The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com
Ezra Chapter 4
for we seek
The people of the land sought to hinder the work in three ways:
(1) by seeking to draw the Jews into an unreal union, (Ezr 4:3). (cf) (Kg2 17:32).
(2) by "weakening the hands of the people of Judah," (Ezr 4:4) i.e, by withholding supplies, etc.; and
(3) by accusations lodged with Ahasuerus and Darius. The first was by far the most subtle and dangerous. The lives of Ezra and Nehemiah afford many illustrations of true separation. (Co2 6:14-18); (Ti2 2:19-21).
Ahasuerus
The Cambyses of secular history (529-521 BC); not the Ahasuerus of Esther, who is the Xerxes of secular history (485 BC).
(See Scofield) - (Dan 5:31).
Artaxerxes
The Artaxerxes of (Ezr 4:7) is identical with Ahasuerus of (Ezr 4:6); that is, the Cambyses of profane history. The Artaxerxes of (Ezr 7:1) is the Longimanus of secular history, BC 418. But
(See Scofield) - (Dan 5:31).
Give
Chaldean, make a new decree.