Antiguo Testamento

Ezra — Capítulo 4

The Samaritans endeavor to prevent the rebuilding of the temple, Ezr 4:1-5. They send letters to Artaxerxes, against the Jews, Ezr 4:6-9. A copy of the letter, Ezr 4:10-16. He commands the Jews to cease from building …

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1Oyendo los enemigos de Judá y de Benjamín que los venidos de la cautividad edificaban el templo de Jehová Dios de Israel,

2vinieron a Zorobabel y a los jefes de casas paternas, y les dijeron: Edificaremos con vosotros, porque como vosotros buscamos a vuestro Dios, y a él ofrecemos sacrificios desde los días de Esar-hadón rey de Asiria, que nos hizo venir aquí.

3Zorobabel, Jesúa, y los demás jefes de casas paternas de Israel dijeron: No nos conviene edificar con vosotros casa a nuestro Dios, sino que nosotros solos la edificaremos a Jehová Dios de Israel, como nos mandó el rey Ciro, rey de Persia.

4Pero el pueblo de la tierra intimidó al pueblo de Judá, y lo atemorizó para que no edificara.

5Sobornaron además contra ellos a los consejeros para frustrar sus propósitos, todo el tiempo de Ciro rey de Persia y hasta el reinado de Darío rey de Persia.

6Y en el reinado de Asuero, en el principio de su reinado, escribieron acusaciones contra los habitantes de Judá y de Jerusalén.

7También en días de Artajerjes escribieron Bislam, Mitrídates, Tabeel y los demás compañeros suyos, a Artajerjes rey de Persia; y la escritura y el lenguaje de la carta eran en arameo.

8Rehum canciller y Simsai secretario escribieron una carta contra Jerusalén al rey Artajerjes.

9En tal fecha escribieron Rehum canciller y Simsai secretario, y los demás compañeros suyos los jueces, gobernadores y oficiales, y los de Persia, de Erec, de Babilonia, de Susa, esto es, los elamitas,

10y los demás pueblos que el grande y glorioso Asnapar transportó e hizo habitar en las ciudades de Samaria y las demás provincias del otro lado del río.

11Y esta es la copia de la carta que enviaron: Al rey Artajerjes: Tus siervos del otro lado del río te saludan.

12Sea notorio al rey, que los judíos que subieron de ti a nosotros vinieron a Jerusalén; y edifican la ciudad rebelde y mala, y levantan los muros y reparan los fundamentos.

13Ahora sea notorio al rey, que si aquella ciudad fuere reedificada, y los muros fueren levantados, no pagarán tributo, impuesto y rentas, y el erario de los reyes será menoscabado.

14Siendo que nos mantienen del palacio, no nos es justo ver el menosprecio del rey, por lo cual hemos enviado a hacerlo saber al rey,

15para que se busque en el libro de las memorias de tus padres. Hallarás en el libro de las memorias, y sabrás que esta ciudad es ciudad rebelde, y perjudicial a los reyes y a las provincias, y que de tiempo antiguo forman en medio de ella rebeliones, por lo que esta ciudad fue destruida.

16Hacemos saber al rey que si esta ciudad fuere reedificada, y levantados sus muros, la región de más allá del río no será tuya.

17El rey envió esta respuesta: A Rehum canciller, a Simsai secretario, a los demás compañeros suyos que habitan en Samaria, y a los demás del otro lado del río: Salud y paz.

18La carta que nos enviasteis fue leída claramente delante de mí.

19Y por mí fue dada orden y buscaron; y hallaron que aquella ciudad de tiempo antiguo se levanta contra los reyes y se rebela, y se forma en ella sedición;

20y que hubo en Jerusalén reyes fuertes que dominaron en todo lo que hay más allá del río, y que se les pagaba tributo, impuesto y rentas.

21Ahora, pues, dad orden que cesen aquellos hombres, y no sea esa ciudad reedificada hasta que por mí sea dada nueva orden.

22Y mirad que no seáis negligentes en esto; ¿por qué habrá de crecer el daño en perjuicio de los reyes?

23Entonces, cuando la copia de la carta del rey Artajerjes fue leída delante de Rehum, y de Simsai secretario y sus compañeros, fueron apresuradamente a Jerusalén a los judíos, y les hicieron cesar con poder y violencia.

24Entonces cesó la obra de la casa de Dios que estaba en Jerusalén, y quedó suspendida hasta el año segundo del reinado de Darío rey de Persia.

ADAM CLARKE BIBLE COMMENTARY

Versículo 1

I. Now when the adversaries - These were the Samaritans, and the different nations with which the ki…

Now when the adversaries - These were the Samaritans, and the different nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants away into captivity, see Ezr 4:9, Ezr 4:10.

Versículo 2

II. Let us build with you - We acknowledge the same God, are solicitous for his glory, and will gladl…

Let us build with you - We acknowledge the same God, are solicitous for his glory, and will gladly assist you in this work. But that they came with no friendly intention, the context proves.

Versículo 3

III. Ye have nothing to do with us - We cannot acknowledge you as worshippers of the true God, and can…

Ye have nothing to do with us - We cannot acknowledge you as worshippers of the true God, and cannot participate with you in anything that relates to his worship.

Versículo 4

IV. Weakened the hands - Discouraged and opposed them by every possible means.

Weakened the hands - Discouraged and opposed them by every possible means.

Versículo 5

V. Hired counsellors - They found means to corrupt some of the principal officers of the Persian cou…

Hired counsellors - They found means to corrupt some of the principal officers of the Persian court, so that the orders of Cyrus were not executed; or at least so slowly as to make them nearly ineffectual. Until the reign of Darius - This was probably Darius the son of Hystaspes.

Versículo 6

VI. In the reign of Ahasuerus - This is the person who is called Cambyses by the Greeks. He reigned s…

In the reign of Ahasuerus - This is the person who is called Cambyses by the Greeks. He reigned seven years and five months; and during the whole of that time the building of the temple was interrupted.

Versículo 7

VII. In the days of Artaxerxes - After the death of Cambyses, one of the Magi named Oropaestus by Trog…

In the days of Artaxerxes - After the death of Cambyses, one of the Magi named Oropaestus by Trogus Pompeius, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by Aeschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias, usurped the empire, feigning himself to be Smerdis, the brother of Cambyses, who had been put to death. This is the person named Artaxerxes in the text: or, following the Hebrew, Artachshasta. It is generally believed, that from the time of Cyrus the great, Xerxes and Artaxerxes were names assumed by the Persian sovereigns, whatever their names had been before. Written in the Syrian tongue - That is, the Syrian or Chaldean character was used; not the Hebrew. Interpreted, in the Syrian tongue - That is, the language, as well as the character, was the Syriac or Chaldaic.

Versículo 8

VIII. Rehum the chancellor - With this verse the Chaldee part of the chapter begins; and the same langu…

Rehum the chancellor - With this verse the Chaldee part of the chapter begins; and the same language continues to the end of Ezr 6:18. These men wrote to Darius in their own language; and the king in the same dialect returns an answer, chap. 5. This circumstance adds authenticity to what is written: so scrupulous was the inspired penman, that he not only gave the words which each spoke and wrote, but he gave them also in the very language in which they were conceived and in the character peculiar to that language.

Versículo 10

IX. The great and noble Asnapper - Whether this was Shalmaneser, or Esar-haddon, or some other person…

The great and noble Asnapper - Whether this was Shalmaneser, or Esar-haddon, or some other person, learned men and chronologists are not agreed. The Syriac terms him Asphid; but of this person we know no more than we do of Asnapper. He might have been the military officer who was appointed to escort this people to Judea.

Versículo 11

X. And at such a time - The word וכענת ucheeneth has greatly perplexed all commentators and critics.…

And at such a time - The word וכענת ucheeneth has greatly perplexed all commentators and critics. The versions give us no light; and the Vulgate translates it et dicunt salutem, "and they wish prosperity." Some translate it and so forth; and our translators supposed that it referred to the date, which however is not specified, and might have been as easily entered as the words and at such a time. In our first translation of the Bible, that by Coverdale, in 1535, the passage stands thus: "And other on this syde the water, and in Canaan." In that by Becke, 1549, it is thus: "And other on this syde the water, and in Ceneeth:" and in the margin he enters "or peace," "or health." In Cardmarden's Bible, printed at Rouen, 1566, it stands thus: "And other that are nowe on thys syde the water." In that printed by Barker, 1615, we find the text thus: "And Other that are beyond the river, and Cheeneth;" on which is the following marginal note: "To wit, Euphrates: and he meaneth in respect of Babel, that they dwelt beyond it." And the note on Cheeneth is, "Which were a certain people that envied the Jews." All this is merely guessing, in the midst of obscurity; most of these having considered the original word כענת Ceeneth as the name of a people; and in this they follow the Syriac, which uses the word Acaneth. Calmet thinks we should read ובעת ubaeth, "and at this time;" as if they had said, "We wish thee to enjoy the same health and prosperity at all future times, which thou dost at present." This is not remote from the meaning of the Chaldee original.

Versículo 13

XI. Toll, tribute, and custom - The first term is supposed to imply the capitation tax; the second, a…

Toll, tribute, and custom - The first term is supposed to imply the capitation tax; the second, an excise on commodities and merchandise; the third, a sort of land tax. Others suppose the first means a property tax; the second, a poll tax; and the third, what was paid on imports and exports. In a word, if you permit these people to rebuild and fortify their city, they will soon set you at naught, and pay you no kind of tribute.

Versículo 14

XII. Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace - More literally: Now because at all times…

Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace - More literally: Now because at all times we are salted with the salt of the palace; i.e., We live on the king's bounty, and must be faithful to our benefactor. Salt was used as the emblem of an incorruptible covenant; and those who ate bread and salt together were considered as having entered into a very solemn covenant. These hypocrites intimated that they felt their conscience bound by the league between them and the king; and therefore could not conscientiously see any thing going on that was likely to turn to the king's damage. They were probably also persons in the pay of the Persian king.

Versículo 15

XIII. The book of the records of thy fathers - That is, the records of the Chaldeans, to whom the Persi…

The book of the records of thy fathers - That is, the records of the Chaldeans, to whom the Persians succeeded.

Versículo 17

XIV. Peace, and at such a time - The word וכעת ucheeth is like that which we have already considered o…

Peace, and at such a time - The word וכעת ucheeth is like that which we have already considered on Ezr 4:10, and probably has the same meaning.

Versículo 19

XV. Hath made insurrection against kings - How true is the proverb, "It is an easy thing to find a st…

Hath made insurrection against kings - How true is the proverb, "It is an easy thing to find a staff to beat a dog!" The struggles of the Israelites to preserve or regain their independency, which they had from God, are termed insurrection, rebellion, and sedition: because at last they fell under the power of their oppressors. Had they been successful in these struggles, such offensive words had never been used. In 1688 the people of England struggled to throw off an oppressive government, that was changing the times and the seasons, and overthrowing the religion of the country, and setting up in its place the spurious off-spring of popery and arbitrary government. They were successful; and it is called the Revolution: had they failed it would have been called rebellion; and the parties principally concerned would have been put to death.

Versículo 20

16. Beyond the river - That is, the Euphrates. Both David and Solomon carried their conquests beyond …

Beyond the river - That is, the Euphrates. Both David and Solomon carried their conquests beyond this river. See Sa2 8:3, etc., and Kg1 4:21, where it is said, Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) unto the land of the Philistines; and unto the borders of Egypt.

Versículo 21

17. Until another commandment shall be given from me - The rebuilding was only provisionally suspende…

Until another commandment shall be given from me - The rebuilding was only provisionally suspended. The decree was, Let it cease for the present; nor let it proceed at any time without an order express from me.

Versículo 23

18. Made them to cease by force and power - Commanded them on pain of the king's displeasure not to p…

Made them to cease by force and power - Commanded them on pain of the king's displeasure not to proceed, obliging all to remit their labors, and probably bringing an armed force to prevent them from going forward.

Versículo 24

19. So it ceased unto the second year of - Darius - They had begun in the first year of Cyrus, b.c. 5…

So it ceased unto the second year of - Darius - They had begun in the first year of Cyrus, b.c. 536, to go up to Jerusalem, and they were obliged to desist from the building b.c. 522; and thus they continued till the second year of Darius, b.c. 519. See the chronology in Hag 1:1 (note) and Zac 1:1 (note) and the following chapter, Ezra 5 (note).

Cargando EZR 4...