Ezra 4:1-3 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple to the LORD God of Israel;… I. THAT THE WICKED OFTEN PROPOSE TO ENTER INTO ALLIANCE WITH THE GOOD. These alliances are of different kinds. 1. Commercial. 2. Social 3. Matrimonial. 4. Religious. II. THAT THE PROPOSALS OF THE WICKED FOR ALLIANCE WITH THE GOOD ARE OFTEN SUPPORTED BY PLAUSIBLE REASONS. III. THAT THE ALLIANCES PROPOSED BY THE WICKED ARE ALWAYS PERILOUS TO THE GOOD. IV. THAT THE PROPOSALS OF THE WICKED FOR ALLIANCE WITH THE GOOD SHOULD ALWAYS BE FIRMLY REJECTED. (William Jones.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; |