Ezra 4:6–24

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4:6 The opposition of replacement of Yerushalem

6 Now at the beginning of the reign of Ahashverosh (Ahasuerus), they forwarded an accusation against those who lived in Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and throughout Yehudah (Judah).

7 And in the days of Persian King Artahshashta (Artaxerxes), Bishlam, Mitredat, Teve’el and the rest of their companions wrote to the king. (The letter was written in Aramaic (Heb. Aramit; Syrian) and using that alphabet).

8 Rehum the high commissioner and Shimshay the provincial secretary wrote a letter to King Artahshashta against Yerushalem as follows:

9 From Rehum the high commissioner and Shimshay the provincial secretary, and the our companions, the judges and the rulers, the officials, the Persians, the Erekites, the Babylonians, the Susaites (that is, the Eylamites), 10 and the rest of the nations that the famous and powerful King Asenapar exiled from other nations and forced them to live in the cities of Shomron (Samaria), and the province went of the Perat (Euphrates) river.

And now 11 this is what the letter said that they sent to him:

To Artahshashta the king from your servants on this side of the river.

And now 12 let it be known to the king that the Yehudim (Jews) who left your region have come to us at Yerushalem to rebuild that rebellious and evil city—they’re currently finishing the walls and repairing the building foundations. 13 Now let it be known to the king that if that city is built and the walls are completed, those people won’t pay taxes, or send tributes, and your royal treasury will lose out. 14 Now, because we’ve had the favour of the palace, and because we don’t want to see the king dishonoured, that’s why we’ve sent this letter to update the king, 15 so that he can search in the official records of the kingdom. You’ll discover and learn that that city of Yerushalem is a rebellious city and one that has caused harm to kings and provinces, and has harboured rebellion there for decades past—that’s why that city was destroyed. 16 We are letting the king know that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, then you’ll lose control of this province on this side of the Perat.”

17 The king sent this reply:

“To Rehum the high commissioner and Shimshay the provincial secretary, and the rest of their companions who live in Shomron (Samaria), and the rest of the people in the province west of the Perat: Peace.

And now 18 the letter that you all sent to us has been carefully read aloud to me. 19 I ordered my officials to search the records and discovered that it’s true that that city has been rebellious and seditious since ancient times. 20 Powerful kings have reigned from Yerushalem and ruled the entire region that side of the river, and had taxes and tributes paid to them. 21 So command those Yehudim to stop rebuilding the city until such time as I make a decree. 22 Don’t be negligent in doing that or the damage to this kingdom might get worse.”

23 When King Artahshashta’s (Artaxerxes’) letter reached Rehum, Shimshay the secretary, and their companions, and was read aloud to them all, they immediately went to Yerushalem and used force to stop the Yehudim (Jews) from their rebuilding.

24 So there was a period when the rebuilding of the temple in Yerushalem stopped, and it remained paused until the second year of King Dareyavesh’s (Darius’) reign in Paras (Persia).[ref]

Show matching OET Literal Version passage

Read the Literal Version in context

6 And_in_the _reign _of ʼAḩashvērōsh at_the _beginning _of his/its_kingdom they _wrote an _accusation on the _inhabitants _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem).

7 And_in_the _days _of ʼArtaḩshashtāʼ he _wrote Bishlām Mitrədāt Ţₑⱱə^ʼēl and_the _rest _of mmm[fn] to ʼArtaḩshashtāʼ[fn] the _king _of Pāraş and_the _writing _of[fn] of_the _letter was_written ʼArāmīt and_it_was_translated ʼArāmīt.

8 Rəḩūm master _of command and_Shimshay the_scribe they _wrote a _letter one concerning Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) to_ʼArtaḩshashtāʼ Oh/the_king as _follows.

9 Then Rəḩūm master _of command and_Shimshay the_scribe and_the _rest _of their _associates the_Dinay[fn] and_the_officials the_Tarpelites the_Sipparites the_Erechites[fn] the_Bāⱱelians the_Susanchites mmm[fn] the_ˊĒylāmites.

10 And_the _rest _of the _nations which ʼOşnappar (the)_great and_(the)_honourable he _took _into _exile and_he _caused _to _dwell them in_the _city of Shomrōn and_the _rest _of the _region _beyond the_river and_now.

11 This is_(the)_copy _of the _letter which they _sent to_him to ʼArtaḩshashtāʼ Oh/the_king servants _of_your[fn][fn] the _man _of the _region _beyond the_river and_now.

12 Known let _it _be to_the_king that the_Yəhūdī/(Jews) who they _came _up from beside_you to_us they _have _come to_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) the_city (the)_rebellious and[fn][fn] they_are_building and[fn] they _have _finished[fn] the_foundations they _are _repairing.

13 Now known let _it _be to_the_king that if the_city this it _will _be _built and_the_walls they _will _be _finished tribute tax and_toll not they _will _give and_eventually kings it _will _injure.

14 Now as_to because that the _salt _of the _palace we _eat _salt and_the _dishonour _of Oh/the_king not is_proper for_us to_see concerning this we _have _sent and_we _have _made _known to_the_king.

15 That he _will _search in_the _book _of the _records of fathers _of_your and_you _will _find in_the _book _of the _records and_you _will _know that the_city this is_a _city rebellious and_injuring _of (of)_kings and_provinces and_a _revolt it_was_making in_midst _of_its from the _days _of the_ages on this the_city this it _was _laid _waste.

16 We are_making _known to_the_king that if the_city this it _will _be _built and_the_walls they _will _be _finished (to)_before this possession in_the _region _beyond the_river not there to/for_you(fs).

17 The_message Oh/the_king he _sent to Rəḩūm master _of command and_Shimshay the_scribe and_the _rest _of their _associates who were_dwelling in_Shomrōn and_the _rest _of the _region _beyond the_river peace and_now.

18 The_letter which you(pl)_sent to_us was_made _distinct it _was _read _aloud before_me.

19 And_from_me a _decree it _was _made and_they _searched and_they _found that the_city this from the _days _of the_ages against kings was_rising _up and_rebellion and_revolt have_been _done by_it.

20 And_kings strong they _were over Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) and_having _mastery over_all _of the _region _beyond the_river and_tribute tax and_toll was_being _paid to_them.

21 Now make a _decree[fn] to_make _to _cease the_men these and_the_city this not it _will _be _built until from_me the_decree it _will _be _made.

22 And_cautious be negligence _of to_do concerning this why the_damage will _it _grow _great to_injury _of kings.

23 Then from that the _copy _of the _letter of ʼArtaḩshashtāʼ[fn] Oh/the_king it _was _read _aloud before Rəḩūm and_Shimshay the_scribe and_associates _of_their they _went in_haste to_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) to the_Yəhūdī/(Jews) and_they _made _to _cease them with_force and_power.

24 In_then the _work _of the _house _of the_god which is_in_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) it _ceased and_it _was ceasing until year _of two of_(the)_reign of _Dārəyāvesh the _king _of Pāraş.

4:7 OSHB variant note: כנות/ו: (x-qere) ’כְּנָוֺתָ֔י/ו’: lemma=3674 n=1.1 morph=HNcmpc/Pp3ms id=15to2 כְּנָוֺתָ֔י/ו

4:7 OSHB variant note: ארתחששתא: (x-qere) ’אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּ’: lemma=783 a n=1.0 morph=HNp id=15dPn אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּ

4:7 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.

4:9 OSHB exegesis note: WLC has this word divided as דִּ֠ינָיֵא

4:9 OSHB variant note: ארכוי: (x-qere) ’אַרְכְּוָיֵ֤/א’: lemma=756 morph=ANgmpd/Td id=15mQU אַרְכְּוָיֵ֤/א

4:9 OSHB variant note: ד/הוא: (x-qere) ’דֶּהָיֵ֖/א’: lemma=1723 n=0.0 morph=ANgmpd/Td id=15QHV דֶּהָיֵ֖/א

4:11 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

4:11 OSHB note: We have abandoned or added a ketib/qere relative to BHS. In doing this we agree with L against BHS.

4:12 OSHB variant note: ו/באישת/א: (x-qere) ’וּ/בִֽישְׁתָּ/א֙’: lemma=c/873 n=0.2.0 morph=AC/Aafsd/Td id=15DK9 וּ/בִֽישְׁתָּ/א֙

4:12 OSHB note: Yathir readings in L which we have designated as Qeres when both Dothan and BHS list a Qere.

4:12 OSHB variant note: ו/שורי: (x-qere) ’וְ/שׁוּרַיָּ֣/א’: lemma=c/7792 morph=AC/Ncmpd/Td id=15Zzg וְ/שׁוּרַיָּ֣/א

4:12 OSHB variant note: אשכללו: (x-qere) ’שַׁכְלִ֔ילוּ’: lemma=3635 a n=0.1 morph=AVep3mp id=15Q2N שַׁכְלִ֔ילוּ

4:21 OSHB note: We read the punctuation in L differently from BHQ.

4:23 OSHB variant note: ארתחששתא: (x-qere) ’אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּ’: lemma=783 b morph=ANp id=155hr אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּ

4:24: Hag 1:1; Zech 1:1.

OET-RV by cross-referenced section EZRA 4:6

The opposition of replacement of Yerushalem

Ezra 4:6–24

Collected OET-RV cross-references