4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.
4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build
4 So these people started beating down the morale of the people of Judah, harassing them as they built.
4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building,
4 Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 4:4
Commentary on Ezra 4:1-5
(Read Ezra 4:1-5)
Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan, and of those in whom he works. The adversaries were the Samaritans, who had been planted in the land of Israel, 2 Kings 17. It was plain that they did not mean to unite in the worship of the Lord, according to his word. Let those who discourage a good work, and weaken them that are employed in it, see whose pattern they follow.