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- #41
Continued from post #(38):
The leaders of the remnant of Israel had rejected their enemies effort to build with them. And the enemies began their real effort at stopping the Jews from rebuilding their temple, God's Temple.
Remember that Zerubbabel and the other leaders said to these enemies, "as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us." (Ezra 4:3) And this was true, of course. But the political climate can change. And, the enemies of the remnant can play the political card also.
So the enemies of Israel continued to frustrate the rebuilding of the Temple while Cyrus was still in power. But once he was not, they began making political moves to stop the rebuilding. They did this by having their political representatives write a letter to the now king of Persia, Artaxerxes. This effort is recorded in (Ezra 4:6-24). And as a political letter it is full of some truth, mixed with half truths, and lies. All intended for the purpose of stopping the rebuilding of the temple. And it worked.
The king responded, (Ezra 4:21) "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."
(Ezra 4:24) "Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem....." And for some 18 years the work was stopped. Then God sent some prophets to the remnant to encourage them to continue the rebuilding of the Temple. (Ezra 5:1) "Then the prophets Haggi the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews...."
Quantrill
The leaders of the remnant of Israel had rejected their enemies effort to build with them. And the enemies began their real effort at stopping the Jews from rebuilding their temple, God's Temple.
Remember that Zerubbabel and the other leaders said to these enemies, "as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us." (Ezra 4:3) And this was true, of course. But the political climate can change. And, the enemies of the remnant can play the political card also.
So the enemies of Israel continued to frustrate the rebuilding of the Temple while Cyrus was still in power. But once he was not, they began making political moves to stop the rebuilding. They did this by having their political representatives write a letter to the now king of Persia, Artaxerxes. This effort is recorded in (Ezra 4:6-24). And as a political letter it is full of some truth, mixed with half truths, and lies. All intended for the purpose of stopping the rebuilding of the temple. And it worked.
The king responded, (Ezra 4:21) "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."
(Ezra 4:24) "Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem....." And for some 18 years the work was stopped. Then God sent some prophets to the remnant to encourage them to continue the rebuilding of the Temple. (Ezra 5:1) "Then the prophets Haggi the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews...."
Quantrill
