Ezra 4:23 - Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms.
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What does "Ezra 4:23" mean?
This verse, Ezra 4:23, is a pivotal point in the narrative of the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions...": This refers to the fact that a letter had been sent to King Artaxerxes of Persia by local officials (Rehum and Shimshai) who opposed the Jews' rebuilding efforts. This letter painted the Jews as rebellious and dangerous to the kingdom, arguing that if Jerusalem were rebuilt, they would refuse to pay tribute. The verse states that the king's response (contained in the letter) was read aloud to these officials.
"...they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews...": This implies that the king's letter contained an order to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The officials, Rehum, Shimshai, and their group, acted quickly and decisively upon receiving this permission (or command) from the king. They travelled urgently to Jerusalem.
"...and made them to cease by force of arms.": This is the crux of the verse. The officials used military power to halt the rebuilding efforts of the Jews. They didn't just ask politely or negotiate; they used weapons and violence (or the threat of violence) to force the Jews to stop working on the temple. The rebuilding was halted.
In essence, this verse describes the successful effort of opponents of the Jews, empowered by a royal decree, to forcibly stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It highlights the vulnerability of the Jewish community and the effectiveness of the opposition's tactics of appealing to the Persian king with false accusations. This setback caused a significant delay in the temple's construction.
Ezra 4:23 - Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms.
What does "Ezra 4:23" mean?
This verse, Ezra 4:23, is a pivotal point in the narrative of the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions...": This refers to the fact that a letter had been sent to King Artaxerxes of Persia by local officials (Rehum and Shimshai) who opposed the Jews' rebuilding efforts. This letter painted the Jews as rebellious and dangerous to the kingdom, arguing that if Jerusalem were rebuilt, they would refuse to pay tribute. The verse states that the king's response (contained in the letter) was read aloud to these officials.
"...they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews...": This implies that the king's letter contained an order to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The officials, Rehum, Shimshai, and their group, acted quickly and decisively upon receiving this permission (or command) from the king. They travelled urgently to Jerusalem.
"...and made them to cease by force of arms.": This is the crux of the verse. The officials used military power to halt the rebuilding efforts of the Jews. They didn't just ask politely or negotiate; they used weapons and violence (or the threat of violence) to force the Jews to stop working on the temple. The rebuilding was halted.
In essence, this verse describes the successful effort of opponents of the Jews, empowered by a royal decree, to forcibly stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It highlights the vulnerability of the Jewish community and the effectiveness of the opposition's tactics of appealing to the Persian king with false accusations. This setback caused a significant delay in the temple's construction.