Ezra 4:22

Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

Take heed {H1934}{H2095} now that ye fail {H7960} not to do {H5922}{H5648} this {H1836}: why {H4101} should damage {H2257} grow {H7680} to the hurt {H5142} of the kings {H4430}?

Take care not to neglect your duty; otherwise the harm may increase, to the damage of the king."

See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?

And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

Commentary

Ezra 4:22 features a stern command from King Artaxerxes of Persia, relayed to Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe, concerning the cessation of the rebuilding work in Jerusalem. It underscores the urgency and perceived threat from the Persian perspective, emphasizing the need to prevent any "damage" or "hurt" to the royal interests.

Context

This verse is found within a pivotal chapter of Ezra, detailing the opposition faced by the returned exiles in Jerusalem as they sought to rebuild the Temple and the city walls. After the initial efforts under Zerubbabel and Jeshua, adversaries from the region, primarily Samaritans, wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes, falsely accusing the Jews of rebellious intentions if Jerusalem were to be rebuilt and fortified. Their letter, detailed from Ezra 4:11-16, exaggerated Jerusalem's past as a rebellious city and warned that its restoration would lead to a loss of tribute and control for the Persian Empire. King Artaxerxes, after consulting historical records, accepted their claims and issued a decree to stop the work. Verse 22 serves as a final, emphatic instruction within this decree, highlighting the king's concern for his own authority and revenue.

Key Themes

  • Opposition to God's Work: The narrative powerfully illustrates how the work of God's people often faces strong, often politically motivated, opposition. The adversaries successfully manipulated the king's fears to halt divine purposes.
  • Royal Authority: The verse highlights the absolute power of the Persian king, whose decree, once issued, was binding and had immediate practical consequences, even if based on misinformation or deceit.
  • Fear of Loss and Detriment: The "damage" and "hurt" refer to the perceived political and financial threats to the Persian Empire if Jerusalem were to regain its strength and independence. The adversaries effectively framed the rebuilding as a direct challenge to the king's sovereignty.
  • Temporary Hindrance, Not Ultimate Defeat: While this decree temporarily stopped the rebuilding, it was not the end of God's plan. This period of cessation foreshadows the eventual resumption of the work later in Ezra and Nehemiah, demonstrating God's ultimate sovereignty.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Take heed now that ye fail not to do this" conveys an urgent and forceful command. The word "damage" comes from the Aramaic word nezek (ื ึถื–ึถืง), which means injury, harm, or loss, especially in a material or financial sense. Similarly, "hurt" (Aramaic cheser, ื—ึถืกึถืจ) implies deficiency or detriment. The king's concern is explicitly about the potential financial and political losses to his treasury and authority if Jerusalem were allowed to rebuild and fortify itself, becoming a potential center of rebellion.

Practical Application

Ezra 4:22 serves as a reminder that those who seek to do God's will may encounter significant obstacles, often from powerful worldly authorities or through the schemes of adversaries.

  • Perseverance in Faith: Believers are called to trust in God's ultimate plan even when faced with setbacks and opposition. God's purposes will prevail, though timing may differ from human expectations (Isaiah 55:11).
  • Understanding Spiritual Warfare: This passage illustrates that spiritual work often provokes opposition from those who are threatened by the advancement of God's kingdom, sometimes using political or economic arguments.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Rulers: While human decrees can temporarily hinder, they cannot ultimately thwart God's sovereign will. Even kings' hearts are in the hand of the Lord (Proverbs 21:1).

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezra 4:13

    Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up [again, then] will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and [so] thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

  • Esther 3:8

    And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws [are] diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it [is] not for the king's profit to suffer them.

  • Esther 3:9

    If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring [it] into the king's treasuries.

  • Esther 7:3

    Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

  • Esther 7:4

    For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.