Keraia
Ezra 4

Ezra 4:2

Adversaries Hinder the Work · Ezra 4:1–5
Read Ezra 4

Translations

Modern
…they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
Traditional
Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar–haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
Literal
…and they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers and said to them, “Let us build with you, for like you, we seek your God, and to Him we have sacrificed since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up us here.”
Latin
…et accedentes ad Zorobabel, et ad principes patrum, dixerunt eis: Ædificemus vobiscum, quia ita ut vos, quærimus Deum vestrum: ecce nos immolavimus victimas a diebus Asor Haddan regis Assur, qui adduxit nos huc.

Original

Hebrew
English
…they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

Notes

Ezra 4:2

King Esarhaddon of Assyria, who ruled from 680 to 669 BC, deported the people of Israel to foreign lands. He relocated other conquered peoples to Israel during King Manasseh's reign in Judah. These foreigners learned about the Lord when they arrived in Israel, but they also continued to worship their old gods (2 Kings 17:27–34, 40–41).

Ezra 3:1–4:5

After resettling in various towns in Judah, the community focused on restoring the worship of God in Jerusalem. They quickly rebuilt the altar and began regular sacrifices in time to celebrate the Jewish festivals (Ezra 3:4). Then, they started the more challenging task of rebuilding the temple itself (Ezra 3:8). Soon, they faced opposition from local foreigners (Ezra 4:1–5).

Theme notes and profiles

Cyrus II Samaritans Zerubbabel Purity and Identity

People

Esarhaddon: King of Assyria; son and successor of Sennacherib Zerubbabel: Leader of the first Jewish exiles from Babylon

Places

Assyria: A powerful ancient empire, often in conflict with Israel

Glossary

Assur Assyria, Assyrians Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah Darius Esarhaddon First Book of Esdras Samaria Temple

Topics

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 Seeking God: The Wicked: Sometimes Pretend To the Second Temple: The Samaritans: Proposed to Assist in Building Zerubbabel: Directs the Rebuilding of the Altar and Temple After his Return from Captivity in Babylon