American Standard Version

Ezra 4

1NowwhentheadversariesofJudahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063andBenjaminוּבִנְיָמִ֑ןu.vin.ya.MinH1144heardH8085thatthechildrenofthecaptivitywerebuildingבּוֹנִ֣יםbo.NimH1129atempleהֵיכָ֔לhei.KhalH1964untoJehovah,theGodאֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.HeiH430ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478;

2thentheydrewH5066neartoZerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֜לze.ru.ba.VelH2216,andtotheheadsרָאשֵׁ֣יra.SheiH7218offathers’הָֽאָב֗וֹתha.'a.VotH1houses,andsaidH559untothem,Letusbuildנִבְנֶ֣הniv.NehH1129withyou;forweseekנִדְר֖וֹשׁnid.Ro.oshH1875yourGodלֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֑םle.lo.hei.KhemH430,asye do;andwesacrificeH2076untohimsincethedaysמִימֵי֙mi.MeiH3117ofEsar-haddonkingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428ofAssyriaאַשּׁ֔וּר'a.ShurH804,whobroughtH5927usuphither.

3ButZerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֜לze.ru.ba.VelH2216,andJeshuaוְיֵשׁ֗וּעַve.ye.Shu.a'H3442,andtherestוּשְׁאָ֨רu.she.'ArH7605oftheheadsרָאשֵׁ֤יra.SheiH7218offathers’הָֽאָבוֹת֙ha.'a.VotH1housesבַּ֖יִתBa.yitH1004ofIsraelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,saidH559untothem, Yehavenothingtodowithusinbuildingלִבְנ֥וֹתliv.NotH1129ahouseH1004untoourGodלֵאלֹהֵ֑ינוּle.lo.Hei.nuH430;butweourselvestogetherיַ֜חַדYa.chadH3162willbuildנִבְנֶ֗הniv.NehH1129untoJehovah,theGodאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,askingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Cyrusכּ֥וֹרֶשׁKo.reshH3566thekingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428ofPersiaפָּרָֽס׃pa.RasH6539hathcommandedצִוָּ֔נוּtzi.Va.nuH6680us.

4Thenthepeopleעַם־'am-H5971ofthelandהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776weakenedthehandsיְדֵ֣יye.DeiH3027ofthepeopleעַם־'am-H5971ofJudahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063,andtroubledtheminbuildingלִבְנֽוֹת׃liv.NotH1129,

5andhiredH7936counsellorsagainstthem,tofrustratetheirpurposeעֲצָתָ֑ם'a.tza.TamH6098,allthedaysיְמֵ֗יye.MeiH3117ofCyrusכּ֚וֹרֶשׁKo.reshH3566kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428ofPersiaפָּרַ֔סpa.RasH6539,evenuntilthereignמַלְכ֖וּתmal.KhutH4438ofDariusדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.veshH1867kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428ofPersiaפָּרָֽס׃pa.RasH6539.

6Andinthereignוּבְמַלְכוּת֙u.ve.mal.KhutH4438ofAhasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,inthebeginningofhisreignמַלְכוּת֑וֹmal.khu.ToH4438,wroteH3789theyanaccusationagainsttheinhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵ֥יyo.she.VeiH3427ofJudahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063andJerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סvi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

7Andinthedaysוּבִימֵ֣יu.vi.MeiH3117ofArtaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא'ar.tach.Shas.ta'H783wroteH3789Bishlam,Mithredathמִתְרְדָ֤תmit.re.DatH4990,Tabeelטָֽבְאֵל֙ta.ve.'ElH2870,andtherestוּשְׁאָ֣רu.she.'ArH7605ofhiscompanions, untoArtaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּ'ar.tach.shas.taH783kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428ofPersiaפָּרָ֑סpa.RasH6539;andthewritingH3789oftheletterwaswrittenH3789intheSyrian character,andset forthintheSyrian tongue.

8Rehumרְח֣וּםre.ChumH7348thechancellorandShimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ve.shim.ShaiH8124thescribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613wrotealetterאִגְּרָ֥ה'i.ge.RahH104againstJerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֶ֑םye.ru.she.LemH3390toArtaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shas.te'H783thekingמַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka'H4430inthis sort:

9thenאֱדַ֜יִן'e.Da.yinH116wroteRehumרְח֣וּםre.ChumH7348thechancellor,andShimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ve.shim.ShaiH8124thescribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,andtherestוּשְׁאָ֖רu.she.'ArH7606oftheir companions,theDinaites,andtheApharsathchites,theTarpelites,theApharsites,theArchevites,theBabylonians,theShushanchites,theDehaites,theElamites,

10andtherestוּשְׁאָ֣רu.she.'ArH7606ofthenationsאֻמַּיָּ֗א'u.mai.Ya'H524whomthegreatH7229andnobleOsnapparbrought over,andsetinthecityבְּקִרְיָ֖הbe.kir.YahH7149ofSamariaשָׁמְרָ֑יִןsha.me.Ra.yinH8115,andintherestוּשְׁאָ֥רu.she.'ArH7606ofthecountrybeyondtheRiverנַהֲרָ֖הna.ha.Rah'H5103,andsoforth.

11Thisisthecopyפַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶןpar.She.genH6573oftheletterאִגַּרְתָּ֔א'i.gar.Ta'H104thattheysentuntoArtaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא'ar.tach.Shas.te'H783thekingמַלְכָּ֑אmal.Ka'H4430: Thyservantsעַבְדָ֛ךְav.da.yikhH5649themenאֱנָ֥שׁ'e.NashH606beyondtheRiverנַהֲרָ֖הna.ha.Rah'H5103,andsoforth.

12BeitknownH3046untothekingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430,thattheJewsיְהוּדָיֵ֗אye.hu.da.Ye'H3062thatcameאֲת֖וֹ'a.ToH858upfromtheearecomeH858tous untoJerusalemלִירוּשְׁלֶ֑םli.ru.she.LemH3390;theyarebuildingבָּנַ֔יִןba.Na.yinH1124therebelliousandthebadcityקִרְיְתָ֨אkir.ye.Ta'H7149,andhavefinishedשַׁכְלִ֔ילוּshakh.Li.luH3635thewallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֣אve.shu.rai.Ya'H7792,andrepairedthefoundationsוְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖אve.'u.shai.Ya'H787.

13BeitknownH3046nowכְּעַ֗ןke.'AnH3705untothekingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430,that,ifthiscityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149bebuilded,andthewallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'H7792finishedיִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןyish.takh.le.LunH3635,theywillnotpaytributeמִנְדָּֽה־min.dah-H4061,custom,ortollוַהֲלָךְ֙va.ha.loKhH1983,andintheenditwillbehurtful untothekingsמַלְכִ֖יםmal.KhimH4430.

14Nowכְּעַ֗ןke.'AnH3705becauseweeatthesaltמְלַ֤חme.LachH4416ofthepalaceהֵֽיכְלָא֙hei.khe.La'H1965,anditisnotmeetforustoseeH2370theking’sמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430dishonor,thereforehavewesentandcertifiedthekingלְמַלְכָּֽא׃le.mal.Ka'H4430;

15thatsearchH1240maybemadeH3046inthebookבִּֽסְפַר־bis.far-H5609oftherecordsofthyfathersאֲבָהָתָ֗ךְ'a.va.ha.TakhH2:soshalt thoufindוּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּחU.te.hash.kachH7912inthebookבִּסְפַ֣רbis.FarH5609oftherecords,andknowוְתִנְדַּע֒ve.tin.Da'H3046thatthiscityקִרְיְתָ֨אkir.ye.Ta'H7149isarebelliouscityקִרְיָ֣אkir.Ya'H7149,andhurtful untokingsמַלְכִין֙mal.KhinH4430andprovincesH4083,andthattheyhavemoved seditionwithinthesameofold time;forwhichcausewasthiscityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149laidwaste.

16Wecertifythekingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430that,ifthiscityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149be builded,andthewallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'H7792finishedיִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןyish.takh.le.LunH3635, bythismeans thou shalthavenoportionH2508beyondtheRiverנַהֲרָ֔אna.ha.Ra'H5103.

17Thensentthekingמַלְכָּ֗אmal.Ka'H4430anansweruntoRehumרְח֤וּםre.ChumH7348thechancellor,andtoShimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁ֣יve.shim.ShaiH8124thescribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,andtotherestוּשְׁאָר֙u.she.'ArH7606oftheir companionsthatdwellinSamariaבְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִןbe.sha.me.Ra.yinH8115,andintherestוּשְׁאָ֧רu.she.'ArH7606ofthecountrybeyondtheRiverנַהֲרָ֛הna.ha.Rah'H5103:Peaceשְׁלָ֖םshe.LamH8001,andsoforth.

18Theletterwhichyesentunto us hath been plainlyreadקֱרִ֖יke.RiH7123beforeme.

19AndIdecreed,andsearchוּבַקַּ֣רוּu.va.Ka.ruH1240hath beenmade,anditisfoundH7912thatthiscityקִרְיְתָ֣אkir.ye.Ta'H7149ofold time hathmadeinsurrectionagainstkingsמַלְכִ֖יןmal.KhinH4430,andthatrebellionandseditionhavebeenmadetherein.

20Therehavebeenmightykingsוּמַלְכִ֣יןu.mal.KhinH4430alsooverJerusalemיְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔םye.Ru.she.LemH3390, whohaveruledoverallthecountrybeyondtheRiverנַהֲרָ֑הna.ha.Rah'H5103;andtributeוּמִדָּ֥הu.mi.DahH4061,custom,andtollוַהֲלָ֖ךְva.ha.LakhH1983,waspaidunto them.

21MakeH7761yenowכְּעַן֙ke.'AnH3705adecreeטְּעֵ֔םte.'EmH2942tocausethesemenH1400toceaseלְבַטָּלָ֖אle.va.ta.La'H989,andthatthiscityוְקִרְיְתָ֥אve.kir.ye.Ta'H7149benotbuilded,untiladecreeטַעְמָ֥אta'.Ma'H2942shallbemadeH7761byme.

22Andtakeheedthatyebenot slack herein:whyלְמָה֙le.MahH4101shoulddamagegrowtothehurtofthekingsמַלְכִֽין׃ סmal.KhinH4430?

23Thenאֱדַ֗יִן'e.Da.yinH116whenthecopyפַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶןpar.She.genH6573ofkingמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxes’ letterwasreadקֱרִ֧יke.RiH7123beforeRehumרְח֛וּםre.ChumH7348,andShimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁ֥יve.shim.ShaiH8124thescribeסָפְרָ֖אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,andtheir companions,theywentinhastetoJerusalemלִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙li.ru.she.LemH3390untotheJewsיְה֣וּדָיֵ֔אye.Hu.da.Ye'H3062,andmadethemtoceaseוּבַטִּ֥לוּu.va.Ti.luH989byforceandpower.

24Thenבֵּאדַ֗יִןbe.Da.yinH116ceasedH989theworkעֲבִידַ֣ת'a.vi.DatH5673ofthehouseבֵּית־beit-H1005ofGodH426whichisatJerusalemבִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑םbi.ru.she.LemH3390;anditceasedH989untilthesecondyearשְׁנַ֣תshe.NatH8140ofthereignלְמַלְכ֖וּתle.mal.KhutH4437ofDariusדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.veshH1868kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4430ofPersiaפָּרָֽס׃ פpa.RasH6540.

Commentaries on Ezra 4

American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain