Ezra 4:2 “they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let…”

Ezra 4:2

they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

World English Bible

they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”

American Standard Version

then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ houses, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither.

Geneva Bible 1599

And they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chiefe fathers, and sayd vnto them, We wil builde with you: for we seeke the Lord your God as ye do, and we haue sacrificed vnto him since the time of Esar Haddon king of Asshur, which brought vs vp hither.

Darby Translation

and they came to Zerubbabel and to the chief fathers, and said to them, We would build with you; for we seek your God, as ye; and we have sacrificed to him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither.

Young's Literal Translation

and they draw nigh unto Zerubbabel, and unto heads of the fathers, and say to them, 'Let us build with you; for, like you, we seek to your God, and we are not sacrificing since the days of Esar-Haddon king of Asshur, who brought us up hither.'

Bible in Basic English

Then they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of families, and said to them, Let us take part in the building with you; for we are servants of your God, even as you are; and we have been making offerings to him from the days of Esar-haddon, king of Assyria, who put us here.

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Cross references

“Zerubbabel”

Ezra 1:5 Ezra 2:2 Ezra 3:2 Ezra 3:12

Ezra 1:5 · BSB

So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—prepared to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

Ezra 2:2 · BSB

accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:

Ezra 3:2 · BSB

Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law…

Ezra 3:12 · BSB

But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.

“Let us”

Galatians 2:4 Proverbs 26:23–26 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 2 Timothy 3:8 2 Peter 2:1 2 Peter 2:2

Galatians 2:4 · BSB

This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

Proverbs 26:23–26 · BSB

Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 · BSB

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:8 · BSB

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.

2 Peter 2:1 · BSB

Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction o…

2 Peter 2:2 · BSB

Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.

“we do”

2 Kings 17:24 2 Kings 17:27–33 2 Kings 17:41

2 Kings 17:24 · BSB

Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.

2 Kings 17:27–33 · BSB

Then the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.”

2 Kings 17:41 · BSB

So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

“Asnappar”

2 Kings 19:37

2 Kings 19:37 · BSB

One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

“Assur”

Genesis 10:11 Psalm 73:8 Isaiah 37:37

Genesis 10:11 · BSB

From that land he went forth into Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,

Psalm 73:8 · BSB

They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

Isaiah 37:37 · BSB

So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

“Assyria”

Hosea 14:3

Hosea 14:3 · BSB

Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”

Read Ezra 4