Ezra 4:2

"Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,"

Key Reflection

This verse reveals the opposition faced by those rebuilding Jerusalem's temple after their return from exile. The adversaries' reaction, even before seeing the work, underscores their fear and hostility towards the restoration of God’s worship, highlighting the spiritual significance of reestablishing faithfulness to God amidst external resistance.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Compare2 Kings 17:24-28notes. Since the days -Esar-haddon reigned from 681-668 B.C. Thus, the Samaritans speak of what had taken place at least 130 years previously. There appear to have been at least three colonizations of Samaria by the Assyrian kings. The first is mentioned in2 Kings 17:24. Later in his reign Sargon added to these first settlers an Arabian element. Some 30 or 40 years afterward, Esarhaddon, his grandson, largely augmented the population by colonists drawn especially from the southeast parts of the EmpireEzra 4:10. Thus, the later Samaritans were an exceedingly mixed race.

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