Ezra 4:17-24
New English Translation
17 The king sent the following response:
“To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and other parts of Trans-Euphrates: Greetings![a] 18 The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence. 19 So I gave orders,[b] and it was determined[c] that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in[d] rebellion and revolt. 20 Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates[e] and who were the beneficiaries of[f] tribute, custom, and toll. 21 Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct.[g] 22 Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that the king sustains damage?”
23 Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem[h] and stopped them with threat of armed force.[i]
24 So the work on the temple of God in Jerusalem came to a halt. It remained halted until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.[j]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezra 4:17 tn Aram “peace.”
- Ezra 4:19 tn Aram “from me was placed a decree.”
- Ezra 4:19 tn Aram “and they searched and found.”
- Ezra 4:19 tn Aram “are being done.”
- Ezra 4:20 sn The statement that prior Jewish kings ruled over the entire Trans-Euphrates is an overstatement. Not even in the days of David and Solomon did the kingdom of Israel extend its borders to such an extent.
- Ezra 4:20 tn Aram “were being given to them.”
- Ezra 4:21 tn Aram “until a command is issued from me.”
- Ezra 4:23 tn Aram “to Jerusalem against the Jews.”
- Ezra 4:23 tn Aram “by force and power,” a hendiadys.
- Ezra 4:24 sn Darius I Hystaspes ruled Persia ca. 522-486 b.c.
Ezra 4:17-24
Christian Standard Bible
Artaxerxes’s Reply
17 The king sent a reply to his chief deputy Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates River:
Greetings.
18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read[a](A) in my presence. 19 I issued a decree and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has had uprisings against kings since ancient times, and there have been rebellions and revolts in it. 20 Powerful kings have also ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates River, and tribute, duty, and land tax were paid to them. 21 Therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until a further decree has been pronounced by me.(B) 22 See that you not neglect this matter. Otherwise, the damage will increase and the royal interests[b] will suffer.
23 As soon as the text of King Artaxerxes’s letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues,(C) they immediately went to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
Rebuilding of the Temple Resumed
24 Now the construction of God’s house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.(D)
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