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建殿之工受阻

猶大便雅憫的敵人聽說被擄歸回的人為耶和華—以色列的 神建造殿宇, 就去見所羅巴伯和族長,對他們說:「請讓我們與你們一同建造,因為我們也與你們一樣尋求你們的 神。自從亞述以撒‧哈頓帶我們上這地的日子以來,我們常向 神獻祭。」 所羅巴伯耶書亞和其餘以色列的族長對他們說:「我們建造 神的殿與你們無關,因為我們要照波斯居魯士所吩咐的,自己為耶和華—以色列的 神協力建造。」

那地的人就在猶大百姓建造的時候,使他們的手發軟,擾亂他們。 波斯居魯士年間,直到波斯大流士在位的時候,那些人賄賂謀士,要破壞他們的計劃。

阻撓重建耶路撒冷

亞哈隨魯在位,他的國度剛開始的時候,他們上書控告猶大耶路撒冷的居民。

亞達薛西年間,比施蘭米特利達他別和他們[a]的同僚上書奏告波斯亞達薛西。奏文是用亞蘭文寫的,以亞蘭文呈上。 利宏省長、伸帥書記也上奏亞達薛西王,控告耶路撒冷[b]如下 (那時,利宏省長、伸帥書記和他們其餘的同僚,法官、官員、軍官、波斯官員[c]亞基衛人、巴比倫人,和書珊迦人,就是以攔[d] 10 以及被亞斯那巴大人遷移、安置在撒瑪利亞城大河西邊一帶地方其餘的人。現在, 11 這是他們上奏亞達薛西王奏文的抄本):「河西的臣僕上奏亞達薛西王,現在 12 請王知道,從王那裏上到我們這裏的猶太人,已經抵達耶路撒冷。他們正在重建這反叛惡劣的城,已經完成了城牆,正要修復根基。 13 如今請王知道,這城若再建造,城牆完工,他們就不再進貢、納糧、繳稅,王的國庫必受虧損。 14 如今,我們吃的鹽既然全是宮廷的鹽,就不忍見王吃虧,因此奏告於王, 15 請王考察先王史籍,必會在史籍上查知這城是反叛的城,對列王和各省有害;自古以來,城中常有悖逆的事,因此這城曾被拆毀。 16 我們謹奏王知,這城若再建造,城牆完工,河西之地王就無份了。」

17 那時王諭覆利宏省長、伸帥書記和他們其餘的同僚,就是住撒瑪利亞河西一帶地方的人,說:「願你們平安。現在 18 你們所呈給我們的奏本,已經清楚地在我面前讀了。 19 我已下令考查,得知這城自古以來果然背叛列王,其中常有反叛悖逆的事。 20 也曾有強大的君王治理耶路撒冷,統管河西全地,人就給他們進貢、納糧、繳稅。 21 現在你們要下令叫這些人停工,使這城不得建造,等到我再降旨。 22 你們當謹慎辦這事,不可遲延,何必讓損害加重,使王受虧損呢?」

23 亞達薛西王上諭的抄本在利宏伸帥書記,以及他們的同僚面前宣讀,他們就急忙往耶路撒冷去見猶太人,用勢力和強權叫他們停工。

恢復重建聖殿工作

24 於是,在耶路撒冷 神殿的工程就停止了,直停到波斯大流士第二年。

Footnotes

  1. 4.7 「他們」:原文是「他」。
  2. 4.8 從 4.8—6.18,以及7.12–26,原文是亞蘭文。
  3. 4.9 「法官、官員、軍官、波斯官員」:原文音譯「底拿人、亞法薩提迦人、他毗拉人、亞法撒人」。
  4. 4.9 「就是以攔人」:原文另譯「底亥人、以攔人」。
'以 斯 拉 記 4 ' not found for the version: Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version.

建殿工作受阻

猶大和便雅憫的敵人聽說流亡者回來要為以色列的上帝耶和華建殿, 就去見所羅巴伯和以色列的族長,對他們說:「請讓我們與你們一同建造,因為我們像你們一樣也尋求你們的上帝。自從亞述王以撒哈頓帶我們到這裡以後,我們就一直獻祭給上帝。」 所羅巴伯、耶書亞和以色列其餘的族長回答說:「你們不能參與建殿。遵照波斯王塞魯士的吩咐,我們要自己為以色列的上帝耶和華建殿。」

於是,當地人阻撓猶大人,使他們不敢建殿, 從波斯王塞魯士統治年間,一直到波斯王大流士統治期間,當地人收買謀士,破壞他們的計劃。

阻擾重建耶路撒冷

亞哈隨魯統治初期,他們寫信控告猶大和耶路撒冷的居民。

波斯王亞達薛西統治年間,比施蘭、米特利達、他別及其同黨上奏亞達薛西。奏章是用亞蘭文寫的,經過翻譯後呈上。 利宏省長和伸帥書記也寫了奏本給亞達薛西王,控告耶路撒冷人,內容如下: 「利宏省長、伸帥書記和我們的同僚底拿人、亞法薩提迦人、他毗拉人、亞法撒人、亞基衛人、巴比倫人、書珊迦人、底亥人、以攔人, 10 以及偉大尊貴的亞斯那巴遷來並安置在撒瑪利亞各城與幼發拉底河西一帶的人民, 11 上奏亞達薛西王,

「『幼發拉底河西的臣民奏告亞達薛西王, 12 王該知道,從王那裡到我們這裡來的猶太人已經去了耶路撒冷,如今正在重建這座叛逆、罪惡之城,正在重建地基,修築城牆。 13 王該知道,如果這城建好,城牆完工,他們將不再進貢、交賦、納稅,王的稅收必受虧損。 14 我們既食王祿,就不能坐視王遭受損失,因此上奏於王。 15 請王查看先王的記錄,必從中獲悉這城是叛逆之城,危害列王和各省。自古以來,城中叛亂不斷,因此才被毀滅。 16 我們願王知道,這城一旦建好,城牆完工,幼發拉底河西之地就不再為王所有了。』」

17 王回覆利宏省長、伸帥書記及其住在撒瑪利亞與幼發拉底河西一帶的同僚,說:「願你們平安! 18 你們呈上的奏章,經過翻譯已奏報給我。 19 我已命人查考,發現這城自古以來屢屢背叛列王,是悖逆和叛亂之地。 20 強大的君王曾經統管耶路撒冷和幼發拉底河西全境,並向人們徵收貢物和賦稅。 21 現在你們要下令讓這些人停止建造這城,等候我的諭旨。 22 要認真辦理這事,不可遲延,何必容事情惡化,使王受虧損呢?」

23 利宏、伸帥書記及其同僚接到諭旨後,急忙趕往耶路撒冷,用武力強迫猶太人停工。

恢復建殿工作

24 於是,耶路撒冷上帝殿的重建工程停止了,一直停到波斯王大流士第二年。

重建圣殿的工作受拦阻

犹大和便雅悯的敌人听见被掳回来的人为耶和华以色列的 神重建圣殿, 就前来见所罗巴伯和众族长,对他们说:“请让我们与你们一起建造吧!因为我们也像你们那样寻求你们的 神。自从亚述王以撒哈顿把我们带上这里的日子以来,我们一直向他献祭。” 但所罗巴伯、耶书亚和以色列其余的族长对他们说:“你们不能与我们一同建筑 神的殿,因为波斯王古列王吩咐我们自己为耶和华以色列的 神建殿。” 于是那地方的居民使犹大人的手发软,惊扰他们的建筑工程。 又在波斯王古列的日子,直到波斯王大利乌在位的时候,常常贿买参谋,来敌对犹大人,要破坏他们的建殿计划。

敌人上奏控告犹大人

亚哈随鲁在位的初期,他们写了诉状,控告犹大和耶路撒冷的居民。 在亚达薛西年间,比施兰、米特利达、他别和其余的同僚,也上书给波斯王亚达薛西,反对耶路撒冷人,奏文是用亚兰文写成,并且翻译了(“并且翻译了”指为亚达薛西王翻译为波斯文字;参18节)。 省长利宏和秘书伸帅写奏本给亚达薛西王,控告耶路撒冷。奏文如下: 省长利宏、秘书伸帅和他们其余的同僚:法官、钦差、议员、官长(“法官、钦差、议员、官长”或译:“底拿人、亚法萨提迦人、他毘拉人、亚法撒人”),亚基卫人、巴比伦人、书珊人,就是以拦人, 10 还有伟大尊贵的亚斯那巴掳来安置在撒玛利亚城和河西那边其余地方的居民,呈上奏文。 11 这就是他们呈给亚达薛西王的奏文副本:“你的臣仆,就是河西那边的人,上奏亚达薛西王: 12 奏知大王:从你那里上到我们这里来的犹大人,已经到了耶路撒冷这座叛逆和邪恶的城;他们进行建造,并且已经修好根基,开始建造城墙。 13 现在奏知大王:如果这城建成,墙垣筑好,他们就不再缴税、进贡和纳粮,王的国库收入必定受损。 14 现在我们既食王家的盐,不该见王受剥夺,因此上奏禀告王, 15 请王查考先王的记录,从记录中查知这城是叛逆的城,对列王和各省都有损害,自古以来,城中常有造反的事,因此这城被拆毁。 16 我们告知王,如果这城建成,墙垣筑好,河西那边的地方就不再是王的了。”

王降旨下令停工

17 王把谕旨送交省长利宏、秘书伸帅,以及其余住在撒玛利亚和河西的同僚,说:“愿你们平安。 18 你们呈给我们的奏本已经在我面前翻译和诵读了。 19 我下令考查,发现这城自古以来反叛列王,城中常有造反叛乱的事。 20 从前大能的君王统治耶路撒冷,治理河西那边的全地,接受他们缴税、进贡和纳粮。 21 现在你们要下令叫这些人停工,不得重建这城,等候我的谕令。 22 你们要留心,不可疏忽这事,使王的亏损增加。”

23 当亚达薛西王谕旨的副本在利宏和秘书伸帅,以及他们的同僚面前宣读出来以后,他们就急忙去耶路撒冷到犹大人那里,用武力强迫他们停工。 24 所以,在耶路撒冷的神殿的工程就停止了,直到波斯王大利乌在位的第二年。

Opposition to the Rebuilding

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building(A) a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 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(B) king of Assyria, who brought us here.”(C)

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.”(D)

Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.[a](E) 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.

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,[b](F) they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.(G)

And in the days of Artaxerxes(H) 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(I) language.[c][d]

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

Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates(J)—the judges, officials and administrators over the people from Persia, Uruk(K) and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,(L) 10 and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal(M) deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.(N)

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.(O)

13 Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty(P) will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer.[e] 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(Q) 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.(R) 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:(S)

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(T) against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. 20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates,(U) 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?(V)

23 As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates,(W) 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(X) king of Persia.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:4 Or and troubled them as they built
  2. Ezra 4:6 Hebrew Ahasuerus
  3. Ezra 4:7 Or written in Aramaic and translated
  4. Ezra 4:7 The text of 4:8–6:18 is in Aramaic.
  5. Ezra 4:13 The meaning of the Aramaic for this clause is uncertain.