of events is strict, and the word âceasedâ links the parts of the narrative into unity. Moreover, the Persian princes had often more than one name. At the same time, there is nothing to make such an anticipatory and parenthetical insertion impossible.
In the Syrian tongue.âThe characters and the words were Syrian or Aramaic; this explains the transition to another language at this point,
Verse 8
(8) Rehum the chancellor.âThe lord of judgment, the counsellor of the Persian king, a conventional title of the civil governor.
Shimshai the scribeâThe royal secretary.
Verse 9
(9) Then wrote . . .âThis verse and the following give the general superscription of the letter which the Persian officials wrote for the Samaritans: introduced, however, in a very peculiar manner, and to be followed by another introduction in Ezra 4:11. Of the names by which the Samaritans think fit to distinguish themselves the Apharsites and Dehavites are Persians; the Babylonians the original races of Babylon, Cuthah and Ava (2 Kings 17:24); the Susanchites are from Susa; the Apharsathchites, probably the Pharathia-kites, a predatory people of Media; the Archevites, inhabitants of Erech (Genesis 10:10). The Dinaites and Tarpelites can be only conjecturally identified.
Verse 10
(10) Asnapper cannot be Esar-haddon, but was probably his chief officer.
And at such a time.âAnd so forth.
Verse 11
(11) On this side the river.âLiterally, beyond the river Euphrates, as written for the Persian court.
And at such a time.âRather, and so forth; meaning, âThy servants, as aforesaid,â alluding to the superscription.
Verse 12
(12) Virulence and craft and exaggeration are stamped on every sentence of the letter. It only says, however, that âthey are preparing the walls thereof, and joining the foundations.â Afterwards, however, the charge is modified in Ezra 4:13; Ezra 4:16.
Verse 13
(13) Toll, tribute, and custom.âToll for the highways; custom, a provision in kind; tribute, the money tax.
The revenue.âRather, at length; literally and at length damage will be done to the kings.
Verse 14
(14) Maintenance.âmore exactly, we eat the salt of the palace. This seems to be a general expression for dependence on the king, whose dishonour or loss they profess themselves unwilling to behold.
Verse 15
(15) The book of the records of thy fathers.ââThe book of the records of the Chroniclesâ which in Esther 6:1 is âread before the king.â This extended beyond his own fathers back to the times of the predecessors of the Median dynasty.
Of old time.âFrom the days of eternity, or time immemorial. The spirit of exaggeration if not of falsehood appears in every word here.
Verse 16
(16) No portion on this side the river.âThe same unscrupulous use of language: that is, if the river Euphrates is meant. In the days of Solomon, and once or twice subsequently, the Israelites had advanced towards the river, but it was not likely that they would ever do so again. The letter may, however, have been intended to suggest loosely that Jerusalem might become a centre of general disaffection.
Verse 17
(17) Peace, and at such a time.âSalutation, and so forth. The account of the reply and the beginning of it are strangely blended, as before.
Verse 19
(19) Insurrection.âNever against Persia; but such as are alluded to in 2 Kings 24:0
Verse 20
(20) Mighty kings.âDavid and Solomon, and some few kings down to Josiah, had extended their sway and made nations tributary (2 Samuel 8:0; 1 Kings 10:0; 1 Kings 10:0). The earlier kingsâ names would perhaps be referred to historically, though not immediately connected with Persian annals.
Verse 24
(24) The second year.âThe record here returns to Ezra 4:5, with more specific indication of time. The suspension of the general enterpriseâcalled âthe work of the house of God which is at Jerusalemââlasted nearly two years. But it must be remembered that the altar was still the centre of a certain amount of worship.