Ezra 4:5
and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights a subtle, insidious tactic: not direct opposition, but the deliberate hiring of advisors to subtly obstruct the Jews' purpose. This wasn't just about yelling from the sidelines; it was about corrupting influence from within, using paid agents to sow discord and delay, a strategy that persisted through multiple Persian rulers.
The people of Judah have just begun rebuilding the temple, but their enemies, the Samaritans and other local peoples, immediately try to stop them. They first offered to help, but their offer was refused, so they then resorted to bribing officials within the Persian court to sabotage the project, a tactic that proved effective for years, continuing even into the reign of King Darius.
Ever feel like progress on something important is mysteriously stalled? This verse reveals a deeply cunning tactic used to stop God's people.
The enemies of God's people in Ezra's day didn't always use open warfare. Instead, they resorted to a subtler, more insidious method: hiring 'counselors' to work against them.
Corrupting Influence
This wasn't about debate or disagreement; it was about bribery and deceit. They paid people within the Persian court to actively work against the rebuilding efforts. These paid agents would use their influence and positions to spread lies, create bureaucratic hurdles, and ultimately 'frustrate' – or break – the purpose of the returning exiles.
A Long Game of Opposition
This opposition wasn't a fleeting moment but a sustained campaign. It lasted 'all the days of Cyrus' and continued 'even until the reign of Darius.' This shows that hindering God's work can be a long-term strategy, requiring patience and persistence from the opposition.
Why did the opposition's efforts drag on for so long? Understanding the changing political landscape of Persia is key.
The prolonged opposition described in Ezra 4:5 highlights how political instability and leadership changes can impact the execution of God's plans.
Favor Fades with New Rulers
While King Cyrus initially favored the Jews and allowed them to return and rebuild, his reign was not permanent. The text implies that even during his time, his focus may have been diverted by wars, and his son Cambyses, who acted as viceroy, was not as supportive.
Eras of Resistance
The opposition's success wasn't just about the enemies' cunning; it was also about the opportune political climate. The sabotage continued through the reigns of Cyrus, Cambyses, and even a period of usurpation before Darius I solidified his rule. Each shift in power created opportunities for the adversaries to delay and obstruct the rebuilding, demonstrating that faithful progress often requires enduring through periods of shifting human authority.
Understand the original words
parar · Hebrew Verb
The act of breaking, invalidating, or rendering ineffective the intentions or work of God, often through deceit or political manipulation.
The opposition to rebuilding the Temple wasn't a single event but a sustained effort involving bribery and political maneuvering that spanned multiple Persian rulers, highlighting the complex challenges faced by the returning exiles.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The conquest of Babylon by Cyrus the Great marks the end of the Babylonian Empire and the beginning of the Persian Empire. This event set the stage for Cyrus's decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem.
538 BC
Cyrus's Edict of Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish people exiled in Babylon to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy and marking a new era for the Jewish people.
537 BC - 529 BC— this verse
Opposition during Cyrus's reign
Despite Cyrus's decree, local adversaries, likely including Samaritans, actively sought to thwart the rebuilding efforts. They bribed officials in the Persian court to obstruct the work, leveraging their influence against the returning exiles.
529 BC
Death of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great dies, and his son Cambyses II ascends to the throne. Cambyses's reign saw continued opposition to the Temple's reconstruction, with the adversaries exploiting the new leadership.
This passage shows a similar tactic where enemies hired false prophets and counselors to intimidate and discourage Nehemiah from completing the wall, mirroring the opposition Ezra faced.
Psalm 33:10This verse speaks about how the Lord frustrates the plans of nations and their counsel, which directly parallels how the adversaries in Ezra sought to frustrate the people's purpose.
Esther 3:8-9Here, Haman seeks permission from King Ahasuerus to destroy the Jews, bribing officials and using deceitful words to achieve his wicked purpose, much like the counselors hired in Ezra.
Matthew 13:24-30Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds illustrates how an enemy (the devil) sows weeds among the wheat, showing that opposition and hindrance to God's work are often subtle and long-lasting.
clarkeEzra 4:5: "And hired counsellers against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia."
Hired counsellors - They found means to corrupt some of the principal officers of the Persian court, so that the orders of Cyrus were not executed; or at least so slowly as to make them nearly ineffectual. Until the reign of Darius - This was probably Darius the son of Hystaspes.
bensonEzra 4:5: "And hired counsellers against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia."
Ezra 4:5 . And hired counsellors against them — Bribed some of the king’s council, in order that by their artifices, and interests in his court, they might give some stop to the work, and frustrate the purpose of the Jews. All the days of Cyrus king of Persia — For though Cyrus still favoured the Jews, yet he was then diverted by his wa…
The verse highlights a subtle, insidious tactic: not direct opposition, but the deliberate hiring of advisors to subtly obstruct the Jews' purpose. This wasn't just about yelling from the sidelines; it was about corrupting influence from within, using paid agents to sow discord and delay, a strategy that persisted through multiple Persian rulers.
The people of Judah have just begun rebuilding the temple, but their enemies, the Samaritans and other local peoples, immediately try to stop them. They first offered to help, but their offer was refused, so they then resorted to bribing officials within the Persian court to sabotage the project, a tactic that proved effective for years, continuing even into the reign of King Darius.
The people of Judah have just begun rebuilding the temple, but their enemies, the Samaritans and other local peoples, immediately try to stop them. They first offered to help, but their offer was refused, so they then resorted to bribing officials within the Persian court to sabotage the project, a tactic that proved effective for years, continuing even into the reign of King Darius.
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522 BC
Reign of Darius the Great begins
Following a brief period of turmoil after Cambyses's death and the usurpation by Pseudo-Smerdis, Darius Hystaspes secures the Persian throne. He would later reaffirm Cyrus's decree and support the Temple's completion.
"and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia." — The verse highlights a subtle, insidious tactic: not direct opposition, but the deliberate hiring of advisors to subtly obstruct the Jews' purpose. This wasn't just about yelling from the sidelines;…
