Ezra 4:14

The Persians and Hindus use the phrase to "eat the salt" of their masters to mean that their employers feed them. We find this idea in Ezra 4:14, where the opponents of the Jews say, "We eat the salt of the palace," as the passage is more literally translated.

Were they really concerned about Persia? Only insofar as they could benefit through Persia. This was like the Pharisees telling Pilate concerning the Lord Jesus, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend" (John 19:12). They had no love for Caesar, but used his name to frighten Pilate... They suggest a mere pleasing platitude to the king when they wrote that it was not proper for them to see the king's dishonour (v. 14).

A third thing that strikes us is the way they presented the matter. They wrote as if their whole concern was for the king's advantage and reputation, and they themselves had little interest in it. Artaxerxes, we understand, was a usurper, so he would be quick to fear anything that might challenge his authority. The great spiritual adversary, who lay behind these human adversaries, is not lacking in skill!

The letter is a very cunning document, full of misrepresentation and falsehood. It was inspired by him who is "the liar, and the father of lies." They accused the Jews of building Jerusalem and setting up the wall. This was a falsehood. They were only building the house, not the wall or the city. What they said about the city, its former character of rebellion, was true, and the accuser made use of the past sins of the nation. But God had again been gracious to His people and turned their captivity. They reminded the king of the danger if the city were built again and fortified with a wall, and of the loss of revenue, and so they put fear into the king's heart.

It was true that the last few kings, and Zedekiah above all, had been bad men and unreliable. They broke their word in a rebellious spirit, and this gave some support to the accusation. Yet God Himself had chosen the city, and for a brief time it held dominion from Him. The bad behaviour of the last kings who reigned there gave them their chance to smear the whole history of Jerusalem. It is a striking example of how unfaithful servants can dishonour the whole of God's work, and give the adversary the opening he wants.

Notice that they do not accuse the people of rebuilding the temple. They do not say one word about it. They speak of the city instead. Their aim is easy to see. They wanted to stop the remnant from gathering together, because such a gathering would take away the enemy's power over the people of God... but scattered, they would easily fall prey to their adversaries. In the same way, Satan opposes the gathering of the children of God today. If he cannot corrupt the sheep, he makes them fall out, seizes them, and scatters them.

We must still stress this. These adversaries could have had no power against the people of God, if the people themselves had not lost faith in God and heart for their work. The apostle wrote, "A wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 16:9). Yet not one of his opponents could have hindered his work, because he was counting on Him who "opens, and no one will shut."