Who were the Apharsites?
The Apharsites were a group of people mentioned in the book of Ezra, particularly in Ezra 4:9, as part of a coalition that opposed the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period. The name Apharsites (Hebrew: אֲפַרְסָיֵא or ‘Apharsaye’) may derive from an Akkadian or Persian root, potentially referring to a class of Persian colonists or officials. Some scholars suggest it could relate to “people of the region beyond the river” or denote a Persian administrative or ethnic group settled in Samaria by the Assyrians or Babylonians after the northern kingdom’s fall.
The Apharsites appear among other groups such as the Dinaites, Tarpelites, Apharsathchites, Archevites, Babylonians, Susians, Dehavites, and Elamites—peoples relocated by Assyrian and Babylonian policy into Israelite lands after the exile (Ezra 4:9-10). Together, these people are referred to as “the people of the lands” who opposed the Jews’ efforts to rebuild the temple.
Biblical References and Cross-References
- Ezra 4:9-10 – The Apharsites are listed by name among the inhabitants of Samaria who wrote an accusation to King Artaxerxes, urging him to stop the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
- Ezra 4:17-22 – Artaxerxes responds to their letter by commanding the work on the temple to be halted.
- 2 Kings 17:24 – Though the Apharsites are not named here, this verse describes how the king of Assyria brought foreign nations into Samaria, which may include ancestors or predecessors of groups like the Apharsites.
- Nehemiah 2:19; 4:1-3 – Opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls mirrors the opposition to the temple, showing continued hostility from surrounding peoples.
Historical and Biblical Context
The context of the Apharsites’ mention in Ezra 4 is the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon under Zerubbabel, and their beginning work on rebuilding the temple of the LORD. However, the returning Jews faced stiff opposition from neighboring groups who had been settled in the region during the Jewish exile.
The Apharsites and others likely feared the religious and political resurgence of the Jews in Jerusalem. Their letter to King Artaxerxes was political propaganda, claiming that a restored Jerusalem would be rebellious and unfaithful to the Persian king. The king, relying on their testimony, commanded the rebuilding to cease—delaying the work for many years.
This episode reveals the spiritual warfare and political resistance that often accompany God’s redemptive work. The Apharsites, knowingly or not, aligned themselves against God‘s covenant purposes by opposing the reestablishment of worship at His temple.
What It Means for Today’s Christians
The story of the Apharsites reminds Christians that opposition often arises when God‘s people seek to obey Him and restore true worship. Like the returned exiles, believers today may face pressure, misrepresentation, or resistance from those who do not understand or accept God‘s kingdom purposes.
The Apharsites represent those who are outside the covenant, who misunderstand or actively resist the work of God. Yet despite their opposition, God ultimately accomplishes His plans—as seen when the temple was later completed under the favor of a subsequent Persian king (Ezra 6).
This encourages believers to remain faithful even in seasons of delay, disappointment, or resistance, trusting that God‘s providential hand is still at work.
How Their Story Points to Jesus and the Gospel
Although the Apharsites opposed the rebuilding of the temple, their resistance could not thwart God’s redemptive plan—a plan which ultimately leads to Jesus Christ, the true and final temple (John 2:19-21). Christ’s body, crucified and raised, becomes the new meeting place between God and man.
The opposition faced by the Jews in Ezra’s time foreshadows the resistance Jesus Himself encountered from religious leaders, political authorities, and even demonic forces. Yet none of these could stop God’s plan of salvation.
Just as the temple was eventually rebuilt, Christ fulfilled and replaced it, offering a greater access to God through His blood. And just as the early exiles faced opposition but triumphed through God‘s providence, so the Church faces opposition today but overcomes through the risen Christ.
Broader Biblical Themes
1. Sovereignty of God over Nations
The presence of the Apharsites and others in Israel was the result of God’s judgment through exile, but also part of His larger redemptive plan. Their opposition, while seemingly successful at first, could not overrule God’s purposes.
2. Spiritual Warfare
Ezra 4 exemplifies how God‘s people are engaged in a spiritual conflict. The enemies of God often use fear, lies, and manipulation to hinder God‘s work, but God‘s truth ultimately prevails.
3. Faithfulness Amid Opposition
Like the Jewish remnant, Christians today must learn perseverance when facing hostility or setbacks. God honors endurance and completes the work He begins.
4. The Temple as God’s Dwelling Place
The rebuilding of the temple was a shadow of the greater reality in Christ, and later, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church, His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
Reflection Questions
- What does the story of the Apharsites teach us about opposition to God’s work in our lives and churches?
- Have you ever faced resistance when trying to obey God? How did you respond?
- How can we stay faithful to God’s mission even when His work seems delayed?
- In what ways does the completed temple in Ezra point us forward to Jesus Christ?
- How does remembering God‘s sovereignty help us trust Him during times of opposition or discouragement?
The Apharsites may only appear briefly in Scripture, but their role in resisting God’s work highlights a key truth: No earthly force can permanently obstruct what God has ordained. Their story invites the Church to look beyond the obstacles and see the certainty of God’s unfolding redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.