Add parallel Print Page Options

At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they lodged a formal accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. While Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their co-conspirators wrote in the Aramaic language and script to King Artaxerxes of Persia.

Aramaic:[a]

Governor Rehum and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:7 From this point through 6:18, the text of MT is in Aramaic.

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,[a](A) they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.(B)

And in the days of Artaxerxes(C) king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic(D) language.[b][c]

Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:6 Hebrew Ahasuerus
  2. Ezra 4:7 Or written in Aramaic and translated
  3. Ezra 4:7 The text of 4:8–6:18 is in Aramaic.