John Trapp on Ezra 4:1

CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. Now when the adverſaries of Judah]

ARrouſed by thoſe loud acclamations and out-cries, chap. 3.12, 13. Theſe adverſaries were thoſe Samaritans; chap. 3.3. a kinde of mongrels that wore Religion as a cloak, which they either put on, or threw off at pleaſure, and as occaſion required. Satan (ſaith one) doth not alwayes appear in one and the ſame faſhion: but hath as many ſeverall ſhapes as Proteus among the Poets. Here he pretends devotion to his miſchievous deſignes, but was fruſtrated.

That the children of the captivity] Iſtos deportatos, by way of contempt as Junius rendereth it: As if the Jews were therefore hated of God, becauſe they had beene tranſported, captivated. Tully paſſeth the ſame cenſure of them in his Oration, pro L, Flacco: Iſtagens quàm chara diis immortalibus eſſet docuit, quòd eſt victa, quòd elocata, quòd ſervata. It appears how dear to God they be by their oft-captivities.