Ezra 4: Opposition to Rebuilding the Temple – Clear & Engaging Audio Bible Reading | Foreign Attacks, Infiltration, and Temple Obstruction

Listen to this clear and engaging audio recording of Ezra 4 to witness the opposition to the rebuilding of the temple. Experience the story of foreign attacks against the Jews, infiltration of false worshipers, and temple obstruction that caused the work to stop. Perfect for study, reflection, or meditation, immerse yourself in this powerful chapter and let the Scriptures come alive.

EZRA 4 (NIV)

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

2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the
heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we
seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon
king of Assyria, who brought us here.”

3 But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel
answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone
will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of
Persia, commanded us.”

4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and
make them afraid to go on building.

5 They bribed officials to work against
them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia
and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against
the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel
and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was
written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.

8 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter
against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

9 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the
rest of their associates—the judges, officials and administrators over the
people from Persia, Uruk and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,

10 and the other
people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the
city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.

11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent him.)
To King Artaxerxes,
From your servants in Trans-Euphrates:

12 The king should know that the people who came up to us from you have gone
to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are
restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.

13 Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls
are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and eventually the
royal revenues will suffer.

14 Now since we are under obligation to the palace
and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this
message to inform the king,

15 so that a search may be made in the archives of
your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a
rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long
history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed.

16 We inform the
king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left
with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

17 The king sent this reply:
To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their
associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates:
Greetings.

18 The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence.

19 I
issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a
long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and
sedition.

20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-
Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them.

21 Now issue an
order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I
so order.

22 Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow,
to the detriment of the royal interests?

23 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.

24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until
the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.