Ezra 4 23

Ezra 4:23 kjv

Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

Ezra 4:23 nkjv

Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease.

Ezra 4:23 niv

As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.

Ezra 4:23 esv

Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease.

Ezra 4:23 nlt

When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building.

Ezra 4 verses

Ezra 4 23 Meaning

Ezra 4:23 describes the swift and forceful execution of King Artaxerxes’ decree by Rehum, Shimshai, and their associates, causing the Jewish builders in Jerusalem to immediately halt their work on the Temple. This action demonstrates the full weight of imperial authority brought to bear against the returning exiles.

Ezra 4 23 Context

The chapter Ezra 4 primarily chronicles the various oppositions faced by the Jews in rebuilding their Temple after their return from Babylonian exile. This verse specifically describes the immediate and harsh consequence of the royal decree from Artaxerxes I (Ezra 4:21), which granted the adversaries of the Jews the authority they desired. Although chronologically, the events surrounding King Artaxerxes belong to a later period than the initial efforts under Cyrus, Ezra includes them here to comprehensively illustrate the sustained and politically motivated opposition that consistently plagued the rebuilding efforts. Historically, the order to cease work issued by Artaxerxes I applied to a phase of rebuilding following the initial laying of the foundation. The “adversaries,” primarily Samaritans and other non-Jewish inhabitants of the region, meticulously slandered the Jews to the Persian king, portraying them as rebellious and dangerous, leveraging their past history to evoke imperial fear. This verse thus marks a significant setback for the returning exiles, as their sacred task was forcibly brought to a halt.

Ezra 4 23 Word analysis

• Now when the copy: The Aramaic דָּא כְּתָב (dā kəṯāb), meaning "this writing" or "this document," highlights the official, binding, and verified nature of the royal decree. It was not mere hearsay but a formally communicated order.

• of king Artaxerxes’ letter: Refers to Artaxerxes I Longimanus, a Persian monarch, emphasizing that the highest temporal authority was intervening. A Persian royal decree held absolute legal force throughout the empire, demonstrating the immense human power brought against God’s people.

• was read before: The Aramaic אִתְקְרִי (itqərî) signifies a formal and public reading. This act ensured broad dissemination of the king’s order and underscored its public, undeniable, and immediate enforceability by the officials.

• Rehum and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions: These were high-ranking administrative officials (a commander/chancellor and a royal secretary) and their confederates who had personally initiated the campaign against the Jews (Ezr 4:8-10). Their presence ensured meticulous and zealous enforcement, driven by their deep-seated antagonism.

• they went up in haste: The Aramaic בִּבְהִלוּ (biḇ·hî·lū), meaning "with haste" or "quickly," emphasizes their immediate obedience, eagerness, and zealous determination to execute the king's order. It conveys the rapid and uncompromising nature of their actions.

• to Jerusalem to the Jews: This phrase explicitly identifies the precise destination and the target of their enforcement. It indicates a direct, confrontational imposition of authority against the Jewish community engaged in the rebuilding.

• and by force and power: The Aramaic בְּיַד־חַיִל וְכֹחַ (bəyad-ḥayil wəḵōaḥ), literally "by hand of strong might and power," indicates an overwhelming display of imperial and physical strength. חַיִל (ḥayil) often implies military strength or a significant armed contingent, while כֹּחַ (kōaḥ) denotes general strength or physical might. Together, they imply coercion, threats, and possibly even the deployment of military force to ensure compliance.

• made them cease: The Aramaic בַּטִּלוּ הִמּוֹ (baṭṭillū himmō), "they caused them to cease," highlights that the action was effective and complete. This was not a mere request or suggestion; it was an enforcement that resulted in the immediate and total cessation of the Temple work.

• "Rehum and Shimshai... went up in haste... by force and power": This entire sequence of actions powerfully depicts the methodical and zealous implementation of unrighteous human authority. It reveals the immediate consequence of the adversaries’ successful manipulation of an earthly king, resulting in a decree that temporarily halted the divine work. The combination of swiftness, the active participation of key officials, and the direct application of physical coercion or overwhelming pressure signifies the thoroughness and immediacy of the opposition’s triumph in that specific moment. Their actions were motivated not just by bureaucratic duty but by a deep-seated enmity toward the Jewish community and its sacred task.

Ezra 4 23 Bonus section

The phrase "by force and power" implies not only overt physical coercion but also the full weight of legal and administrative authority vested in the officials, rendering any Jewish resistance futile under the Persian legal system. The immediate compliance, while a source of profound discouragement, vividly illustrates the absolute supremacy of Persian imperial law in the province at that time. This verse directly leads into the subsequent narrative where the work remained dormant for an extended period, nearly two decades, until divine prompting through prophets Haggai and Zechariah renewed the people's resolve to complete the task during the reign of Darius I (Ezr 4:24; Ezr 5:1). This prolonged cessation served as a period of significant spiritual testing for the returnees, highlighting the enduring cost of opposition but also ultimately setting the stage for God's sovereign intervention to recommence and finally complete His work.

Ezra 4 23 Commentary

Ezra 4:23 succinctly describes the immediate, powerful, and decisive execution of King Artaxerxes' command to stop the Temple rebuilding. Empowered by the royal decree, Rehum, Shimshai, and their companions, eager in their opposition, waste no time. They ascend to Jerusalem, not to negotiate, but to impose their will. The use of "force and power" indicates an intimidating and possibly physically coercive display of imperial might, leaving the Jewish builders no alternative but to comply. This moment marked a severe setback and a prolonged period of cessation for the reconstruction, born from deception and worldly influence against God's appointed task, challenging the faith and resolve of the returning exiles. It highlights how human political maneuvers can temporarily hinder divine plans, though ultimately, God's purpose cannot be thwarted permanently.