Any thoughts why the opponents of God's remnant in Ezra 4:12 would say that the people have set up the walls already? Were they simply exaggerating in the letter to make it seem to the king that the people were really moving ahead with their plans in Jerusalem?

The reason I ask is as I was studying Ezra and Nehemiah tonight I came across Nehemiah 1:3 where it says the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

I wonder of the possibility if the people did completely rebuild the walls and gates in Zerubbabel's time only to have them destroyed again between the book of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Are there any records of attacks on Jerusalem between the period of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah? Or was Nehemiah simply viewing the effects of the destruction of Jersualem during the exile?

Thoughts?

__________________
Ryan Barnhart - Pastor of OGBC
Husband to a beautiful wife, Father to two beautiful girls
"But by the grace of God I am what I am." I Corinthians 15:10

"I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms. And in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer." - John Paton