Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezra 4:2

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, let us build with you ; for we seek your God, as ye do , and we do sacrifice unto him, since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur , which brought us up hither.

This they spake not sincerely, as appears from their disposition and designs discovered in the following History, but that by this conjunction with them they might pierce into their counsels, and thereby get an opportunity to sin [illegible: 1+ letters]me matter or pretences of Accusation against them.

For so they did though in a mongrel way▪ see 2 Kin. 17. 26, &c.

Son of Sennacherib, and after him King of Assyria, 2 Kin. 19. 37. Who brought or sent these persons hither, either 1. In the days of Salmanasar, who lived and reigned in Assyria but Eight years before Esarhaddons Reign; and so Esarhaddon might be one of his most eminent Commanders, and the man by whom that colony was sent. Or 2. In the reign of Esarhaddon, who sent this second Colony to supply and strengthen the first.