Ezra 4:12

“Be it known unto the king, etc.] The intent of this letter was, that it might be known to the king what follows: that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem; this they observe partly out of contempt of the Jews, having been lately captive in Babylon, and partly to insinuate what ingratitude they were guilty of; that having got their liberty, and come to Jerusalem, they made use of it to the king’s detriment: building the rebellious and the bad city; as they suggest it had been to kings, even his predecessors, in former times, (<150415>Ezra 4:15) and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations; which was a falsehood; for the most they had done was setting…”

“the Jews which came up from thee to us--The name "Jews" was generally used after the return from the captivity, because the returning exiles belonged chiefly to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Although the edict of Cyrus permitted all who chose to return, a permission of which some of the Israelites availed themselves, the great body who went to settle in Judea were the men of Judah.”

“Be it known, &c. - This is a mere fiction, which being confidently affirmed, they thought would easily find belief with a king whose heart and ears they possessed by their hired counsellors. Ezra 4:23”

“rebellious: Ezr 4:15, Ezr 4:19; Kg2 18:20, Kg2 24:1; Ch2 36:13; Jer 52:3; Eze 17:12-21; Luk 23:2-5; Act 24:5; Th1 5:22; Pe1 2:13-15 bad city: Psa 48:1, Psa 48:2; Isa 1:21-23; Luk 13:34 set up: or, finished, Neh 1:3; Dan 9:25 joined: Chal, sewed together Ezra 4:13”