Chapter 4

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)

These dispersed individuals were alerted that the returning Jews were serious about re-establishing a permanent presence in Judea when they heard the noise from the dedication ceremony that took place at the end of Ezra chapter 3.

they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” (Ezra 4:2)

Even though they were adversaries, they expressed interest in working together on the construction project. They wanted to collaborate on the project so that they could either destroy it from within or steer it in a direction that would benefit them.

But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” (Ezra 4:3)

Refusing a collaboration that could have seemed beneficial was a significant act of faith that needed to be taken. Men of faith have frequently been victims of this error, and as a result, they have connected themselves with individuals who do not share their faith or vision.

Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building (Ezra 4:4)

This response to the refusal of an alliance exposed their hidden malicious intent. If they were unable to undermine the project by forming a clandestine alliance, their backup plan was to undermine the project by discouraging the workers, causing problems for the builders, and campaigning against the labourers at King Cyrus's court.

Thus the work of the house of God, which is at Jerusalem, ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia. (Ezra 4:24)

Through the evil tactics of the Samaritans, which are described in greater detail in the comprehensive survey found in Ezra 4:4-23, these adversaries were successful in halting the construction for a period of around 15 years.

Their only victory was to delay the work, not to defeat it and the work was resumed in the second year of the reign of Darius.