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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture

plus an explanation with links

2018 February 23

Capriccio with Classical Ruins and Buildings (1750s)
Canaletto (1697-1768)
Veduta Style
Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art

[ Illustration: Today's painting shows ruins which are typical of a devastated city such as Jerusalem in the time of Zerubbabel and Ezra. ]

SPECIAL NOTE:

[ I will again be working through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. I will be adding links, resources, images, and the like, upgrading the former work-through which began with the 2013-10-12 posting which can be found, along with the full Genesis to Revelation postings, in the Archive Page. Postings will be at midnight Eastern Time, as I am able. However, no chapters will be skipped, even though a posting may be late. And all postings will be housed in the Archive Page. ]

     Explanation: Ezra 4 tells how and why the building of the Temple was delayed until the time of Darius.
     When the Jews began to rebuild the Temple, the Samaritans said that they would like to help with the building; and they said that they wanted to seek God along with the Jews. But the Samaritans were foreign settlers, having only a little Jewish blood; and they did not worship God in a pure manner, but in an idolatrous manner (2 Kings 17:25; 2 Kings 17:41). So Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the other heads of the Israeli clans refused their offer (1-3).
     The Samaritans then hired counselors against them and stopped their work until Darius II (423-404 B.C.) came to the throne (4-5).
     They did this by writing accusations to two kings against the Jews, beginning with King Ahasuerus, also called Xerxes I -- (486-464 B.C.), husband of Esther (6).
     Afterward, they wrote to King Artaxerxes I Longimanus (465-424 B.C.). In this second letter they asked the king to check his court records where he would find that Jerusalem was a rebellious city which would revolt when they were strong enough and would stop paying tribute. So they asked him to force the Jews to cease their repairs (7-16).
     Artaxerxes agreed and commanded the Jews to stop repairing the Temple (17-22).
     The Jews stopped and did not resume until the time of Darius II (423-404 B.C.), a hiatus of about 17 years (23-24).
     NOTE: Ezra (538-456 B.C.) was contemporary with the following Biblical persons: Joel (580-450 B.C. -- if this late date applies, rather than a date in the 9th century B.C.); Haggai (520 B.C.); Zechariah (520-518 B.C.); Esther (483-473 B.C.); Nehemiah (445-425 B.C.).

[Traditional Patriarchal Chronology. Judges Period Chronology 1. Judges Period Chronology 2. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2].

[Post Exile Chronology 1. Post Exile Chronology 2. Post Exile Chronology 3.]

[Prophets Chronology 1. Prophets Chronology 2. Prophets Chronology 3. Prophets Chronology 4.]

[Intertestamental Period Chronology 1. Intertestamental Period Chronology 2. Intertestamental Period Chronology 3.
Intertestamental Period Chronology 4. Intertestamental Period Chronology 5.]

[New Testament Chronology 1. New Testament Chronology 2. New Testament Chronology 3. New Testament Chronology 4. New Testament Chronology 5.]

[ Sermons: William Still. Geoff Thomas. Various. ]

RESOURCES

PLEASE NOTE: Use the resources on this and other sites thoughtfully, particularly the commentaries and encyclopedias. I have attempted to list conservative, scholarly resources. However, some providers use liberal or liberal-influenced commentaries such as the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (in Bible Hub). Such commentaries are undoubtedly included by the provider for the wealth of useful information and comments which they provide. By consulting several commentaries, it should be fairly easy to sort out the wheat from the chaff. If, however, you would like personal assistance, write to me at AD LIB ARTS EMAIL.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Ezra 4: 2 Kings 17:25; 2 Kings 17:41; Nehemiah; Esther].
     [1] 2 Kings 17:24-34.
     [2] 2 Kings 17:33.
     [9] 2 Kings 17:24.
     [15] Esther 6:1.
     -- From Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]

HARMONY OF THE LAW

John Calvin - CCEL | Analytical Chart - BLB

GOSPEL HARMONIES

Gospel Harmony - Summary | The Harmony of the Gospels - Augustine | Gospel Harmony Chart - Online Bible

Greek Harmony of the Gospels - Robertson - (Downloadable PDF) | Gospel Harmony in English - Robertson - (Downloadable PDF)

HEBREW AND GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLES

Hebrew and Greek Interlinear Download - Scripture 4 All

Bible Hub Interlinear Hebrew and Greek Bible

Bible Hub Hebrew Interlinear | Scripture 4 All Hebrew Interlinear

Mounce Interlinear | Bible Hub Greek Interlinear | Scripture 4 All Greek Interlinear Bible

Ezra Detailed Outline

Ezra 4

1. Building the Temple (Ezra 1:1 - Ezra 6:22)

A. Phase 1: Cyrus' Decree (1:1 - 4:24)

Map 1: Bible Nations | Map 2: Empire of David and Solomon Map 3: Kingdoms of Judah and Israel | Post Exile Chronology.

     ¹ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captiviy builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; ² Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which bought us up hither. ³ But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
     ⁴ Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, ⁵ And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
     ⁶ And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
     ⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. ⁸ Rehum the chancellor [master of counsel] and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: ⁹ Then wrote Rehum the chancellor [master of counsel], and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, ¹⁰ And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar bought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. ¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. ¹² Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. ¹³ Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. ¹⁴ Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace [salt of the king's palace we salted], and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; ¹⁵ That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. ¹⁶ We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
     ¹⁷ Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor [master of counsel], and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. ¹⁸ The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ And I commanded [and from me was given a decree], and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. ²⁰ There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. ²¹ Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. ²² Take heed now [And being warned, be you!] that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

²³ 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. ²⁴ Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

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