---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "adversaries. The Samaritans (Ezra 4:10 ). See note on 2 Kings 17:24 , 2 Kings 17:26 .  children = sons.  the temple. The walls and gates already built by"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/ezra/4"
---

**adversaries.** The Samaritans ([Ezra 4:10](../../../kjv/ezra/4/10) ). See note on [2 Kings 17:24](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/24) , [2 Kings 17:26](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/26) .
**children** = sons.
**the temple.** The walls and gates already built by Nehemiah. See Structures (pp. 616, 617), and notes on Neh 1:21 , [Jeremiah 25:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/11) . See special note at end of [2 Chronicles 36:21](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/21) .
**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* App-4 .
**God.** Hebrew. *Elohim.* App-4 .

**Zerubbabel.** See note on [Ezra 3:2](../../../kjv/ezra/3/2) .
**chief** = heads.
**we seek your God.** A priest had been sent to these Samaritans ([2 Kings 17:28-33](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/28-33) ).
**we do sacrifice unto Him.** Hebrew text = "although we have not been sacrificing". Some codices, and two early printed editions, with Septuagint and Syriac, add "unto Him".
**Esar-haddon.** The son and successor of Sennacherib (see notes on [2 Kings 19:37](../../../kjv/2-kings/19/37) , and [2 Chronicles 33:11](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/33/11) ).
**Assur** = Assyria.

**Jeshua.** See note on [Ezra 3:2](../../../kjv/ezra/3/2) .
**Israel.** See note on [Ezra 2:2](../../../kjv/ezra/2/2) and [1 Kings 12:17](../../../kjv/1-kings/12/17) .
**as** = according as.

**troubled them in** = terrified them from.

**Cyrus.** The son of Astyages and Esther. See App-57 .
**Darius:** i.e. Darius Hystaspis (see App-57 , App-58 ). "Darius" being only an appellative (= the maintainer), needs "Hystaspis" to be added, to identify him; as Astyages, when called Darius, needs the addition of "the Mede". See App-58 , and notes on p. 618.

**Ahasuerus** = the venerable king. See App-57 , and p. 618. An appellative, used here of Cyrus ([Ezra 4:5](../../../kjv/ezra/4/5) ), or retrospectively of Astyages; or, this verse may he retrospective, and should he in parenthesis.

**Artaxerxes** = the great king. Used here of the Cyrus of [Ezra 4:3](../../../kjv/ezra/4/3) . See App-57 , and p. 618. [Ezra 4:7-23](../../../kjv/ezra/4/7-23) may also be retrospective of [Nehemiah 2:20](../../../kjv/nehemiah/2/20) [Nehemiah 6:5](../../../kjv/nehemiah/6/5) ,
**companions** = colleagues or associates.
**the Syrian tongue:** i.e. in Aramaic characters as well as in the Aramaic language. Compare [Esther 1:22](../../../kjv/esther/1/22) ; [Esther 8:9](../../../kjv/esther/8/9) , where "writing" (Hebrew. *kathab,* to grave) is the same word as in this book.

**Rehum.** From here to [Ezra 6:18](../../../kjv/ezra/6/18) is in Syriac, which was like the French of today. Compare [2 Kings 18:26](../../../kjv/2-kings/18/26) . From [Ezra 6:19](../../../kjv/ezra/6/19) -- [Ezra 7:11](../../../kjv/ezra/7/11) is Hebrew; and Syriac again from [Ezra 7:12-27](../../../kjv/ezra/7/12-27) ; then Hebrew.
**the chancellor** = the master of judgments or decrees.
**the scribe:** or secretary.
**in this sort** = after this manner.

**Dinaites.** Probably from a Persian city. Apharsathchites. A Medo-Persian tribe.
**Tarpelites.** Probably from east of Elymais.
**Apharsites.** Of Persian origin.
**Archevites.** From Babylonia. Compare [Genesis 10:10](../../../kjv/genesis/10/10) .
**Susanchites.** From the Persian province or city of Shushan, the capital of Elam.
**Dehavites** = the Dahae of Herodotus (i. 125).
**Elamites.** From a province of Persia.

**nations** = peoples.
**Asnapper** = Assur-bani-pal, or Sardanapalus, the only Assyrian king who got into Elam, or held Shushan (now Susa) its capital.
**on this side** = beyond, on the west side: regarded from the east side of the Euphrates.
**at such a time.** This may refer to the date of the letter; or be rendered, as in Revised Version, "and so forth".

**men.** Chaldee. *'enosh.* See App-14 .

**Jews.** Nehemiah, Hanani, and friends. Occurs eight times in Ezra, viz. [Ezra 4:12](../../../kjv/ezra/4/12) , [Ezra 4:23](../../../kjv/ezra/4/23) ; [Ezra 5:1](../../../kjv/ezra/5/1) , [Ezra 5:5](../../../kjv/ezra/5/5) ; [Ezra 6:7](../../../kjv/ezra/6/7) , [Ezra 6:7](../../../kjv/ezra/6/7) , [Ezra 6:8](../../../kjv/ezra/6/8) , [Ezra 6:14](../../../kjv/ezra/6/14) . The name by which they were known to Gentiles, because the majority belonged to Judah.
**set up the walls.** Quite true; for Nehemiah's work had long preceded this. And note that, when Nehemiah's work was done ([Ezra 7:4](../../../kjv/ezra/7/4) ) and the houses built, the house of God was still lying waste ([Haggai 1:1-4](../../../kjv/haggai/1/1-4) ). The Temple not mentioned here.

**we have maintenance** = the salt of the palace is our salt. See note on [Numbers 18:19](../../../kjv/numbers/18/19) .

**answer.** Chaldee. *pithgam =* an order or decree. A Persian word. Occurs only here and [Ezra 5:5](../../../kjv/ezra/5/5) , [Ezra 5:11](../../../kjv/ezra/5/11) ; [Ezra 6:11](../../../kjv/ezra/6/11) .[Daniel 3:16](../../../kjv/daniel/3/16) ; [Daniel 4:17](../../../kjv/daniel/4/17) .

**I commanded** = I made a decree.
**made insurrection.** Chaldee lifted itself up.

**mighty kings.** Such as David and Solomon.

**commandment** = decree.

**by force.** Chaldee by arm; "arm" being put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), App-6 , for the force put forth by it.

**GOD.** Chaldee. *'elaha' (ha,* emphatic), singular, same as Hebrew Eloah. App-4 .

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