Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. Now when the adverſaries of Judah]
ARrouſed by thoſe loud acclamations and out-cries, chap. 3.12, 13. Theſe adverſaries were thoſe Samaritans; chap. 3.3. a kinde of mongrels that wore Religion as a cloak, which they either put on, or threw off at pleaſure, and as occaſion required. Satan (ſaith one) doth not alwayes appear in one and the ſame faſhion: but hath as many ſeverall ſhapes as Proteus among the Poets. Here he pretends devotion to his miſchievous deſignes, but was fruſtrated.
That the children of the captivity] Iſtos deportatos, by way of contempt as Junius rendereth it: As if the Jews were therefore hated of God, becauſe they had beene tranſported, captivated. Tully paſſeth the ſame cenſure of them in his Oration, pro L, Flacco: Iſtagens quàm chara diis immortalibus eſſet docuit, quòd eſt victa, quòd elocata, quòd ſervata. It appears how dear to God they be by their oft-captivities.
Verſe 2. Let us build with you] Craftily and treacherouſly do they offer their coſt and paines, ut illis intermixti perſonas committerent, atque ita opus interverterent, ſaith one well; that mingling with them, they might ſet them together by the eares, and ſo put a ſtop to the work.Socrat. Theodor. Thus Julian, to ſpight the Chriſtians, firſt ſet the Jewes awork to rebuild their Temple: and when that would not be, he called home the Arian-Biſhops out of baniſhment, to breed new broyles in the Church. The Jeſuites have a practice at this day, of running over to the Lutheran Church, pretending to be Converts, and to build with them: but it is onelyonly to keep up that bitter contention that is betweene the Calviniſts and the Lutherans. And what ill offices they do amongſt us at this day to heighten our diviſions, and hinder the Reformation (by their wiles, much enſnared and hindered) good men are very ſenſible of. The Lord detect and defeat them.
For we ſeeke your God, as ye do] Nay, not as ye do. See 2 Kings 17.32, 33, 34. they feared the Lord, not filially, but for his Lions: as the old Romanes worſhipped their Veiones, leſt they ſhould hurt them: and as the Caffrani (a people in India) worſhip Devils in moſt terrible figure, that they may not puniſh them.
Since the dayes of Eſar-haddon] Sonne and ſucceſſour to Sennacherib, 2 Kings 19.37. grand ſon to Salmaneſer: after whom, it ſeemes, he brought a new colony into the Land of Samaria, who proved deadly enemies to Gods people.
Verſe 3. But Zerubbabel and Jeſhua] Jeſhua would be one to keep them out, though they ſlighted him in their application to Zerubbabel and the chiefe of the fathers, verſe 2.
You have nothing to do with us] You ſhall neither conquer us, nor compound with us. This was right Roman reſolution. They were wont to ſay of cowards in Rome, that there was nothing Roman in them. I can never ſufficiently admire (ſaith one) the ſpeech of bleſſed Luther, who (though he was very earneſt to have the Communion adminiſtred in both kinds contrary to the Doctrine and cuſtome of Rome,) yet he profeſſeth, if the Pope (as Pope) commanded him to receive in both kinds, he would receive but in one kinde; leſt he ſhould ſeeme to receive the mark of the Beaſt. As for theſe Reconcilers, and Moderatours (ſaith another learned man) were they the wiſeſt under heaven, and ſhould live to the worlds end, they would be brought to their wits end, before they could accompliſh this works end, to make a reconciliation betwixt Rome and us. They have nothing to do with us to build an houſe unto our God. From ſuch ſtand off, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 6.5. Say to them (when they offer their coſt and ſervice) as here. Pura Deus mens eſt: procul; ô procul eſte profani. This was one of thoſe ancient Lawes of the twelve tables among the Romanes, Impius ne audeto placare donis iram deorum, Let no profane perſon preſume to think to pacifie the gods with their pains, or preſents.
But we our ſelves together will build, &c.] This, the adverſaries call combination, conſpiracy, faction, ſedition, &c. See verſe 13. But what ſaith Tertullian? Cùm boni, cùm probi coeunt — non eſt factio dicenda, ſed curia. Et è contrà, illis nomen factionis accommodandum eſt, qui in odium piorum & proborum conſpirant. When good men get together,Apol. adverſ. gent. num. 520. and hold together, it is not to be called a faction, but a Court. As on to'ther ſide, they are to be counted factious, who conſpire againſt the godly, as theſe Malignants in the Text did.
As King Cyrus, &c.] They had good authority for what they did, and they hold them to it.
Verſe 4. Then the people of the land] Who the nearer they came unto a conjunction with the Jewes in matters of Religion, the deeper hatred they bare them. Thus at this day, a Jew hates a Chriſtian worſe then he doth a Pagan; ſo doth a Turk hate a Perſian worſe then he doth a Chriſtian; a Papiſt, a Proteſtant, worſe then he doth a Turk: a Formalliſt, a Puritan, worſe then he doth a Papiſt. Odia Theologica ſunt acerbiſſima.
Weakened the hands of the people of Judah] Diſcouraged them all they could, endeavouring to transfuſe (as it were) a dead-palſie into their fingers, that they might ſurceaſe, or, at leaſt, ſlack their paines. Well might Solomon ſay, Wrath is cruel, and anger is outragious: but who can ſtand before envie? ſurely the venome of all vices is found in this ſharp-fanged malignity.
And troubled them in building] Heb. Kept ado about them, and terrified them. foreign:This was to do the work of their father the Devil, that troubler of Gods Iſrael. (ad injuriam inferendam totus comparatus) ſet upon't to vex ſuch as begin but to build the Tower of godlineſſe, and to hinder them to the utmoſt.
Verſe 5. And hired Counſellours againſt them] But good Counſellours would not have beene hired, either to bolſter out a bad cauſe, or to out-face a good; to juſtifie the wicked for a reward, or to take away the righteouſneſſe of the righteous from him.Spartian. There is a notable inſtance of this in Papinian a Pagan Counſellour. Thou mayeſt (ſaid he to Antoninus the fratricide,) command my neck to the block, but not my tongue to the barre. I prize not my life to the pleading of an ill cauſe. Theſe ſordida poſcinummia in the text, were none ſuch. Some think they were Courtiers and Counſellours to the King: ſuch as by whom the King was even bought and ſold, as Aurelian the good Emperour was; who might know nothing but as his Counſellours informed him. This made Alphonſus King of Arragon ſay, that Kings were herein moſt miſerable, that whereas they abounded with all things elſe, the truth of matters they could ſeldome come by.
All the dayes of Cyrus King of Perſia] Who warring abroad, committed the government of his Kingdome to his ſonne Cambyſes a light and lewd loſſel, eaſily prevailed with to hinder ſo good a work.
Even untill the reigne of Darius] i. e. Of Darius Nothus (ſay ſome) the ſonne of Artaxerxes Longimanus (named verſe 7.) the father of Artaxerxes Mnemon. Pemble.But they do better in my opinion, that underſtand the text of Darius Hiſtaſpis, who ſucceeded Cambyſes, and married his ſiſter; ſeeking to ingratiate with the people by ratifying whatſoever Cyrus had decreed, and this of the Temple among the reſt. See chap. 6.1.
Verſe 6. And in the reigne of Ahaſhueroſh] That is, of Cambyſes, who is alſo called Artaxerxes in the next verſe: for theſe two names were given to many Kings of Perſia; like as Pharaoh was to the Kings of Egypt, as a title of honour. Ahaſhueroſh ſignifieth an hereditary Prince. Daniel calleth him the Prince of the Kingdome of Perſia. chap. 10.13. becauſe he was Viceroy in his fathers abſence. Infamous he is for many lewd pranks (as that he killed his brother, and then his owne ſiſter, after he had firſt married her, and made a Law that any man might do the like) yet was he not ſo ungracious a ſonne to Cyrus, as our Henry the ſeconds eldeſt ſonne was; whom he not onelyonly crowned King during his owne life, but alſo, to do him honour at his Coronation, renounced the name of a King for that day, and (as Sewer) ſerved at the table. For which he was thus requited, My father ſaid he, is not diſhonoured by attending on me; for I am both a Kings and a Queens ſon, and ſo is not he.
In the beginning of his reigne] As loth to loſe time (Eſau began in the very womb to perſecute Jacob) and as taking their fitteſt ſeaſon, for granting of ſuits.
Wrote they an accuſation] Heb. a Satanical ſuggeſtion, a diabolical accuſation, hatcht in hell, and dictated by the Devil. He it is that acteth and agitateth the Saints adverſaries and accuſers; ſitting upon their tongues and pens, and ſetting an edge on them.
Verſe 7. And in the dayes of Artaxerxes] This ſeems to be Cambyſes his Perſian name, as Ahaſhueroſh was his Chaldee name. It is as much as Bellator egregius, an excellent warriour. So Scipi, was called Fulmen belli, the light-bolt of warre: Bajazet the great Turk,Turk. Hiſt. Gilderun, or lightning: Albert, Marqueſſe of Brandenburg, was called Achilles Teutonicus. Bucholc.Our black Prince was ſo named, not of his colour, but of his courage, and of his dreaded acts in battel: for he aſſailed no Nation which he over-came not;Speed. he beſieged no City which he took not. Cambyſes had great ſucceſſe in his wars, and added Egypt, and other Countries, to the Perſian Monarchy.
Wrote Biſhlam Mithredath] Theſe were the King of Perſia's Toparches or Deputies, beyond the river Euphrates.
Written in the Syrian tongue] Called alſo the Chaldee, Babyloniſh and Aſſyrian; commonly ſpoken by the Jewes, who in the ſeventy years captivity loſt the purity of their owne language; like as the Latines alſo did, when the Gothes, Vandals and other barbarous Nations over-ran them, and mingled with them.
And interpreted in the Syrian tongue] i. e. with Syrian characters, Et Scriptura & lingua erat Syriaca, ut ſine interprete in aula regis intelligeretur, ſaith Shindler. It was ſo written that it might be underſtood at Court without an interpreter.
Verſe 8. Rehum the Chancellour] Or Preſident of the Councel. It is of the Chaldee termination: the whole hiſtory alſo following to chap. 6.19. is Chaldee, tranſcribed, as ſome think, out of the rolls and regiſters of the Chaldees, and here inſerted.
Verſe 9. The Dinaites and the Apharſathkites, the Tarpalites] This was not unity, but conſpiracy of a rabble of rebels againſt God and his people. So Pſal. 83.5, 6, &c. They have conſulted together with one conſent, they are confederate againſt thee. The Tabernacles of Edom and the Iſhmaelites of Moab, and the Hagarenes, &c. A whole legion of Devils could agree to enter into one poore man, to vex him; and to act, as one, in that poſſeſſion.
Verſe 10. The great and noble Aſnapper] Some great Commander under the Aſſyrian Monarch. There is, they ſay, a greatneſſe Belluine, and a greatneſſe Genuine-Aſnapper, notwithſtanding his big-ſwoln titles, might be rather great then good; and more notable, then noble.Juvenal. Nobilitas ſola eſt atque unica virtus.
On this ſide the river] That ancient river- the river Euphrates, which the more I ſee, the more I admire, ſaith one.
Verſe 11. Thy ſervants] Not thy ſubjects onelyonly, but thine Officers.
Verſe 12. The rebellious and bad City] After ſo many years, doth Jeruſalem rue one perfidious act of Zedekiah: and having once beene treacherous, it ſtill hears, The rebellious and bad City, as if it had beene a very foreign, a profeſſed Sanctuary of roguery, (as the Jeſuites ſay of Geneva) and as Florus ſaith of the Temple at Jeruſalem, that it was impiae gentis arcanum.
And have ſet up the walls thereof] This was no leſſe falſe then ſcandalous. But malice careth not how true the accuſation is, but how miſchievous.
And joyned the foundations] Chald. ſewed together. Or, rather theſe falſe-informers had ſewed a lie together with great Art, that it might ſeeme a truth, Pſal. 119.69. The proud have forged a lie againſt me, aſſuunt mendacium mendacio, they have taught their tongues to ſpeak lies, Jer. 9.5. and are Artiſts at it.
Verſe 13. Be it knowne now unto the King] q. d. This is no light buſineſſe, but of greateſt importance: and therefore fit to be noted and noticed.
Then will they not pay tole, tribute, &c.] This is an old device of the Devil and his Impes, to repreſent Gods people to the world as Antimagiſtratical, and diſturbers of the publike peace. Thus they dealt by the Primitive Chriſtians, who were the Emperours beſt ſubjects, and yielded them greateſt reſpect and profit. Thus Francis King of France pretended and profeſſed to the Princes of Germany (whoſe friendſhip he deſired) that he purſued the Lutherans with fire and ſword, for no other cauſe but for that they were Levellers, and enemies to civil government. This drew from Calvin (who was then but twenty five years of age) that golden book of his Inſtitutions of Chriſtian Religion, to free the Reformed Churches of that ſlurre and ſlander. The like was ſuggeſted by the Arminians in the Low-countries, and by the Epiſcopal party here. It was in Tacitus his time, unum crimen, eorum qui crimine vacabant, the onelyonly fault of ſuch as were indeed without fault.
And ſo thou ſhalt endamage the revenue] Diminiſh the annual Entrado's of the crowne which are well called the Kings ſtrength here; becauſe if theſe faile, little good can be done, either at home or abroad. Henry King of Navarre (afterwards King of France) was wont to ſay, that he was an husband without a wife, a ſouldier without money, and a King without a Kingdome. What would the King of Spaines greatneſſe ſoon come to, were it not for his yearly incomes, his mines of America?
Verſe 14. Now becauſe we have maintenance from the Kings Palace] Chaldee. Are ſalted with the ſalt of the Palace, Salarium de regis palatio percipimus, have our ſalary from the Court, as Junius rendereth it. The great uſe of ſalt makes it here put for all kinde of commodity: like as bread is called panis, as if it were foreign, The all, and whole of our ſuſtenance, Deut. 8.3.
And it was not meet for us to ſee the Kings diſhonour] Chald. Nakedneſſe, privities, which uncovered, cauſe contempt, as it befell Noah in his drunkenneſſe: and the King of Spaine, when by Queene Elizabeth proclaimed Bankrupt.
Therefore have we ſent and certified the King] As knowing that Beneficium-poſtulat officium; Bounty commands duty. Ingratitude is a monſter in nature, a ſoleciſme in good manners, &c. Lycurgus would make no Law againſt it, becauſe he held that none could be ſo unreaſonable, as to be guilty of it. Yet Alphonſus complained of his ungrateful Courtiers; and ſo did Frederick the third, Emperour of Germany. Queen Elizabeth alſo ſaid, that in truſt ſhe had oft found treaſon. That traytor Parry had vowed her death,Speed. although he had beene condemned for burglary, and ſaved by her pardon.
Verſe 15. In the book of the Records] Chald. Of the Remembrances, that is, the Chronicles uſual in all Kingdomes.
And that this City is a rebellious City] See the Note on verſe 12. and learne, that fidelity to governours is ever both ſafe and honourable. Zedekiah's falſifying his oath to the King of Babylon, was the overthrow of that Common-wealth. See what God himſelf ſaith, not without great indignation, Ezek. 17.18. Seeing he (Zedekiah) deſpiſed the oath, by breaking the Covenant (when loe he had given his hand) and hath done all theſe things, he ſhall not eſcape.
Verſe 16. We certifie the King] They doubt not of audience, whileſt they ſang a ſong of Ʋtile; which therefore they thus ſet on with more confidence then charity.
Verſe 17. Peace, and at ſuch a time] As the Latines ſaluting ſay, Ave, or Salve, Hieron.the Greeks foreign, ſo the Hebrews and Syrians ſay, Shalom lach, that is, Peace be to thee. The Turks ſalutation at this day alſo is, Salaum aleek; the reply Aleek Salaum, Blount.Peace is a complexive bleſſing.
Verſe 18. Hath beene plainly read before us] This in the general was commendable: but he ſhould have reſerved (as Alexander uſed to do) foreign, One eare free; and have heard both parties.
Verſe 19. Hath made inſurrection againſt Kings] Chald. Lift up it ſelf againſt Kings. Pride is painted with a triple crowne on her head; Upon the firſt whereof is written Tranſcendo; upon the ſecond, Non obedio; upon the third, Perturbo. Wat Tyler the rebel dared to ſay, that all the Lawes of England ſhould come out of his mouth.Spead.
Verſe 20. Beyond the river] Euphrates the boundary of Solomons Empire, 1 Kings 4.21, 24. as it was alſo promiſed, Geneſis 15.18. Exod. 23.31. Deut. 11.24. Joſhuah 1.4.
Verſe 21. Give you now commandment] Chald. Make a Decree: which yet did but carry on Gods Decree: for while perſecutors ſit backward to his command, they row forwards to his Decree.
Verſe 22. Take heed now that ye faile not] This was to ſpurre a free-horſe: like as litters were ſent from King Philip and Queene Mary to Biſhop Bonner, complaining that Hereticks were not ſo reformed as they ſhould be, and exhorting him to more diligence.
Why ſhould dammage grow] Take heed of that howſoever. Multi reges graviorem ducunt jacturam regionis, quàm religionis, &c.Bucholcer.
Verſe 23. They went up in haſte] Perurgente diabolo, the Devil driving them, and their owne malicious diſpoſitions egging them thereunto. So, when Queene Mary lay a dying,Bern. Acts & Mon. 1562. Harpsfeild Arch-deacon of Canterbury being at London, made all poſt-haſte home to diſpatch thoſe Martyrs, whom he had then in his cruel cuſtody. So ambitious are wicked men of hell, they take long ſtrides, and mend their pace; as if they feared, leſt it ſhould be taken up before they come thither.
Verſe. 24. Then ceaſed the work of the houſe of God] And now the adverſaries have got the ball on the foot, thinking to carry the game before them: But the triumphing of the wicked is ſhort, Job 20.5. and that they proſper at all in their deſignes, it is non ad exitium, ſed ad exercitium Sanctorum; not for the ruine of the Church, but for the exerciſe of the faith and patience of Gods people.