The Opposition of the Rebuilding

Opposition of the Rebuilding A Lesson By: Tam Walls

Trouble When the enemies of the children of Israel heard that they were building the temple of God, they slyly came to Zerubbabel and other leaders of Israel and asked if they could join Israel in the building process. The men went as far to say that they too sought God and made sacrifices to him. However, Zerubbabel and the other leaders were not tricked and told their enemies that they would have nothing to do with them in the building.

Trouble This angered the men therefore, they began to weaken Israel’s hands and troubled them in every way possible. People were hired for the sole purpose of frustrating Israel.

Israel endured many hardships at the hands of their enemies all the days of King Cyrus until the reign of King Darius. Through the years, letters were written to whatever king that was in power. One letter in particular was written to King Artaxerxes.

False Accusations In the letter, the children of Israel were accused of building a “bad” and “rebellious” city that upon completion the inhabitants would refuse to pay toll, tribute, or custom to the king. The authors of the letter claimed that they were looking out for the king’s welfare and wanted to be sure all of the king’s due revenue was collected. It was advised that the king make a search in the book of records to verify that Israel was a rebellious people.

Rebuilding Is Hindered King Artaxerxes commanded that a search of records be made. He concluded that in times past rebellion and sedition had been found amongst the children of Israel therefore, King Artaxerxes ordered that the rebuilding cease immediately. The wicked men who sought to hinder Israel’s work rejoiced when they received the letter supporting their cause.

Rebuilding Is Hindered The men quickly went up to Jerusalem unto the Jews and made them to cease by force and power. Unfortunately there was no work done on the house of God for a total of seventeen years. It wouldn’t be until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia that things would change.

The End!

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