Ezra 4:2
French (La Bible expliquée)
Ils vinrent trouver Zorobabel et les chefs de famille, et leur dirent: « Nous désirons vous aider à construire ce temple. En effet, nous adorons le même Dieu que vous et nous lui offrons des sacrifices, depuis que le roi d'Assyrie Assarhaddon nous a déportés ici. » Les ennemis mentionnés au v. 1 sont les habitants de la Samarie. Ils voudraient bien participer à la reconstruction du temple, au culte et aux sacrifices. Mais, aux yeux de ceux qui sont revenus d'exil, les habitants de la Samarie sont d'origine douteuse. Les uns sont des Israélites de l'ancien royaume du Nord, d'autres sont les descendants des colons établis là par les Assyriens à la fin du 8 siècle avant J.-C. Ils sont considérés par les Judéens comme hérétiques et impurs. Pour se venger, les habitants de la Samarie essaient d'empêcher les Juifs de rebâtir le sanctuaire. Ils sont plus nombreux et plus puissants, et veulent dominer les Judéens qui reviennent de l'exil. Les travaux de reconstruction du temple semblent bien avoir été abandonnés pendant vingt ans et ne reprirent qu'en 520, grâce à l'intervention du roi Darius (v. 24).
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, some foreigners come to Zerubbabel and the leaders of the Israelites and offer to help rebuild the temple. They claim to have worshipped the same God since they were brought to the land by Esarhaddon, a king from Assyria. The key message is about the foreigners' offer to help, despite the Israelites' doubts about their motives.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're building a treehouse and a stranger comes and says, 'Can I help you build it? I like treehouses too!' This verse is like that. Some strangers want to help the Israelites build their temple, but the Israelites might not trust them.
Historical Background
This verse is from the Book of Ezra, written by the priest Ezra, around the 5th century BCE. It was written to the returned exiles in Jerusalem, describing their efforts to rebuild the temple and their interactions with the surrounding people who had been settled in the land by the Assyrians.
Living It Out Today
In a modern scenario, if a stranger offers to help you with a project, you should be cautious but open. Ask questions to understand their motives and intentions before deciding whether to accept their help.
Topics
rebuildingtrustworshipforeignersleadershipcommunity
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Esarhaddon in Ezra 4:2?
Esarhaddon was a king of Assyria who brought foreigners to live in the land of Israel. This was a common practice to re-populate areas after conflicts.
Why were the foreigners offering to help build the temple?
The foreigners claimed they worshipped the same God and wanted to contribute to the rebuilding effort, though their motives could be questionable.
How should we interpret the foreigners' offer to help?
The offer should be viewed with caution. While cooperation is possible, it's important to understand the motives and ensure that the help aligns with the true purpose of the project.
What can we learn about trust from this verse?
This verse teaches us to be discerning about offers of help, especially from those with different backgrounds. We should seek to understand others' motives before fully trusting them.