Thursday, January 2, 2014

A Restraining Order Halts Construction

Ezra 4:7-24

“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.” (Ezra 4:7)

Once Mordecai was no longer prime minister, anti-Semitism resurfaced.  During Artaxerxes’ administration, the Syrian leaders gathered a coalition of the surrounding ethnic groups in an attempt to prevent the rebuilding of Jerusalem and restoration of the temple.

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

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.  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. 

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; 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.  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.” (Ezra 4:8-16)

In the letter to Artaxerxes, the coalition warned that historically, the Jews had repeatedly rebelled against submitting to any foreign power and they were sure it would happen again.  They recommended that all construction be prohibited to prevent disruption of the empire.  They requested that the records be researched to support their concerns.

“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.  The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.  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.  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. 

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.  Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?” (Ezra 4:17-22) 

After checking out the history, Artaxerxes responded to the coalition letter, stating that history supported their claims.  He gave orders to stop all construction until further review of the matter, to prevent the possibility of such rebellion.

“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.  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.” (Ezra 4:23-24)

Like the Palistinians and other neighboring groups today, the coalition was glad for an opportunity to stop the Jews.  With authorization from the king of the Persian Empire, they forced all construction to be halted.  No further construction was finished until  a year after Darius became king.

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