Amplified Bible
Ezra 4:20
20There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the provinces west of the [Euphrates] River, and tax, custom, and toll were paid to them.
Ezra 4:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
- New King James Version (NKJV)There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.
Context of Ezra 4:20
18The document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me. 19I have issued a command and a search has been made, and it has been discovered that this city [Jerusalem] in earlier times has revolted against the kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been perpetrated in it. There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the provinces west of the [Euphrates] River, and tax, custom, and toll were paid to them. 21So, now issue a decree to make these men stop [work], so that this city is not rebuilt until a [new] command is issued by me. 22Beware of being negligent in carrying out this matter. Why should damage increase to the detriment of the kings?”
Read all of Ezra 4Ezra 4:20 word by word
וּמַלְכִ֣ין תַּקִּיפִ֗ין הֲווֹ֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה וּמִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַהֲלָ֖ךְ מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְהֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- There have beenהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
- mightyתַּקִּיףtaqqîyph · strongH8624
- kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- also overעַל‛al · uponH5922
- Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlêm · JerusalemH3390
- which have ruledשַׁלִּיטshallîyţ · rulingH7990
- over allכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- beyondעֲבַר‛ăbar · beyondH5675
- the riverנְהַרnehar · RiverH5103
- and tollמִנְדָּהmiddâh mindâh · tributeH4061
- tributeבְּלוֹbelô · tributeH1093
- and customהֲלָךְhălâk · tollH1983
- was paidיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052
Cross-references for Ezra 4:20
- 1 Kings 4:21Now Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the [Euphrates] River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute (money) and served Solomon all the days of his life.
- 1 Chronicles 18:3David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion to the Euphrates River.
- Psalms 72:8May he also rule from sea to sea And from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth.
- Ezra 4:16We are informing the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls finished, it will mean that you will have no possession in the province west of the [Euphrates] River.”
- Genesis 15:18On the same day the Lord made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates—
- Joshua 1:3I have given you every place on which the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised to Moses.
- 1 Chronicles 18:6Then David put military outposts among the Arameans in Damascus; and the Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. Thus the Lord helped David wherever he went.
- 1 Chronicles 19:19When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to and served him. And the Arameans (Syrians) were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.
- 2 Chronicles 9:14besides what the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
- 2 Chronicles 17:11Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
- 2 Chronicles 26:7God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites.
Commentaries on Ezra 4:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Beyond the river - That is, the Euphrates. Both David and Solomon carried their conquests beyond this river. See 2 Samuel 8:3, etc., and 1 Kings 4:21, where it is said, Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) unto the land of the Philistines; and unto the borders of Egypt.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Mighty kings - If this reference can scarcely have been to David or Solomon (see marginal reference), of whom neither the Babylonian nor the Assyrian archives would be likely to have had any account - it would probably be to Menahem 2 Kings 15:16 and Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:6-7; 2 Chronicles 35:18).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-24Verses 6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20King Jehoiakim, who ruled from 609 to 598 BC, rebelled against Babylon around 601 BC. King Zedekiah, ruling from 597 to 586 BC, rebelled around 588 BC (see 2 Kings 25:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-247. in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, &c.--The three officers named are supposed to have been deputy governors appointed by the king of Persia over all the provinces subject to his empire west of the Euphrates. the Syrian tongue--or Aramæan language, called sometimes in our version, Chaldee. This was made use of by the Persians in their decrees and communications relative to the Jews (compare 2Ki 18:26; Is 36:11). The object of their letter was to…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezra 4:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezra 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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