The term "Adversaries of Judah and Benjamin" refers to the groups and individuals who opposed the efforts of the Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to rebuild the temple and reestablish their community in Jerusalem and the surrounding regions. This opposition is primarily documented in the Book of Ezra, which provides a detailed account of the challenges faced by the returning exiles during the early post-exilic period.

Historical Context

Following the decree of Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, in 538 BC, the Jewish exiles were permitted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-4). This marked the beginning of the restoration period for the Jewish people, who had been in captivity in Babylon. The initial group of returnees was led by Zerubbabel, a descendant of King David, and Jeshua, the high priest. They laid the foundation of the temple and began the work of reconstruction.

Opposition from Local Inhabitants

The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin are first mentioned in Ezra 4:1-2: "When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families and said, 'Let us help you build, because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.'" These adversaries were likely a mix of peoples who had been settled in the region by the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, including Samaritans and other groups who had adopted a syncretistic form of worship.

Rejection and Hostility

Zerubbabel and the leaders of the Jewish community rejected the offer of assistance, perceiving it as insincere and potentially harmful to the purity of their worship and mission. Ezra 4:3 records their response: "But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel replied, 'You have no part with us in building a house for our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.'"

Following this rejection, the adversaries actively sought to disrupt the rebuilding efforts. They "set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build" (Ezra 4:4). They hired counselors to work against the Jews and frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus and into the reign of Darius (Ezra 4:5).

Political Maneuvering

The adversaries also engaged in political maneuvering, sending letters to the Persian court to accuse the Jews of rebellion and to halt the construction. In a letter to King Artaxerxes, they claimed that the Jews were rebuilding a rebellious and wicked city, and that if the city and its walls were completed, the Jews would no longer pay tribute, thus harming the royal revenues (Ezra 4:12-13). This resulted in a temporary cessation of the work by royal decree (Ezra 4:23-24).

Resumption of Work

The work on the temple resumed during the second year of King Darius, following the prophetic encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1-2). The Jewish leaders appealed to Darius, referencing the original decree of Cyrus, and the king ordered a search of the archives. Upon finding the decree, Darius not only allowed the work to continue but also provided support for the project (Ezra 6:1-12).

Significance

The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin represent the external and internal challenges faced by the Jewish community in maintaining their identity and faithfulness to God during a period of restoration. Their account highlights the perseverance and faith of the Jewish leaders and people in the face of opposition, as well as the providential hand of God in fulfilling His promises to His people.