Ezra 4: The offer refused, the opposition, and the letter that stopped the work
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew and Aramaic. How to read a study
What happens?
The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin ask to help build the temple, and Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the heads of fathers' households refuse. Then the people of the land weaken the hands of the builders, hire counselors against them, and, in the reigns of Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes, write against them. From verse 8 the chapter is written in Aramaic: it gives the letter of Rehum and Shimshai to Artaxerxes and the king's answer, after which they go to Jerusalem and make the Jews stop, and the work on God's house stops until the second year of Darius.
Who is speaking?
No one speaks for God in this chapter, and none of it is in gold. In verse 2 the adversaries speak, and in verse 3 Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the heads of fathers' households answer them. Verses 11 to 16 are the letter of Rehum, Shimshai and their companions to King Artaxerxes, and verses 17 to 22 are the king's answer. The rest is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel,
In plain English: The opponents (or: adversaries, enemies) of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity (or: exile) were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel,
The Hebrew word: "Adversaries" is tsar, which the dictionary gives as "an opponent (as crowding)".
How it is translated: The word is in 107 verses of the Bible. The WEB says a form of "adversary" in 60 of them and a form of "enemy" in 22. In Ezra it is in this verse only.
What changes: With "enemies" or "opponents" the verse reads "the enemies (or: opponents) of Judah and Benjamin". The verse does not say who they were beyond this name.
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2they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”
In plain English: and they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of fathers' households and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do. We have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here."
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3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
In plain English: But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building a house for our God. We ourselves together will build for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia commanded us."
Good to know: The offer is quoted in verse 2 and the answer in verse 3. The answer gives its reason: King Cyrus the king of Persia commanded them. The verse does not say what Cyrus's command said about helpers. His words about building the house of Yahweh are in . says what the people of the land did next.
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4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.
In plain English: Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them (or: alarmed them) as they built.
The Hebrew words: "Weakened" is raphah, which the dictionary gives as "to slacken". "Troubled" is bahal, which the dictionary gives as "alarmed or agitated".
How it is translated: The word raphah is in 45 verses of the Bible. The WEB says a form of "weak" in 6 of them and a form of "slack" in 2. The word bahal is in 37 verses. The WEB says a form of "trouble" in 12, "dismay" in 8 and "terrify" in 5.
What changes: With the dictionary's words the verse reads that the people of the land made the hands of the people of Judah slack and alarmed them as they built.
Good to know: The Hebrew word for "people", am, is in 19 verses of Ezra, and the WEB says a form of "people" in all 19. Here it says "the people of the land". In it says "the peoples of the surrounding lands" and in "the peoples of the lands". In this verse the Hebrew word is the single word "people", where 3:3 and 9:1 have "peoples". The verse does not say who the people of the land were.
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5They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
In plain English: They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
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6In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
In plain English: In the reign of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the people living in Judah and Jerusalem.
The Hebrew word: "Accusation" is sitnah, which the dictionary gives as "opposition (by letter)".
How it is translated: The word is in this verse only, and the WEB says "accusation" there.
What changes: With the dictionary's words the verse reads "they wrote an opposition (a letter of opposition) against the people living in Judah and Jerusalem".
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7In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian and delivered in the Syrian language.
In plain English: In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their colleagues wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic (the WEB says Syrian) and was translated (or: delivered) in Aramaic.
The Hebrew words: "Syrian" is aramit, which the dictionary gives as "in Aramean". "Delivered" is tirgam, which the dictionary gives as "to transfer, i.e. translate".
How it is translated: The word aramit is in 4 verses of the Bible: , , and this one. The WEB says "Syrian" in 3 of them and "Aramaic" in 1. The word tirgam is in this verse only, and the WEB says "delivered" there.
What changes: With "translated" the verse says the letter was written in Aramaic and was also translated, in Aramaic. The verse does not say who translated it or from which language.
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8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows.
In plain English: Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against (or: about) Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, as follows.
The Aramaic words: "Chancellor" is two Aramaic words, baal and teem. The dictionary gives baal as "a master" and teem as "properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment".
How it is translated: The Aramaic word baal is in 3 verses of Ezra (here, and ), and the WEB says "chancellor" in all 3. The Aramaic word teem is in 17 verses of Ezra. The WEB says a form of "decree" in 14 of them, and in the 3 verses with this title it is part of "chancellor".
What changes: Word for word the title reads "master of judgment" (or: master of the decree). The verse does not say more about the office.
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9Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
In plain English: Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their companions wrote: the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
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10and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote.
In plain English: and the rest of the nations that the great and honorable Osnappar took into exile and settled in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the region beyond the River, and so on.
The Aramaic word: "The River" is nehar, which the dictionary gives as "a river, especially the Euphrates".
How it is translated: The Aramaic word is in 12 verses of Ezra, and the WEB says "river" in all 12. The WEB prints it as "the River" and does not name it.
What changes: If the dictionary's reading holds, "the region beyond the River" is the region beyond the Euphrates. The verse itself does not name the river.
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11This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people beyond the River.
In plain English: This is a copy of the letter they sent to him, to King Artaxerxes: "Your servants, the men of the region beyond the River."
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12Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations.
In plain English: "Let the king know that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city. They have finished the walls and are repairing the foundations.
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13Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
In plain English: Let the king know now that if this city is built and its walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom or toll, and in the end it will do harm to the kings.
The Aramaic words: "Tribute, custom, or toll" is three Aramaic words: middah, belo and halak. The dictionary gives them as "tribute in money", "excise (on articles consumed)" and "toll on goods at a road".
How it is translated: All three words come together in 3 verses of Ezra: here, and . The Aramaic word middah is also in . The WEB says "tribute" in all 4 verses.
What changes: With the dictionary's words the verse reads "they will not pay tribute in money, excise on goods, or toll on the road".
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14Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,
In plain English: Now, because we eat the salt of the palace (or: temple), and it is not right for us to see the king dishonored, we have sent and told the king,
The Aramaic word: "Palace" is heykal, which the dictionary gives as "a large public building, such as a palace or temple".
How it is translated: The Aramaic word is in 10 verses of the Bible: 4 in Ezra and 6 in Daniel. The WEB says "palace" in 5 of them and "temple" in 5.
What changes: With "temple" the words read "we eat the salt of the temple". The word allows either, and the verse does not say which is meant.
Good to know: "We eat the salt" is the Aramaic melach, "salt", used as a verb. The dictionary gives it as "to eat salt, i.e. (generally) subsist". The words "salt of the palace" are in this verse only in the WEB. The text says they eat the salt, and does not say more about who paid them or for what.
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15that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.
In plain English: so that a search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. In the book of the records you will find, and you will know, that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have started revolts inside it from long ago. That is why this city was laid waste.
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16We inform the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.
In plain English: We are telling the king that if this city is built and its walls finished, then you will have no share (or: possession) in the region beyond the River."
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17Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace.
In plain English: The king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions living in Samaria, and to the rest of the region beyond the River: "Peace.
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18The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.
In plain English: The letter you sent to us was read out plainly before me.
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19I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.
In plain English: I gave an order, and a search was made, and it was found that this city has risen up against kings since long ago, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.
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20There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll was paid to them.
In plain English: There have also been strong kings over Jerusalem who ruled over all the region beyond the River, and tribute, custom and toll were paid to them.
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21Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree is made by me.
In plain English: Now make an order to make these men stop, so that this city is not built until an order is made by me.
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22Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
In plain English: Take care not to be careless in doing this. Why should the damage grow, to the harm of the kings?"
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23Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms.
In plain English: Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem, to the Jews, and made them stop by force and power (the WEB says: by force of arms).
The Aramaic words: "By force of arms" is two Aramaic words, edra and chayil. The dictionary gives edra as "an arm, i.e. (figuratively) power" and chayil as "an army, or strength".
How it is translated: The Aramaic word edra is in this verse only. The WEB puts the two words together as "force of arms". The Aramaic word chayil is in 6 verses of the Bible, 5 of them in Daniel.
What changes: With the dictionary's words the verse reads "by an arm and strength" (or: by force and power). The WEB's "arms" says weapons. The Aramaic words themselves, "arm" and "strength", do not spell out what was used.
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24Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
In plain English: Then the work on God's house at Jerusalem stopped. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Good to know: Verse 5 says the opposition lasted from the days of Cyrus until the reign of Darius. Verses 6 and 7 then name Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes, and this verse comes back to Darius: the work stopped until the second year of his reign. The text does not say how these kings are related, how many years passed, or how the work began again in this chapter.
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