Ezra 4
Dear RTB’ers,
We learned yesterday that the returning exiles had built the altar (Ezra 3:2-3) and had begun rebuilding the temple by laying down of the foundation (Ezra 3:10). Then opposition arose from Israel’s neighbors. They first suggested working together (Ezra 4:2), which offer was rejected by the Jerusalem leaders. They then succeeded in stopping the work by appealing to Artaxerxes, king of Persia; this work stoppage continued for almost twenty years. My Study Bible offers the following timeline:
- 537 BC, Jews return from Babylon to Jerusalem
- 536 BC, Work on the temple begun
- 536-520 BC, Opposition and work on the temple stopped
- 520 BC, Work on the temple renewed under Darius
- 516 BC, Temple completed
It will then be another sixty to seventy years before Ezra and Nehemiah arrive in Jerusalem.
So opposition to Christian principles today has foundations from two-and-a-half millennia ago – and continuing through the ages. I suppose an appropriate response to this activity comes from Iago in the Disney movie, Alladin, “Why am I not surprised?” Thankfully, we know how this story ends!
Blessings.
See also: September 10 (2023) / Ezra 3:1-4:5; 4:24-5:1; Haggai.