Opposition to Restoring the Temple
2 Ezra 4, verse 1. Now when those oppressing Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity were building a house to the Lord God of Israel, 2 Ezra 4, verse 2. they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the father's houses and said to them, “We will rebuild with you, for we seek as you do, and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” 2 Ezra 4, verse 3. But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the father's houses of Israel said to them, “It is not for us and you to rebuild a house to our God, for we ourselves will rebuild it to the Lord our God, as King Cyrus the king of the Persians commanded us.” 2 Ezra 4, verse 4. But the people of the land were weakening the hands of the people of Judah, and were hindering them from building, 2 Ezra 4, verse 5. and hiring people to work against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Resistance to Rebuilding Jerusalem
2 Ezra 4, verse 6. In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote a letter against the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem. 2 Ezra 4, verse 7. And in the days of Artaxerxes, Mithradites, and Tabeel, along with their fellow servants, they wrote in peace to Artaxerxes the king of Persia. The one levying tribute wrote a letter, one having been translated from the Syrian language. 2 Ezra 4, verse 8. Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote one letter against Jerusalem to the king, Artaxerxes: 2 Ezra 4, verse 9. Thus has judged Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of our fellow servants the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarphalaeans, Apharsaeans, the Archuaeans, the Babylonians, the people of Susa—who are Elamites, 2 Ezra 4, verse 10. and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper sent out to colonize the land, and he resettled them in the cities of Samaria, and the rest of them on the other side of the River. 2 Ezra 4, verse 11. This is the substance of the letter they sent him: To Artaxerxes the king, from your servants the men beyond the River Jordan. 2 Ezra 4, verse 12. Let it be known to the king that the Jews coming up from you to us came to Jerusalem, and they are rebuilding this rebellious and wicked city, and repairing its walls and raising up its foundations. 2 Ezra 4, verse 13. Now let it be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and if its walls are restored, you will not collect any taxes, nor will they pay anything, and this wrongs the king. 2 Ezra 4, verse 14. And because of this dishonor of the king, one not fitting for us to witness, we send this letter to inform the king, 2 Ezra 4, verse 15. that a search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. There you will discover and know that this city is a rebellious city, one that is harmful to kings and provinces, and one having a longstanding history of harboring runaway slaves in the midst of her. It is for this reason the city was destroyed. 2 Ezra 4, verse 16. We therefore point out to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls restored, there will not be peace. 2 Ezra 4, verse 17. The king sent an answer: To Rehum the chancellor, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwelt in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Peace. 2 Ezra 4, verse 18. The tax assessor you sent to us was summoned before me, 2 Ezra 4, verse 19. and a command was given by me, and we examined for ourselves and found that this city in previous days raised up in opposition to kings, and that rebellions and desertions take place in it. 2 Ezra 4, verse 20. There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them. 2 Ezra 4, verse 21. Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me. 2 Ezra 4, verse 22. Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings? 2 Ezra 4, verse 23. Then the tax assessor for King Artaxerxes read the letter before Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions. And they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 2 Ezra 4, verse 24. Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.