Bible Strands
Ezra 4:24
Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator concludes a sequence where Persian officials under Artaxerxes successfully halted Jewish rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem. This statement marks a historical pause in the temple project following the royal decree and the officials' direct intervention.
The words — The Hebrew verb בְּטֵלַת (beṭelat) translates literally as "it was made to cease," describing the abrupt termination of the construction activity. The phrase עֲבִידַת בֵּית אֱלָהָא (ʿăḇîḏaṯ bêṯ ʾĕlāhā) specifies this halted activity as the "work of the house of God."
The thread — This temporary halt connects to the later resumption recorded in Ezra 5:5 and the official reopening under Darius in Ezra 6:1. The timeline aligns with Haggai 1:15, which notes prophetic activity resuming in the second year of Darius.
Why it lands — The text establishes that political opposition can interrupt sacred projects for years without nullifying the eventual restoration. Readers must track how historical interruptions frame the later renewal of work under Darius.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Cross-references
- Haggai 1:15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.
- Ezra 5:5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.
- Ezra 6:1 Thus King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon.
- Nehemiah 6:3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?”
- Nehemiah 6:9 For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
- Job 20:5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
- 1 Thessalonians 2:18 For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.