עזרא 4

פַּרשָׁנוּת

Ezra 4 is a chapter that speaks to the opposition that the Israelites faced as they sought to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The chapter begins with a list of the enemies of the Israelites who sought to discourage and prevent them from rebuilding the temple. These enemies included the people of the land, the Samaritans, and the Ammonites and the Arabians. The enemies of the Israelites sought to frustrate their plans by hiring counselors to oppose them and by writing letters to the Persian king, Artaxerxes, to stop the work. The chapter then goes on to describe how the enemies of the Israelites were successful in their efforts. The work on the temple was stopped for a period of sixteen years. During this time, the enemies of the Israelites continued to oppose them and to seek to prevent them from rebuilding the temple. The chapter ends with a description of how the work on the temple was eventually resumed. This was due to the efforts of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, who encouraged the people to continue the work. The chapter also speaks of the joy of the people when the temple was finally completed. Ezra 4 is a reminder of the opposition that the Israelites faced as they sought to rebuild the temple. It is also a reminder of the faithfulness of God, who enabled the work to be completed despite the opposition of the enemies of the Israelites.