Ezra 4:3 - But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
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What does "Ezra 4:3" mean?
This verse, Ezra 4:3, is a pivotal point in the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Jewish people returned from exile in Babylon. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Context: The Jews had returned to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus the Great to rebuild the Temple. Neighboring peoples, including the Samaritans (implied, though not explicitly named here, as they're referred to as "them"), offered to help with the building process.
Key Players:
Zerubbabel: The governor of Judah, appointed by the Persian Empire. He was a descendant of King David.
Jeshua (Joshua): The High Priest.
"The rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel": The leaders of the major families in the returning community.
"You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God": This is the central statement. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders are rejecting the offer of help from these neighboring peoples. This rejection is based on a few possible factors:
Purity of Worship: The leaders likely suspected that the neighboring peoples did not worship Yahweh in the same way, or that they mixed the worship of Yahweh with other gods. Accepting their help could compromise the integrity of the Temple and the worship it was intended to house. There was a strong desire to build a Temple dedicated purely to Yahweh.
Legitimacy: The rebuilding was specifically commanded by King Cyrus to the Jews. The leaders may have felt that outsiders had no right to participate in a project divinely mandated for the Jewish people.
Potential Interference: The leaders may have been wary of the neighboring peoples' motives. Allowing them to participate in the building process could have opened the door to sabotage, manipulation, or control over the Temple in the future.
"But we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us": This emphasizes:
Self-reliance: The leaders assert that they will build the Temple, emphasizing the Jewish people's capability and responsibility.
Divine Mandate: They acknowledge that the rebuilding is done for "Yahweh, the God of Israel," highlighting the religious significance of the project.
Royal Authority: They reiterate that this work is authorized by King Cyrus, the ruler of the Persian Empire, who had given them permission and resources to rebuild.
In summary, Ezra 4:3 shows the Jewish leaders asserting their exclusive right and responsibility to rebuild the Temple for Yahweh, rejecting the help of neighboring peoples due to concerns about religious purity, legitimacy, and potential interference. They emphasize that they are fulfilling a divine mandate authorized by the Persian king.
Ezra 4:3 - But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
What does "Ezra 4:3" mean?
This verse, Ezra 4:3, is a pivotal point in the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Jewish people returned from exile in Babylon. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Context: The Jews had returned to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus the Great to rebuild the Temple. Neighboring peoples, including the Samaritans (implied, though not explicitly named here, as they're referred to as "them"), offered to help with the building process.
Key Players:
Zerubbabel: The governor of Judah, appointed by the Persian Empire. He was a descendant of King David.
Jeshua (Joshua): The High Priest.
"The rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel": The leaders of the major families in the returning community.
"You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God": This is the central statement. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders are rejecting the offer of help from these neighboring peoples. This rejection is based on a few possible factors:
Purity of Worship: The leaders likely suspected that the neighboring peoples did not worship Yahweh in the same way, or that they mixed the worship of Yahweh with other gods. Accepting their help could compromise the integrity of the Temple and the worship it was intended to house. There was a strong desire to build a Temple dedicated purely to Yahweh.
Legitimacy: The rebuilding was specifically commanded by King Cyrus to the Jews. The leaders may have felt that outsiders had no right to participate in a project divinely mandated for the Jewish people.
Potential Interference: The leaders may have been wary of the neighboring peoples' motives. Allowing them to participate in the building process could have opened the door to sabotage, manipulation, or control over the Temple in the future.
"But we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us": This emphasizes:
Self-reliance: The leaders assert that they will build the Temple, emphasizing the Jewish people's capability and responsibility.
Divine Mandate: They acknowledge that the rebuilding is done for "Yahweh, the God of Israel," highlighting the religious significance of the project.
Royal Authority: They reiterate that this work is authorized by King Cyrus, the ruler of the Persian Empire, who had given them permission and resources to rebuild.
In summary, Ezra 4:3 shows the Jewish leaders asserting their exclusive right and responsibility to rebuild the Temple for Yahweh, rejecting the help of neighboring peoples due to concerns about religious purity, legitimacy, and potential interference. They emphasize that they are fulfilling a divine mandate authorized by the Persian king.