Ezra 4 1

Ezra 4:1 kjv

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

Ezra 4:1 nkjv

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel,

Ezra 4:1 niv

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

Ezra 4:1 esv

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,

Ezra 4:1 nlt

The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Ezra 4 verses

Ezra 4 1 Meaning

Ezra 4:1 introduces the immediate emergence of opposition against the Jewish community as they actively began rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem after their return from Babylonian exile. It signifies that earnest divine work often encounters resistance from those hostile to God's purposes. The verse precisely identifies these challengers as the "adversaries of Judah and Benjamin," highlighting that their opposition was directed specifically at the returning exiles' efforts to re-establish the sacred house of the Lord God of Israel.

Ezra 4 1 Context

Ezra chapter 4 begins a detailed account of the opposition faced by the Jewish returnees in their effort to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter 1 recounts Cyrus the Great's decree permitting the Jews to return and rebuild. Chapter 2 lists the thousands who made the journey. Chapter 3 describes their initial spiritual steps: building the altar, offering sacrifices, celebrating the Feast of Booths, and importantly, laying the foundation of the new Temple amidst joy and tears. Ezra 4:1 picks up directly from this moment of recommencement, signaling that significant spiritual undertakings often attract immediate and forceful opposition. Historically, this period is within the Persian Empire's reign (specifically Artaxerxes' rule in later verses, though the initial opposition starts much earlier under Cyrus/Cambyses), a time when various ethnic groups had been resettled across the region. The "adversaries" largely comprise the mixed population of Samaria, whose religious syncretism and political ambitions made them hostile to a distinct, Yahweh-centered rebuilding project that might challenge their local power or identity.

Ezra 4 1 Word analysis

• Now when: Marks a temporal transition, connecting this event directly to the laying of the Temple's foundation in the preceding chapter. It indicates an immediate, consequential reaction to the progress of God's work.
• the adversaries: Hebrew: tsare (צָרֵי), derived from tzar (צַר), meaning "adversary," "foe," "opponent," or "one who presses hard." This term accurately depicts their nature: not neutral parties but actively hostile forces seeking to hinder or oppress. These were the local inhabitants of the land, particularly those who became known as Samaritans, people of mixed ethnic and religious backgrounds, partially settled there by the Assyrians after the northern kingdom fell.
• of Judah and Benjamin: Specifies the recipients of the opposition. These two tribes primarily formed the Southern Kingdom and represented the core group of Jewish exiles returning to re-establish their identity and worship. This highlights that the conflict was against God's chosen remnant.
• heard: Implies awareness, intelligence gathering. They were not ignorant of the work. Their hearing precipitated their action. The work was public and notable enough to be reported.
• that the children of the captivity: Hebrew: b'nei ha'golah (בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה). Literally, "sons of the exile." This term emphasizes their status as those who returned from Babylonian exile, an identity central to their renewed covenant relationship with God and their mission to rebuild. It underscores their vulnerability yet their divine mandate.
• builded: Signifies active construction, indicating visible and progressive work on the Temple. This action was the immediate trigger for the adversaries' response.
• the temple: Hebrew: beit Hashem (בֵּית יְהוָה) or bayit (בַּיִת) - "the house" (of the Lord). This is the focal point of the opposition. The rebuilding of the Temple symbolized the re-establishment of pure worship, the presence of God among His people, and the restoration of their national and religious identity—all things an adversary to God's people would naturally seek to thwart.
• unto the Lord God of Israel: This crucial phrase clarifies the divine objective and dedication of the Temple. It underscores that the rebuilding was not merely a construction project but a sacred act of worship and obedience directed to the specific God of Israel. The opposition was not just against the Jews, but fundamentally against Yahweh, the true God. This also implicitly draws a contrast with the syncretistic worship of the adversaries, who mixed pagan practices with elements of Yahwism.

• "Now when the adversaries... heard": This grouping highlights the immediate and direct causal link between the progress of God's work (building the Temple) and the emergence of external, organized opposition. Their "hearing" signifies recognition of the scale and significance of the rebuilding, provoking their hostile response.
• "the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin": This clarifies that the opposition was not general but specifically targeted at the re-established community of God's people. It underlines an antagonistic relationship rooted in distinct identities and loyalties.
• "that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel": This phrase encapsulates the entire conflict: a divinely mandated project (building the Temple), undertaken by a divinely chosen people (the returned exiles), and dedicated to the one true God (Lord God of Israel), all of which became the specific object of the adversaries' hatred and obstruction. It highlights the spiritual nature of the conflict.

Ezra 4 1 Bonus section

The "adversaries" mentioned in Ezra 4:1 are primarily understood to be the Samaritans, a mixed populace resulting from the intermingling of the remnants of the northern tribes of Israel with foreign peoples settled there by Assyrian kings (2 Kgs 17). While they professed some belief in Yahweh, their worship was syncretistic, blending Yahwism with pagan idolatry. Their concern over the Temple rebuilding stemmed from multiple factors: a desire to exert control over Jerusalem, fear of Judah's political resurgence, and a deep-seated antagonism towards the purity of Israelite worship distinct from their own compromised faith. Their initial approach, detailed in Ezra 4:2, appears as an offer to assist, but was rejected by the Jewish leaders (Ezra 4:3) because their involvement would have contaminated the sacred work and compromised the theological purity of the rebuilding efforts dedicated exclusively "unto the Lord God of Israel." This rejection then escalated their animosity into overt opposition through discouragement, bribery, and official complaints, forming a crucial hurdle for the exiles for decades.

Ezra 4 1 Commentary

Ezra 4:1 immediately plunges the narrative into conflict, demonstrating that every significant step in God's redemptive plan encounters resistance. The adversaries' opposition, spurred by hearing about the Temple's reconstruction, wasn't coincidental but a direct response to a foundational work for God's kingdom. This verse establishes a recurrent biblical pattern: genuine spiritual advancement and faithful obedience often invite the focused attention and hostility of those aligned against God's purposes. The adversaries' prompt response underscores their vigilant enmity, recognizing the existential threat the Temple's restoration posed to their own corrupted religious practices and regional influence. The battle was fundamentally spiritual, targeting the worship and presence of the Lord God of Israel.