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。

Opposition to Rebuilding the Temple

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin(A) heard that the returned exiles[a](B) were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the family heads and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to him[b] since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.”(C)

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel’s families answered them, “You may have no part with us in building a house for our God,(D) since we alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”(E) Then the people who were already in the land[c] discouraged[d] the people of Judah and made them afraid(F) to build. They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans(G) throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.(H)

Opposition to Rebuilding the City

At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus,(I) the people who were already in the land(J) wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem. During the time of King Artaxerxes of Persia,(K) Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic(L) and translated.[e]

Rehum the chief deputy and Shimshai the scribe(M) wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes concerning Jerusalem as follows:

From Rehum[f] the chief deputy, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues—the judges and magistrates[g] from Tripolis, Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa(N) (that is, the people of Elam),[h] 10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and illustrious Ashurbanipal[i] deported and settled in the cities of Samaria(O) and the region west of the Euphrates River.(P)

11 This is the text of the letter they sent to him:

To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the region west of the Euphrates River:

12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished,(Q) they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax,(R) and the royal revenue[j] will suffer. 14 Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king,[k] and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king 15 that a search should be made in your predecessors’ record books.(S) In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.

Artaxerxes’s Reply

17 The king sent a reply to his chief deputy Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates River:

Greetings.

18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read[l](T) in my presence. 19 I issued a decree and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has had uprisings against kings since ancient times, and there have been rebellions and revolts in it. 20 Powerful kings have also ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates River, and tribute, duty, and land tax were paid to them. 21 Therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until a further decree has been pronounced by me.(U) 22 See that you not neglect this matter. Otherwise, the damage will increase and the royal interests[m] will suffer.

23 As soon as the text of King Artaxerxes’s letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues,(V) they immediately went to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

Rebuilding of the Temple Resumed

24 Now the construction of God’s house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.(W)

Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Lit the sons of the exile
  2. 4:2 Alt Hb tradition reads have not been sacrificing
  3. 4:4 Lit people of the land, also in v. 6
  4. 4:4 Lit weakened the hands of
  5. 4:7 Ezr 4:8–6:18 is written in Aramaic.
  6. 4:9 Lit Then Rehum
  7. 4:9 Or ambassadors
  8. 4:9 Aramaic obscure
  9. 4:10 Lit Osnappar
  10. 4:13 Aramaic obscure
  11. 4:14 Lit have eaten the salt of the palace
  12. 4:18 Or been read clearly
  13. 4:22 Lit the kings

Opoziţie faţă de rezidirea Casei Domnului şi a Ierusalimului

Când duşmanii lui Iuda şi ai lui Beniamin au auzit că cei care fuseseră în captivitate zidesc un Templu[a] pentru Domnul, Dumnezeul lui Israel, s-au apropiat de Zerub-Babel şi de căpeteniile familiilor şi le-au zis:

– Să zidim şi noi cu voi! Căci, asemenea vouă, şi noi Îl întrebăm pe Dumnezeul vostru şi-I aducem jertfe de pe vremea lui Esar-Hadon[b], împăratul Asiriei, cel care ne-a adus aici.

Zerub-Babel, Iosua şi căpeteniile familiilor rămase din Israel le-au răspuns:

– Nu se poate să zidiţi împreună cu noi o Casă Dumnezeului nostru, ci doar noi vom zidi pentru Domnul, Dumnezeul lui Israel, aşa cum ne-a poruncit împăratul Cirus, împăratul Persiei.

Poporul ţării a slăbit avântul celor din poporul lui Iuda, i-a descurajat[c] să mai zidească şi a angajat sfetnici împotriva lor, ca să le zădărnicească planul. Aşa a fost în toată perioada domniei lui Cirus, împăratul Persiei, până în perioada domniei lui Darius[d], împăratul Persiei. La începutul domniei lui Ahaşveroş[e] au scris o plângere împotriva locuitorilor lui Iuda şi ai Ierusalimului. Iar pe vremea lui Artaxerxes[f], Bişlam, Mitredat, Tabeel şi ceilalţi camarazi ai lor i-au scris lui Artaxerxes, împăratul Persiei. Scrisoarea era scrisă cu litere aramaice şi în limba aramaică[g].

Dregătorul Rehum şi scribul Şimşai i-au scris împăratului Artaxerxes o scrisoare cu privire la Ierusalim, după cum urmează:

„De la dregătorul Rehum, scribul Şimşai şi ceilalţi camarazi ai lor, judecători şi emisari, oameni din Tarpel, din Persia, din Erec, din Babilon, elamiţi din Susa 10 şi din celelalte popoare pe care le-a luat în captivitate marele şi vestitul Assurbanipal[h] şi le-a aşezat în cetatea Samariei şi în restul provinciei de peste râu[i]

11 (Aceasta este o copie a scrisorii pe care ei i-au trimis-o.)

Către împăratul Artaxerxes,

Slujitorii tăi, oamenii provinciei de peste râu, … îţi scriu următoarele:

12 «Să ştie împăratul că iudeii plecaţi de la tine spre noi au ajuns la Ierusalim şi rezidesc cetatea aceea răzvrătită şi rea; ei vor să-i termine de înălţat zidurile şi-i repară temeliile. 13 De aceea să ştie împăratul că, dacă cetatea aceasta va fi rezidită şi zidurile vor fi terminate, ei nu vor mai plăti nici tributul, nici darea şi nici taxa de trecere şi, prin urmare, vistieria imperială va avea de suferit. 14 Din această cauză, ca unii care mâncăm sarea palatului, nu ne stă bine să vedem cum este necinstit împăratul şi de aceea trimitem această scrisoare ca să-l înştiinţăm pe împărat. 15 Să se cerceteze deci în cartea cronicilor părinţilor tăi! În cartea cronicilor vei găsi scris şi vei afla că cetatea aceasta a fost o cetate răzvrătită, din cauza căreia au avut de suferit regi şi provincii şi în mijlocul căreia s-au iscat răscoale încă din vremuri străvechi. Din acest motiv a şi fost pustiită cetatea aceasta. 16 Facem deci cunoscut împăratului că, dacă cetatea aceasta va fi rezidită şi zidurile-i vor fi terminate, nu vei mai avea stăpânire în provincia de peste râu.»“

17 Împăratul a trimis următorul răspuns:

„Dregătorului Rehum, scribului Şimşai şi celorlalţi camarazi ai lor, care locuiesc în Samaria şi în restul provinciei de peste râu:

Pace!

18 Scrisoarea pe care ne-aţi trimis-o a fost citită şi tradusă în prezenţa mea. 19 Am dat ordin să se facă cercetări şi s-a găsit că cetatea aceasta s-a ridicat împotriva împăraţilor încă din vremuri străvechi, dedându-se la răzvrătire şi răscoală. 20 Au existat la Ierusalim regi puternici care aveau stăpânire peste tot teritoriul de peste râu şi cărora li se plătea tribut, dare şi taxă de trecere. 21 Prin urmare, daţi ordin ca aceşti oameni să fie opriţi, iar cetatea aceasta să nu mai fie rezidită, până când nu voi da eu o altă înştiinţare. 22 Aveţi grijă să nu fiţi nepăsători faţă de lucrul pe care trebuie să-l faceţi. De ce să crească paguba în dauna împăraţilor?“

23 Imediat după ce s-a citit copia scrisorii împăratului Artaxerxes înaintea lui Rehum, a scribului Şimşai şi a camarazilor lor, aceştia s-au dus în grabă la Ierusalim, la iudei, şi i-au oprit din lucru prin forţă şi putere. 24 Atunci s-a oprit lucrarea de la Casa lui Dumnezeu din Ierusalim şi a rămas oprită până în al doilea an al domniei lui Darius, împăratul Persiei.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:1 Vezi nota de la 3:6
  2. Ezra 4:2 Împărat al Asiriei şi peste Babilon, 681-669 î.Cr.
  3. Ezra 4:4 Sau: i-a împiedicat
  4. Ezra 4:5 Darius I Hystaspes (522/521-486 î.Cr.)
  5. Ezra 4:6 Unii specialişti l-au identificat cu Cambyses II (530-522 î.Cr.), fiul lui Cirus II cel Mare; majoritatea specialiştilor îl identifică însă cu Xerxes I (486-465 î.Cr.)
  6. Ezra 4:7 Unii specialişti l-au identificat cu uzurpatorul Gaumata (Smerdis), magul, care şi-ar fi luat titlul de Artaxerxes (din persană arta, „mare”, „mărit”, şi kshershe, „rege”); majoritatea specialiştilor îl identifică însă cu Artaxerxes I Longimanus (465/464-425 î.Cr.)
  7. Ezra 4:7 Sau: Scrisoarea era scrisă în aramaică şi tradusă; textul care urmează, Ezra 4:8-6:18, este în limba aramaică
  8. Ezra 4:10 În aramaică Osnapar, o variantă a lui Assurbanipal, împărat al Asiriei (668-626 î.Cr.)
  9. Ezra 4:10 Teritoriul de la vest de Eufrat: Aram, Fenicia şi restul Canaanului; peste tot în carte

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.