Thematic Bible
Ezra 4:1 (show verse)
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the descendants of the Babylonian captivity had built their Temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,
Church » Temple
Jeshua » Also called joshua » Contends with those who sought to defeat the rebuilding of the temple
Joshua » Also called jeshua » Assists zerubbabel in restoring the temple
Temple » The second
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Proposed to assist in building
Worship » Temples » The second
Jeshua » Also called joshua » Contends with those who sought to defeat the rebuilding of the temple
Joshua » Also called jeshua » Assists zerubbabel in restoring the temple
Temple » The second
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Proposed to assist in building
Worship » Temples » The second
Ezra 4:2 (show verse)
they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families with this message: "Let's build along with you, because, like you, we seek your God, as do you, and we've been making sacrifices to him since the reign of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who brought us here."
Esar-haddon (esarhaddon) » Called asnapper
Jeshua » Also called joshua » Contends with those who sought to defeat the rebuilding of the temple
Joshua » Also called jeshua » Assists zerubbabel in restoring the temple
modern Samaria » Inhabitants of » Professed to worship God
Samaritans » Marginal chain of texts
Seeking God » The wicked » Sometimes pretend to
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Proposed to assist in building
Zerubbabel » Directs the rebuilding of the altar and temple after his return from captivity in babylon
Jeshua » Also called joshua » Contends with those who sought to defeat the rebuilding of the temple
Joshua » Also called jeshua » Assists zerubbabel in restoring the temple
modern Samaria » Inhabitants of » Professed to worship God
Samaritans » Marginal chain of texts
Seeking God » The wicked » Sometimes pretend to
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Proposed to assist in building
Zerubbabel » Directs the rebuilding of the altar and temple after his return from captivity in babylon
Ezra 4:3 (show verse)
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel replied, "You have no part in our plans for building a temple to our God, because we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, in accordance with the decree issued by King Cyrus, king of Persia."
Cyrus » Issues a decree for the emancipation of the jews and rebuilding the temple
Jeshua » Also called joshua » Contends with those who sought to defeat the rebuilding of the temple
Joshua » Jeshua, high priest » Or jeshua, high priest
Joshua » Also called jeshua » Assists zerubbabel in restoring the temple
Persia » Cyrus
Separation » In israel, of the physically unclean and diseased from the » Examples of
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Their help refused by the jews
Zerubbabel » Directs the rebuilding of the altar and temple after his return from captivity in babylon
Jeshua » Also called joshua » Contends with those who sought to defeat the rebuilding of the temple
Joshua » Jeshua, high priest » Or jeshua, high priest
Joshua » Also called jeshua » Assists zerubbabel in restoring the temple
Persia » Cyrus
Separation » In israel, of the physically unclean and diseased from the » Examples of
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Their help refused by the jews
Zerubbabel » Directs the rebuilding of the altar and temple after his return from captivity in babylon
Ezra 4:4 (show verse)
After this, the non-Israeli inhabitants of the land undermined the people of Judah, harassing them in their construction work
Ezra 4:5 (show verse)
by bribing their consultants in order to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia until Darius became king.
Ezra 4:6 (show verse)
At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they lodged a formal accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Ezra 4:7 (show verse)
While Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their co-conspirators wrote in the Aramaic language and script to King Artaxerxes of Persia. Aramaic:
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Language » Mentioned in scripture » Syrian
Language » Kinds of, mentioned » Syriac
Medo-persian kingdom » Kings of, mentioned in scripture » Artaxerxes smerdis (an usurper)
Mithredath » A persian officer who joined in writing a letter which was deadly opposed to the jews
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
Syria » Inhabitants of » Spoke the syriac language
Tabeel » A persian official in samaria
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Language » Mentioned in scripture » Syrian
Language » Kinds of, mentioned » Syriac
Medo-persian kingdom » Kings of, mentioned in scripture » Artaxerxes smerdis (an usurper)
Mithredath » A persian officer who joined in writing a letter which was deadly opposed to the jews
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
Syria » Inhabitants of » Spoke the syriac language
Tabeel » A persian official in samaria
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:8 (show verse)
Governor Rehum and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Chancellor » A state officer
Government » Provincial
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Rehum » Chancellor » Wrote » Letter » To artaxerxes
Shimshai » A scribe
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Chancellor » A state officer
Government » Provincial
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Rehum » Chancellor » Wrote » Letter » To artaxerxes
Shimshai » A scribe
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:9 (show verse)
From Governor Rehum Shimshai the scribe The rest of their colleagues
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Archevites » Inhabitants of samaria
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Ava » See
Babylon » Empire of » Colonists from, sent to samaria
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Chancellor » A state officer
Colonization » Of conquered countries and people
Government » Provincial
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Rehum » Chancellor » Wrote » Letter » To artaxerxes
Samaria » Country of » Foreign colonies distributed among the cities of, by the king of assyria
modern Samaria » Inhabitants of » Their true descent
Shimshai » A scribe
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
Susanchites » The inhabitants of samaria
Tarpelites » Colonists in samaria
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Archevites » Inhabitants of samaria
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Ava » See
Babylon » Empire of » Colonists from, sent to samaria
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Chancellor » A state officer
Colonization » Of conquered countries and people
Government » Provincial
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Rehum » Chancellor » Wrote » Letter » To artaxerxes
Samaria » Country of » Foreign colonies distributed among the cities of, by the king of assyria
modern Samaria » Inhabitants of » Their true descent
Shimshai » A scribe
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
Susanchites » The inhabitants of samaria
Tarpelites » Colonists in samaria
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:10 (show verse)
Judges, envoys, officials, Persians, the people of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites) and many other nations whom the great and honorable Osnappar deported and resettled in Samaria and in the rest of the province beyond the Euphrates River.
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Asnapper » assyrian » prince
Assyria » The re-peopling of samaria from, completed by asnapper
Babylon » Empire of » Colonists from, sent to samaria
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Colonization » Of conquered countries and people
Cuth » A district » A district of asia, from which colonists were transported to samaria
Esar-haddon (esarhaddon) » Called asnapper
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Samaria » Country of » Foreign colonies distributed among the cities of, by the king of assyria
modern Samaria » Inhabitants of » Their true descent
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
Susanchites » The inhabitants of samaria
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Asnapper » assyrian » prince
Assyria » The re-peopling of samaria from, completed by asnapper
Babylon » Empire of » Colonists from, sent to samaria
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Colonization » Of conquered countries and people
Cuth » A district » A district of asia, from which colonists were transported to samaria
Esar-haddon (esarhaddon) » Called asnapper
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Samaria » Country of » Foreign colonies distributed among the cities of, by the king of assyria
modern Samaria » Inhabitants of » Their true descent
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
Susanchites » The inhabitants of samaria
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:11 (show verse)
This is the text of the letter they sent. To: King Artaxerxes From: Your servants, the men of the province beyond the Euphrates River.
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:12 (show verse)
May the king be advised that the Jews who came from you to us have reached Jerusalem and are rebuilding a rebellious and wicked city, having completed its walls and repaired its foundations.
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Foundation » Described as » Joined together by corner stones
Foundation » Laid for » Walls
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Foundation » Described as » Joined together by corner stones
Foundation » Laid for » Walls
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:13 (show verse)
May the king be further advised that if this city is rebuilt and its walls erected, its citizens will refuse to pay tributes, taxes, and tariffs, thereby restricting royal revenues.
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:14 (show verse)
Now, because we are royal employees and are committed to preserving the reputation of the king, we have written to the king and have declared its contents to be true,
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Palaces » Of kings » Afforded support to all the king's retainers
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Salt » Partaking of another's, a bond of friendship
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Palaces » Of kings » Afforded support to all the king's retainers
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Salt » Partaking of another's, a bond of friendship
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:15 (show verse)
urging that a search may be made in the official registers of your predecessors. You will discover in the registers that this city is a rebellious city, that it is damaging to both kings and provinces, that it has been moved to sedition from time immemorial, and that because of this it was destroyed.
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Books » Important events recorded in
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Books » Important events recorded in
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:16 (show verse)
We certify to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will lose your land holdings in the province beyond the Euphrates River.
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against jews, returned under ezra
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of the jews
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Wrote to » Artaxerxes
Ezra 4:17 (show verse)
The king replied: To: Governor Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues living in Samaria, and the remainder living beyond the Euphrates River. Greetings:
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Chancellor » A state officer
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Rehum » Chancellor » Wrote » Letter » To artaxerxes
Shimshai » A scribe
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Chancellor » A state officer
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Rehum » Chancellor » Wrote » Letter » To artaxerxes
Shimshai » A scribe
Ezra 4:18 (show verse)
The memorandum you sent to us has been read and carefully considered.
Ezra 4:19 (show verse)
Pursuant to my edict, an investigation has been undertaken. It is noted that this city has fomented rebellion against kings from time immemorial, and that rebellion and sedition has occurred in it.
Ezra 4:20 (show verse)
Powerful kings have reigned over Jerusalem, including ruling over all lands beyond the Euphrates River. Furthermore, taxes, tribute, and tolls have been paid to them.
Ezra 4:21 (show verse)
Accordingly, issue an order to force these men to cease their work so that this city is not rebuilt until you receive further notice from me.
Ezra 4:22 (show verse)
Be diligent and take precautions so that you do not neglect your responsibility in this matter. Why should the kingdom sustain any more damage?
Ezra 4:23 (show verse)
As soon as a copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, to Shimshai the scribe, and to their colleagues, they traveled quickly to Jerusalem and compelled the Jews to cease by force of arms.
Ezra 4:24 (show verse)
As a result, work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem ceased and did not begin again until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.
Artaxerxes » A persian king probably identical with ahasuerus » Prohibits the rebuilding of jerusalem
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Temple » The second » Resumed
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Procured its interruption for fifteen years
Zechariah » The prophet » Prophesied during the reign of darius
Bishlam » A samaritan who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at jerusalem
Persia » Artaxerxes i
Temple » The second » Resumed
The Second Temple » The samaritans, &c » Procured its interruption for fifteen years
Zechariah » The prophet » Prophesied during the reign of darius