• Nehemiah 4:16-18
  • Timeline of Ezra 4-6:
    • Ezra 4:1-5, 24ff - discouraged, stopped temple work
      • King Cyrus (539-530 B.C.)
      • King Cambyses (530-522 B.C.)
      • King Darius I (522-486 B.C.)
    • Ezra 4:6- wrote an accusation
      • King Xerxes I (Ahaseurus) (485-464 B.C.)
    • Ezra 4:7-23- letter to King, work stopped again
      • King Artaxerxes I (464-423 B.C.)
  • Ezra 4:1-2- The enemies claim to seek God and try to join the effort.
    • II Kings 17:24-29
    • Ezra 4:3 - The leaders refuse to allow the enemies to join them.
    • Ezra 4:4 - The enemies then started discouraging the work.
  • Tactics used:
    • Persistence over time
      • Ezra 4:5-7 - The persecution lasted for decades. The Israelites could not simply wait out the persecution. We cannot delay obedience until persecution subsides!
      • Hebrews 12:1-3 - We must run with patience and endure.
      • Mark 3:1-6 - Jesus healed the man in the face of persecution.
    • Misinformation
      • Ezra 4:7-23 - The letter to Artaxerxes warned that Jerusalem had historically been a rebellious city.