OET interlinear EZRA 4:6

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-background

וּ⁠בְ⁠מַלְכוּת֙

and,in/on/at/with,reign

The word Now indicates that the sentence it introduces will provide some background information. You can translate it with the word or phrase in your language that is most similar in meaning and significance.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וּ⁠בְ⁠מַלְכוּת֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ בִּ⁠תְחִלַּ֖ת מַלְכוּת֑⁠וֹ

and,in/on/at/with,reign ʼAḩashəvērōshz in/on/at/with,beginning his/its=kingdom

Ahasuerus ruled the Persian Empire after Darius, who was his father. So here the book is presenting some events out of chronological order. That is, it is telling about some things that happened later, before finishing the story of what happened at this time. In 4:24 the book will bring readers back to where it left off in 4:5, and then, in 5:1, it will describe how work on rebuilding the temple did resume under the reign of Darius. But first it gives accounts here of how the enemies of the Jews continued to oppose them under two later kings, Ahasuerus (described in this verse) and Artaxerxes (described in verses 7–23). The purpose may be to show that the Jews were wise to refuse the help that leaders from other nations offered, as described in 4:1–3. Since those leaders were actually enemies of the Jews, as they demonstrated by opposing them under one king after another, their offer was not sincere and they could not be trusted. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “In fact, they continued to oppose them under later kings. As soon as Ahasuerus succeeded his father Darius as king”

Note 3 topic: translate-names

אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ

ʼAḩashəvērōshz

Ahasuerus is the name of a man. He is better known as Xerxes, so you could use that name for him in your translation, if it would be helpful in your language. Use the same name here that you use in the book of Esther.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָֽם

wrote accusation on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in inhabitants Yehuda and,Jerusalem

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say explicitly what the enemies of the Jews accused them of doing. (The book provides the text of their letter in 4:11–16, but it might be helpful to provide a summary in advance.) Alternate translation: “they wrote a letter in which they accused the Jews who had returned to Judah and Jerusalem of plotting to rebel against the king”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה

wrote accusation

The abstract noun accusation refers to what the enemies of the Jews said about them in the letter that they sent to the king. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as “accuse” or “complain.” Alternate translation: “they wrote a letter to complain”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה עַל

wrote accusation on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in

The noun accusation might be referring to the actual letter itself by substituting a description of the content of the letter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a concrete term that explains the meaning of the figurative expression. Alternate translation: “they wrote a letter, accusing”

יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָֽם

inhabitants Yehuda and,Jerusalem

In this context, this expression does not mean all the inhabitants of the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem, whatever their nationality, but rather the Jews who returned from exile and settled in those places. Alternate translation: “the Jews who had returned from exile and settled in Judah and Jerusalem”