An Adversary to the Temple Restoration
The period following the return from Babylonian exile was not characterized by easy rebuilding, but by constant struggle against spiritual indifference and, critically, fierce political opposition. Bishlam is named as a principal figure who attempted to use the machinery of the Persian Empire to derail the restoration work in Jerusalem.
Bishlam and the Campaign of Opposition
Bishlam is mentioned in the Book of Ezra as one of the officials involved in drafting a formal, highly manipulative letter to Artaxerxes, the King of Persia. The goal of this letter was to invoke an imperial decree that would immediately stop the rebuilding of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.
The passage introduces the officials who sent this damaging petition:
“Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto Artaxerxes the king; Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, gathered together, and wrote thus unto Artaxerxes the king;” (Ezra 4:8–11, KJV, emphasis added for context)
Although the structure of the text suggests that Rehum and Shimshai were the main writers, Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel were clearly key instigators or co-signatories who initiated the opposition. Their inclusion in this list marks them as formal adversaries to the spiritual and physical restoration of God’s people.
The Content of Bishlam’s Opposition
The letter Bishlam and his companions sent was a masterpiece of political slander and fear-mongering. They argued that if Jerusalem’s walls were rebuilt, the Jews would surely rebel, cease paying taxes, and thereby diminish the Persian king’s revenue and authority in the region.
“Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will not they pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.” (Ezra 4:12–13, KJV)
Their efforts succeeded temporarily, leading to a decree that halted the work for several years, illustrating the immediate, tangible danger of worldly opposition against God’s plan.
Bishlam and the Defence of the Truth
Bishlam serves as a potent reminder for Defence of the Truth that the work of God will always face institutional and political resistance.
- The Deceptive Power of Lying Wonders: Bishlam and his allies did not use brute force initially, but deception and clever rhetoric. They distorted the purpose of the rebuilding (spiritual restoration) into a political threat (rebellion and tax evasion). This reflects the way the “Ultimate Antichrist Lie” operates—by masking spiritual opposition in terms of political necessity or secular reason.
- The Subtle Erosion of Scripture: The opposition was aimed at stopping the re-establishment of a community dedicated to God’s law, which naturally depends on the sanctity of the Divine Word. The external attack from Bishlam parallels the internal attack on the KJV and the pure Word of God today—both seek to undermine the foundation necessary for righteous living and covenant keeping.
Bishlam’s ultimate failure, as the building was later restarted and completed by faith (Ezra 5-6), provides an enduring message of hope: though the adversaries of the Truth may prevail for a season, the prophetic work of God will eventually triumph.