Chapter 46—“The Prophets of God Helping Them”
Close by the Israelites who had set themselves to the task of re-
building the temple, dwelt the Samaritans, a mixed race that had sprung
up through the intermarriage of heathen colonists from the provinces
of Assyria with the remnant of the ten tribes which had been left in
Samaria and Galilee. In later years the Samaritans claimed to worship
the true God, but in heart and practice they were idolaters. It is true,
they held that their idols were but to remind them of the living God, the
Ruler of the universe; nevertheless the people were prone to reverence
graven images.
During the period of the restoration, these Samaritans came to
be known as “the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin.” Hearing that
“the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God
of Israel,” “they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers,”
and expressed a desire to unite with them in its erection. “Let us build
with you,” they proposed; “for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do
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sacrifice unto Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which
brought us up hither.” But the privilege they asked was refused them.
“Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God,” the
leaders of the Israelites declared; “but we ourselves together will build
unto the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia hath
commanded us.”
Ezra 4:1-3
.
Only a remnant had chosen to return from Babylon; and now, as
they undertake a work seemingly beyond their strength, their nearest
neighbors come with an offer of help. The Samaritans refer to their
worship of the true God, and express a desire to share the privileges
and blessings connected with the temple service. “We seek your God,
as ye do,” they declare. “Let us build with you.” But had the Jewish
leaders accepted this offer of assistance, they would have opened a
door for the entrance of idolatry. They discerned the insincerity of the
Samaritans. They realized that help gained through an alliance with
these men would be as nothing in comparison with the blessing they
might expect to receive by following the plain commands of Jehovah.
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