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But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families[a] of Israel replied, “You have no part in our plans for[b] building a temple to our God, because we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, in accordance with the decree issued by King Cyrus, king of Persia.”

The Plot Succeeds—for a While

After this, the non-Israeli inhabitants[c] of the land undermined[d] the people of Judah, harassing them in their construction work by bribing their consultants in order to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia until Darius became king.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:3 Lit. fathers
  2. Ezra 4:3 The Heb. lacks plans for
  3. Ezra 4:4 Lit. the people
  4. Ezra 4:4 Lit. weakened the hands of
  5. Ezra 4:5 Lit. until the reign of Darius, king of Persia

But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”(A)

Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.[a](B) They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:4 Or and troubled them as they built