Ezra 4:8-23 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Ezra 4:8 to Ezra 6:18. Extract from an Aramaic Document.

Ezra 4:8-23 contains a letter, together with the king's reply to it, written by adversaries of the Jews to Artaxerxes for the purpose of frustrating the building of the city walls. The writers are different from those mentioned in Ezra 4:7 as writing to Artaxerxes; two letters are, therefore spoken of, so that what is said in Ezra 4:7 cannot be in reference to the letter now dealt with. Moreover, this letter has nothing to do with the events recorded in Ezra 4:1-5, for it refers to the building of the Temple, while Ezra 4:8-23 refers to the building of the city walls. Ezra 4:8-23 is, therefore, out of place here.

Ezra 4:8. Rehum and Shimshai are probably both foreign names. The chancellor = the governor of the province; scribe = here the governor's secretary.

Ezra 4:9. The names of these nationalities to which the Samaritans belonged show the non-Jewish origin of the latter, or at least of the bulk of them.

Ezra 4:10. Osnappar: i.e. Assurbanipal, 668- 626 B.C., the son and successor of Esarhaddon.

Ezra 4:12. and have finished the walls: see note on Ezra 3:8; this was the point of supreme importance, for with the walls of the city complete, Jerusalem could defy her enemies.

Ezra 4:13. if... finished: cf. Ezra 4:16; these words do not agree with what is said in Ezra 4:12, where the walls are spoken of as completed.

Ezra 4:14. we eat the salt of the palace: i.e. since we are in the service of the king and receive maintenance from him.

Ezra 4:15. the book of the records of thy fathers: cf. Ezra 6:1 f., Esther 2:23; Esther 6:1; Esther 10:2; the words show the care with which the records of the past were kept by the Persian kings.

Ezra 4:16.. thou shalt have no portion beyond the river: i.e. he will lose his Syrian province.

Ezra 4:18. hath been plainly read: cf. Nehemiah 8:8, and see note there; read translated, the king was not likely to understand Aramaic.

Ezra 4:22. why... kings: read lest damage should increase to the kings-' loss; there is no interrogative in the Aramaic.

Related Commentaries of Ezra 4:8

Ezra 4:8-23

8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribed wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions;e the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.

12 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 upf the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.

13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not payg toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

14 Now because we haveh maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have movedi sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companionsj that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19 And I commanded,k and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.

20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

21 Givel ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.

22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

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.