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Ezra 4:2

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Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye [do]; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

Then they came {H5066} to Zerubbabel {H2216}, and to the chief {H7218} of the fathers {H1}, and said {H559} unto them, Let us build {H1129} with you: for we seek {H1875} your God {H430}, as ye do; and we do sacrifice {H2076} unto him since the days {H3117} of Esarhaddon {H634} king {H4428} of Assur {H804}, which brought us up hither {H5927}.

they approached Z'rubavel and the heads of fathers' clans and said to them, "Let us build along with you; for we seek your God, just as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esar-Hadon king of Ashur, who brought us here."

they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ houses, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither.

Commentary

Ezra 4:2 (KJV): "Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye [do]; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither."

Context

This verse describes an interaction during the early stages of the post-exilic Jews returning to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus the Great and beginning the rebuilding of the temple. "They" are identified in the surrounding verses (specifically Ezra 4:1) as the "adversaries of Judah and Benjamin." These were people who had been settled in the land of Israel by the Assyrians after the northern kingdom's exile, resulting in a mixed population and syncretistic religious practices. They approach Zerubbabel, the governor, and the leaders of the Jewish returnees with an offer to help build the temple.

Key Themes

  • Offer of Help (with Suspect Motives): The core action is an offer of assistance in a holy work. However, the historical context reveals that these people were not pure worshippers of Yahweh, making their offer potentially insincere or aimed at gaining influence over the project.
  • Claim of Shared Faith: The statement "we seek your God, as ye [do]" is a claim of common religious identity and purpose. The phrase "seek your God" (Hebrew: darash Eloheykem) implies worship and devotion.
  • Historical Basis for Their Presence: They ground their claim in history, mentioning their presence and worship "since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur." Esarhaddon was an Assyrian king (reigned c. 681-669 BC) who resettled various peoples into Samaria after the original Israelite population was deported. This historical reference clarifies who these people were – the ancestors of the Samaritans – and explains their mixed background and religious practices, which combined elements of Israelite worship with their native religions.
  • Discerning True Worship: The verse sets the stage for the need to discern between genuine worship and worship that is mixed or politically motivated. The Jewish leaders ultimately refused their help (as seen in the following verses), indicating they recognized the difference.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "we seek your God, as ye [do]" is a key claim. While "seeking God" is a standard term for worship and devotion, the context implies their seeking was not exclusive or in accordance with God's revealed law for Israel. Their worship was syncretistic, incorporating practices from other gods alongside Yahweh, which was unacceptable to the returning Jews who were striving for purity of worship after the exile.

Reflection and Application

This verse serves as a historical example highlighting the importance of discernment, especially in matters of faith and joint religious endeavors. The offer sounded good ("Let us build with you"), and the claim of shared faith ("we seek your God, as ye [do]") was presented sincerely, but the historical background revealed a fundamental difference in how God was worshipped. This reminds believers today to be discerning about whom they partner with in spiritual matters and to ensure that worship is based on God's truth, not syncretism or mixed motives. It underscores the principle that purity of worship and purpose is paramount.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 19:37 (5 votes)

    And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Kings 17:24 (5 votes)

    ¶ And the king of Assyria brought [men] from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed [them] in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

  • 2 Kings 17:27 (3 votes)

    Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.

  • 2 Kings 17:33 (3 votes)

    They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

  • Hosea 14:3 (2 votes)

    Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Ye are] our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

  • Ezra 1:5 (2 votes)

    ¶ Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all [them] whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem.

  • Ezra 2:2 (2 votes)

    Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: