Ezra 4:15

Ancient nations made records on cylinders or slabs of stone, or on clay, which was then baked or dried in the sun. Many such tablets have been found in the excavations at Nineveh, Babylon and other places. The 'book of the records' was very likely a collection of stone or clay tablets. In some cases these have been found in such numbers as to form quite a library.

Then, assuming that the city was being rebuilt, they denounced it as a bad and rebellious place. It was true that the last few kings, and especially Zedekiah, had been bad men and unreliable. They broke their word in a rebellious spirit, and this gave some support to their accusation. God, however, had chosen the city at the first, and for a brief time it held dominion from Him. They got their chance to blacken the whole history of Jerusalem through the bad behaviour of the last kings who reigned there. 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.

Their last king, Zedekiah, had "sworn by God" to be faithful to Nebuchadnezzar. But he broke his oath and rebelled against the king of Babylon. This brought about the destruction of Jerusalem, and brought God's judgment on himself as well. So there was truth in the accusation that Jerusalem had been a rebellious city. The remnant themselves were under the favour and protection of God, and no one could harm them as long as they went forward in confidence in Him. Yet under His government in this world they now suffered the consequence of the sins of their fathers.

They asked the king for a search of the records to find out that Jerusalem was a rebellious city, causing harm to kings (of course such Gentile kings as Nebuchadnezzar). But they did not ask for the records of Cyrus having sent the Jews back to rebuild the temple.

The letter is a very cunning piece of work, full of misrepresentation and falsehood. The one who is "a liar and the father of lies" inspired it. They accused the Jews of building Jerusalem and setting up the wall. This was a falsehood, for only the house was being built and 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… The same accuser of our brothers, liar and falsifier, stood behind these letter writers, and he is still at work.

The adversaries of those days present the king with political reasons for preventing the reuniting of the people. Such motives carried great weight with this crafty, usurping king. In fact they were the only motives likely to catch his attention. The king notes that in former days Jerusalem once had powerful kings. If their throne were set up again, they would overshadow him. He also notes that the city had always shown itself rebellious towards any foreign rule. This is enough to stir him to put a stop to the work.