Ezra 4:3

But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

But Zerubbabel {H2216}, and Jeshua {H3442}, and the rest {H7605} of the chief {H7218} of the fathers {H1} of Israel {H3478}, said {H559} unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build {H1129} an house {H1004} unto our God {H430}; but we ourselves together {H3162} will build {H1129} unto the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, as king {H4428} Cyrus {H3566} the king {H4428} of Persia {H6539} hath commanded {H6680} us.

But Z'rubavel, Yeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' clans in Isra'el answered them, "You and we have nothing in common that you should join us in building a house for our God. We will build by ourselves for ADONAI the God of Isra'el, as Koresh king of Persia ordered us to do."

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”

But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

Ezra 4:3 captures a pivotal moment in the post-exilic history of Israel, as the returned exiles, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, firmly reject an offer of assistance in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. This verse highlights the tension between spiritual purity and pragmatic alliances, setting the stage for future opposition.

Context of Ezra 4:3

After seventy years of Babylonian captivity, a remnant of the Jewish people had returned to Judah, empowered by the decree of King Cyrus of Persia. Their primary mission was to restore the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, a foundational step in re-establishing their national and spiritual identity. The "adversaries of Judah and Benjamin" mentioned in Ezra 4:1, likely the Samaritans—a mixed population of Israelites and foreign peoples settled in Samaria by the Assyrians—approached Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders. They offered to help build the temple, claiming to worship the same God. However, their worship was syncretistic, mixing true devotion to Yahweh with pagan practices. The Jewish leaders, having learned from their ancestors' idolatry and compromise, recognized the spiritual danger of such an alliance. Their refusal was a decisive act to preserve the unique and pure worship of the God of Israel, as commanded by King Cyrus's original decree.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Purity in Worship and Separation: The verse emphasizes the absolute necessity of maintaining the purity and exclusivity of worship to the one true God. The leaders understood that involving those with mixed religious practices would compromise the sanctity of the temple and the integrity of their faith, echoing the first commandment against other gods.
  • Divine Mandate and Obedience: Zerubbabel and Jeshua acted not merely on their own initiative but in direct obedience to God's command, facilitated by King Cyrus's decree. Their commitment was to build "unto the LORD God of Israel," aligning with the prophetic word concerning Cyrus in Isaiah 44:28. This highlights the importance of following God's specific instructions for His work.
  • Discerning Opposition: The Samaritans' offer, though seemingly helpful, was a subtle form of opposition. It was an attempt to dilute the spiritual distinctiveness of the rebuilding project and potentially undermine it from within. The leaders' firm rejection demonstrates spiritual discernment in recognizing veiled threats.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase, "Ye have nothing to do with us," found in the KJV, translates a Hebrew idiom that strongly conveys a sense of "It is not for you and us" or "There is no common interest for us." It's a declaration of a clear boundary, asserting that the spiritual work of building God's house was exclusively for those called and consecrated to it, without shared involvement with those whose spiritual foundation was compromised.

Practical Application

Ezra 4:3 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It underscores the importance of spiritual discernment and the need to guard against compromising alliances, especially in matters of faith and ministry. While cooperation is often valuable, the church's mission—building God's spiritual "house" through evangelism and discipleship—must always prioritize biblical purity and adherence to God's revealed will. Sometimes, saying "no" to seemingly good opportunities is necessary to protect the integrity of God's work and to remain obedient to His specific calling.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Nehemiah 2:20

    Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

  • John 4:22

    Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

  • John 4:23

    But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

  • Isaiah 45:4

    For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

  • Isaiah 44:28

    That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

  • Isaiah 45:1

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

  • 3 John 1:9

    ¶ I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

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