Nehemiah 4:16-18Timeline of Ezra 4-6:Ezra 4:1-5, 24ff - discouraged, stopped temple workKing Cyrus (539-530 B.C.)King Cambyses (530-522 B.C.)King Darius I (522-486 B.C.)Ezra 4:6- wrote an accusationKing Xerxes I (Ahaseurus) (485-464 B.C.)Ezra 4:7-23- letter to King, work stopped againKing Artaxerxes I (464-423 B.C.)Ezra 4:1-2- The enemies claim to seek God and try to join the effort.II Kings 17:24-29Ezra 4:3 - The leaders refuse to allow the enemies to join them.Ezra 4:4 - The enemies then started discouraging the work.Tactics used:Persistence over timeEzra 4:5-7 - The persecution lasted for decades. The Israelites could not simply wait out the persecution. We cannot delay obedience until persecution subsides!Hebrews 12:1-3 - We must run with patience and endure.Mark 3:1-6 - Jesus healed the man in the face of persecution.MisinformationEzra 4:7-23 - The letter to Artaxerxes warned that Jerusalem had historically been a rebellious city.
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