by force. Chaldee by arm; "arm" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the force put forth by it.
Related Commentaries of Ezra 4:23
Ezra 4:23
23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by forcem and power.