Ezra 4:3

Easy To Read Version

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other family leaders of Israel answered, “No, you people can’t help us build a temple for our God. Only we can build the temple for the Lord. He is the God of Israel. This is what King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us to do.”

Cross References

2 Chronicles 36:22

During the first year that Cyrus {\cf2\super [458]} was king of Persia, the Lord caused Cyrus to make a special announcement. He did this so that the things the Lord promised through Jeremiah the prophet would really happen. Cyrus sent messengers to every place in his kingdom. They carried this message:

Ezra 1:1

During the first year {\cf2\super [1]} that Cyrus was king of Persia, the Lord encouraged Cyrus to make an announcement. Cyrus put that announcement in writing and had it read every place in his kingdom. This happened so that the Lord’s message that was spoken through Jeremiah {\cf2\super [2]} would truly happen. This is the announcement:

Ezra 1:2

“From Cyrus king of Persia:

Ezra 1:3

The Lord is the God of Israel, the God that is in Jerusalem. If any of God’s people are living among you, then I pray God will bless them. You must let them go to Jerusalem in the country of Judah. You must let them go build the Lord’s temple.

Ezra 3:8

So, in the second month {\cf2\super [13]} of the second year after their arrival at the temple in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began the work. Their brothers, the priests, Levites, and every person that came back to Jerusalem from captivity, began working with them. They chose Levites that were 20 years old and older to be the leaders in the building of the Lord’s temple.

Nehemiah 2:20

But this is what I said to those men: “The God of Heaven will help us succeed. We are God’s servants and we will build this city again. And you can’t help us in this work. None of your family lived here in Jerusalem. You don’t own any of this land. You have no right to be in this place!”

Isaiah 44:28

The Lord says to Cyrus, {\cf2\super [398]} \par “You are my shepherd.\par You will do the things I want.\par You will say to Jerusalem,\par ‘You will be built again!’\par You will tell the temple, {\cf2\super [399]} \par ‘Your foundations will be built again!’”\par

Isaiah 45:4

I do these things for my servant, Jacob.\par I do these things for my chosen people, Israel.\par \{Cyrus,\} I am calling you by name.\par You don’t know me,\par but I am calling you by name.\par

Matthew 10:16

“Listen! I am sending you, and you will be like sheep among wolves. So be smart like snakes. But also be like doves and do nothing wrong.

John 4:9

The Samaritan {\cf2\super [60]} woman answered, “I am surprised that you ask me for a drink! You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman!” (Jews are not friends with Samaritans. {\cf2\super [61]})

Acts 8:21

You cannot share with us in this work. Your heart is not right before God.