Berean Standard Bible

Ezra 4

1When the enemiesצָרֵ֥יtza.ReiH6862of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063and Benjaminוּבִנְיָמִ֑ןu.vin.ya.MinH1144heardוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085thatכִּֽי־ki-H3588the exilesבְנֵ֤י הַגּוֹלָה֙ve.Nei ha.go.LahH1121 H1473were buildingבּוֹנִ֣יםbo.NimH1129a templeהֵיכָ֔לhei.KhalH1964for the LORDלַיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478,

2they approachedוַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ אֶל־vai.yi.ge.Shu 'el-H5066 H413Zerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְאֶל־ze.ru.ba.Vel ve.'el-H2216 H413and the headsרָאשֵׁ֣יra.SheiH7218of the familiesהָֽאָב֗וֹתha.'a.VotH1,sayingוַיֹּאמְר֤וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Let us buildנִבְנֶ֣הniv.NehH1129with youעִמָּכֶ֔ם'i.ma.KhemH5973becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588, like you,we seekנִדְר֖וֹשׁnid.Ro.oshH1875your Godלֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם אֲנַ֣חְנוּle.lo.hei.Khem 'a.Nach.nuH430 H587and have been sacrificingזֹבְחִ֗יםzoe.ChimH2076to Him sinceH3808the timeמִימֵי֙mi.MeiH3117of Kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428אֵסַ֤ר'e.SarH634Esar-haddonחַדֹּן֙cha.DonH634of Assyriaאַשּׁ֔וּר'a.ShurH804,who broughtהַמַּעֲלֶ֥הha.ma.'a.LehH5927usאֹתָ֖נוּ'o.Ta.nuH853hereפֹּֽה׃PohH6311.”

3But Zerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֜לze.ru.ba.VelH2216,Jeshuaוְיֵשׁ֗וּעַve.ye.Shu.a'H3442,and the otherוּשְׁאָ֨רu.she.'ArH7605headsרָאשֵׁ֤יra.SheiH7218of the familiesהָֽאָבוֹת֙ha.'a.VotH1of Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478repliedוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559, “You have noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808part with usin buildingלִבְנ֥וֹתliv.NotH1129a houseבַּ֖יִתBa.yitH1004for our Godלֵאלֹהֵ֑ינוּle.lo.Hei.nuH430,sinceכִּי֩kiH3588weאֲנַ֨חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuH587aloneיַ֜חַדYa.chadH3162must buildנִבְנֶ֗הniv.NehH1129it for the LORDלַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,asכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka.'a.SherH834הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Cyrusכּ֥וֹרֶשׁKo.reshH3566kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃pa.RasH6539has commanded usצִוָּ֔נוּtzi.Va.nuH6680.”

4Thenוַיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961the peopleעַם־'am-H5971of the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776set out to discourageמְרַפִּ֖ים יְדֵ֣יme.ra.Pim ye.DeiH7503 H3027the peopleעַם־'am-H5971of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063and make them afraidH1089אוֹתָ֖ם'o.TamH853to buildלִבְנֽוֹת׃liv.NotH1129.

5They hiredוְסֹכְרִ֧יםve.so.khe.RimH7936counselorsיוֹעֲצִ֖יםyo.'a.TzimH3289against themעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם'a.lei.HemH5921to frustrateלְהָפֵ֣רle.ha.FerH6565their plansעֲצָתָ֑ם'a.tza.TamH6098throughoutכָּל־kol-H3605the reignיְמֵ֗יye.MeiH3117of Cyrusכּ֚וֹרֶשׁKo.reshH3566kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Persiaפָּרַ֔סpa.RasH6539and down toוְעַד־ve.'ad-H5704the reignמַלְכ֖וּתmal.KhutH4438of Dariusדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.veshH1867kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃pa.RasH6539.

Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

6At the beginningוּבְמַלְכוּת֙ בִּתְחִלַּ֖תu.ve.mal.Khut bit.chi.LatH8462 H4438of the reignמַלְכוּת֑וֹmal.khu.ToH4438of Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,an accusationשִׂטְנָ֔הsit.NahH7855was lodgedכָּתְב֣וּka.te.VuH3789againstעַל־'al-H5921the peopleיֹשְׁבֵ֥יyo.she.VeiH3427of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063and Jerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סvi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

7And in the daysוּבִימֵ֣יu.vi.MeiH3117of Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא'ar.tach.Shas.ta'H783kingof Persiaפָּרָ֑סpa.RasH6539,Bishlamבִּשְׁלָ֜םbish.LamH1312,Mithredathמִתְרְדָ֤תmit.re.DatH4990,Tabeelטָֽבְאֵל֙ta.ve.'ElH2870,and the rest ofוּשְׁאָ֣רu.she.'ArH7605his associatesכְּנָוֹתָ֔יוke.na.vo.tovH3674wroteכָּתַ֨בka.TavH3789a lettertoעַל־'al-H5921Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּ מֶ֣לֶךְ'ar.tach.shas.ta Me.lekhH4428 H783וּכְתָב֙u.khe.TavH3791. Itהַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ןha.nish.te.VanH5406was writtenכָּת֥וּבka.TuvH3789in Aramaicאֲרָמִ֖ית'a.ra.MitH762and then translatedוּמְתֻרְגָּ֥םu.me.tur.GamH8638אֲרָמִֽית׃ פ'a.ra.MitH762.

8Rehumרְח֣וּםre.ChumH7348the commanderבְּעֵל־ טְעֵ֗םbe.'el- te.'EmH1169 H2942and Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613wroteכְּתַ֛בוּke.Ta.vuH3790theחֲדָ֖הcha.DahH2298letterאִגְּרָ֥ה'i.ge.RahH104againstעַל־'al-H5922Jerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֶ֑םye.ru.she.LemH3390to Kingמַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shas.te'H783as followsכְּנֵֽמָא׃ke.Ne.ma'H3660:

9אֱדַ֜יִן'e.Da.yinH116From Rehumרְח֣וּםre.ChumH7348the commanderבְּעֵל־ טְעֵ֗םbe.'el- te.'EmH1169 H2942,Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,and the restוּשְׁאָ֖רu.she.'ArH7606of their associatesכְּנָוָתְה֑וֹןke.na.va.te.HonH3675—the judgesדִּ֠ינָיֵאDi.na.ye'H1784and officialsוַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵ֞אva.'a.far.sat.kha.Ye'H671over Tripolisטַרְפְּלָיֵ֣אtar.pe.la.Ye'H2967,Persiaאֲפָֽרְסָיֵ֗א'a.fa.re.sa.Ye'H670,Erechאַרְכְּוָיֵ֤א'ar.ke.vai'H756and Babylonבָבְלָיֵא֙va.ve.la.Ye'H896,the Elamitesעֵלְמָיֵֽא׃'e.le.ma.Ye'H5962of Susaשֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵ֔אshu.shan.kha.Ye'H7801H1768,

10and the restוּשְׁאָ֣רu.she.'ArH7606of the peoplesאֻמַּיָּ֗א'u.mai.Ya'H524whomדִּ֤יdiH1768the greatרַבָּ֣אra.Ba'H7229and honorableוְיַקִּירָ֔אve.ya.ki.Ra'H3358Ashurbanipalאָסְנַפַּר֙'a.se.na.ParH620deportedהַגְלִי֙hag.LiH1541and settledוְהוֹתֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹve.ho.Tev hi.MoH3488 H1994in the citiesבְּקִרְיָ֖הbe.kir.YahH7149ofדִּ֣יdiH1768Samariaשָׁמְרָ֑יִןsha.me.Ra.yinH8115and elsewhereוּשְׁאָ֥רu.she.'ArH7606westעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675of the Euphratesנַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃na.ha.Rah' u.khe.'E.netH5103 H3706.

11(Thisדְּנָה֙de.NahH1836is the textפַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶןpar.She.genH6573of the letterאִגַּרְתָּ֔א דִּ֚י'i.gar.Ta' diH104 H1768they sentשְׁלַ֣חוּshe.La.chuH7972to himעֲל֔וֹהִיa.Lo.hiH5922.)Toעַל־'al-H5922Kingמַלְכָּ֑אmal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא'ar.tach.Shas.te'H783,From your servantsעַבְדָ֛ךְav.da.yikhH5649,the menאֱנָ֥שׁ'e.NashH606westעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675of the Euphratesנַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ פna.ha.Rah' u.khe.'E.netH5103 H3706:

12Let it beלֶהֱוֵ֣אle.he.Ve'H1934knownיְדִ֙יעַ֙ye.Di.a'H3046to the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430thatדִּ֣יdiH1768the Jewsיְהוּדָיֵ֗אye.hu.da.Ye'H3062whoדִּ֤יdiH1768cameסְלִ֙קוּ֙se.Li.kuH5559fromמִן־min-H4481youלְוָתָ֔ךְle.va.TakhH3890to usעֲלֶ֥ינָא'a.Lei.na'H5922have returnedאֲת֖וֹ'a.ToH858to Jerusalemלִירוּשְׁלֶ֑םli.ru.she.LemH3390and are rebuildingבָּנַ֔יִןba.Na.yinH1124that rebelliousמָֽרָדְתָּ֤אma.ra.de.Ta'H4779and wickedוּבִֽישְׁתָּא֙u.vi.yo.she.Ta'H873cityקִרְיְתָ֨אkir.ye.Ta'H7149.They are restoringשַׁכְלִ֔ילוּshakh.Li.luH3635itswallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֣אve.shu.rai.Ya'H7792and repairingיַחִֽיטוּ׃ya.Chi.tuH2338its foundationsוְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖אve.'u.shai.Ya'H787.

13Let it nowכְּעַ֗ןke.'AnH3705beלֶהֱוֵ֣אle.he.Ve'H1934knownיְדִ֙יעַ֙ye.Di.a'H3046to the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430thatדִּ֠יdiH1768ifהֵ֣ןhenH2006thatדָךְ֙doKhH1791cityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149is rebuiltתִּתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124and its wallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'H7792are restoredיִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןyish.takh.le.LunH3635,they will notלָ֣אla'H3809payיִנְתְּנ֔וּןyin.te.NunH5415tributeמִנְדָּֽה־min.dah-H4061,dutyבְל֤וֹve.LoH1093,or tollוַהֲלָךְ֙va.ha.loKhH1983,and the royalמַלְכִ֖יםmal.KhimH4430treasuryוְאַפְּתֹ֥םve.'a.pe.TomH674will sufferתְּהַנְזִֽק׃te.han.ZikH5142.

14Nowכְּעַ֗ןke.'AnH3705becauseH3606קֳבֵל֙ko.VelH6903דִּֽי־di-H1768מְלַ֤חme.LachH4416we are in the serviceמְלַ֔חְנָאme.Lach.na'H4415of the palaceהֵֽיכְלָא֙hei.khe.La'H1965and it is not fittingלָ֥א אֲֽרִֽיךְla' 'arikhH3809 H749for usto allowלְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑א עַ֨ל־ דְּנָ֔הle.me.che.Ze' 'Al- de.NahH2370 H5922 H1836the kingמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430to be dishonoredוְעַרְוַ֣תve.'ar.VatH6173,we have sentשְׁלַ֖חְנָאshe.Lach.na'H7972to informוְהוֹדַ֥עְנָאve.ho.Da'.na'H3046the kingלְמַלְכָּֽא׃le.mal.Ka'H4430

15thatדִּ֡יdiH1768a search should be madeיְבַקַּר֩ye.va.KarH1240of the recordדָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜אda.khe.Ra.nai.Ya'H1799booksבִּֽסְפַר־bis.far-H5609ofדִּ֣יdiH1768your fathersאֲבָהָתָ֗ךְ'a.va.ha.TakhH2. In theseדָּכְרָנַיָּא֮da.khe.ra.nai.Ya'H1799booksבִּסְפַ֣רbis.FarH5609you will discoverוּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּחU.te.hash.kachH7912and verifyוְתִנְדַּע֒ve.tin.Da'H3046thatדִּי֩diH1768the cityקִרְיְתָ֨אkir.ye.Ta'H7149דָ֜ךְdakhH1791is a rebelliousמָֽרָדָ֗אma.ra.Da'H4779cityקִרְיָ֣אkir.Ya'H7149,harmfulוּֽמְהַנְזְקַ֤תu.me.han.ze.KatH5142to kingsמַלְכִין֙mal.KhinH4430and provincesוּמְדִנָ֔ןu.me.di.NanH4083,incitingעָבְדִ֣ין'a.ve.DinH5648seditionוְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ve.'esh.ta.DurH849בְּגַוַּ֔הּbe.ga.VahH1459fromמִן־min-H4481ancientעָלְמָ֑א'al.Ma'H5957timesיוֹמָ֖תyo.MatH3118.That is whyעַ֨ל־'Al-H5922thisדְּנָ֔הde.NahH1836cityקִרְיְתָ֥א דָ֖ךְkir.ye.Ta' dakhH7149 H1791was destroyedהָֽחָרְבַֽת׃Ha.cha.re.VatH2718.

16Weאֲנַ֙חְנָה֙'a.Nach.nahH586adviseמְהוֹדְעִ֤יןme.hod.'InH3046the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430thatדִּ֠יdiH1768ifהֵ֣ןhenH2006thisדָךְ֙doKhH1791cityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149is rebuiltתִּתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124and its wallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'H7792are restoredיִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן לָקֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֔הyish.takh.le.Lun lo.ko.Vel de.NahH3635 H6903 H1836,you will haveאִיתַ֖י'i.TaiH383noלָ֥אla'H3809dominionחֲלָק֙cha.LakH2508westבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675of the Euphratesנַהֲרָ֔אna.ha.Ra'H5103.

The Decree of Artaxerxes

17Thenthe kingמַלְכָּ֗אmal.Ka'H4430sentשְׁלַ֣חshe.LachH7972this replyפִּתְגָמָ֞אpit.ga.Ma'H6600:Toעַל־'al-H5922Rehumרְח֤וּםre.ChumH7348the commanderבְּעֵל־ טְעֵם֙be.'el- te.'EmH1169 H2942,Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁ֣יve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,and the restוּשְׁאָר֙u.she.'ArH7606of your associatesכְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן דִּ֥יke.na.Va.te.Hon diH3675 H1768livingיָתְבִ֖יןya.te.VinH3488in Samariaבְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִןbe.sha.me.Ra.yinH8115and elsewhereוּשְׁאָ֧רu.she.'ArH7606in the region westעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675of the Euphratesנַהֲרָ֛הna.ha.Rah'H5103:Greetingsשְׁלָ֖ם וּכְעֶֽת׃ סshe.Lam u.khe.'EtH8001 H3706.

18The letterנִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕א דִּ֥יnish.te.va.Na' diH5407 H1768you sentשְׁלַחְתּ֖וּןshe.lach.TunH7972usעֲלֶ֑ינָא'a.Lei.na'H5922has been translatedמְפָרַ֥שׁme.fa.RashH6568and readקֱרִ֖יke.RiH7123in my presenceקָדָמָֽי׃ka.da.MaiH6925.

19I issuedוּמִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣יםu.mi.Ni simH4481 H7761a decreeטְעֵם֒te.'EmH2942,and a search was conductedוּבַקַּ֣רוּu.va.Ka.ruH1240.It was discoveredוְהַשְׁכַּ֔חוּve.hash.Ka.chuH7912thatדִּ֚יdiH1768thisדָ֔ךְ מִן־Dakh min-H1791 H4481cityקִרְיְתָ֣אkir.ye.Ta'H7149has revoltedמִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑הmit.na.se.'AhH5376againstעַל־'al-H5922kingsמַלְכִ֖יןmal.KhinH4430from ancientעָֽלְמָ֔א'al.Ma'H5957timesיוֹמָת֙yo.MatH3118,engaging in rebellionוּמְרַ֥דu.me.RadH4776and seditionוְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר מִתְעֲבֶד־ve.'esh.ta.Dur mit.'a.ved-H849 H5648.

20And mightyתַּקִּיפִ֗ין הֲווֹ֙ta.ki.Fin ha.VoH8624 H1934kingsוּמַלְכִ֣יןu.mal.KhinH4430have ruled overעַל־'al-H5922Jerusalemיְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔םye.Ru.she.LemH3390and exercised authorityוְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔יןve.Sha.li.TinH7990over the wholeבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3606region westעֲבַ֣ר'a.VarH5675of the Euphratesנַהֲרָ֑הna.ha.Rah'H5103;and tributeוּמִדָּ֥הu.mi.DahH4061,dutyבְל֛וֹve.LoH1093,and tollוַהֲלָ֖ךְva.ha.LakhH1983were paidמִתְיְהֵ֥בmit.ye.HevH3052to them.

21Now, thereforeכְּעַן֙ke.'AnH3705,issueשִׂ֣ימוּSi.muH7761an orderטְּעֵ֔םte.'EmH2942for theseאִלֵּ֑ךְ'i.LekhH479menגֻּבְרַיָּ֣אguv.rai.Ya'H1400to stopלְבַטָּלָ֖אle.va.ta.La'H989,so that thisדָךְ֙doKhH1791cityוְקִרְיְתָ֥אve.kir.ye.Ta'H7149will notלָ֣אla'H3809be rebuiltתִתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124untilעַד־'ad-H5705Iמִנִּ֖יmi.NiH4481so orderטַעְמָ֥א יִתְּשָֽׂם׃ta'.Ma' yi.te.SamH2942 H7761.

22See that youוּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹu.ze.hi.Rin he.VoH2095 H1934do not neglectשָׁל֖וּ לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־sha.Lu le.me'.Bad 'al-H7960 H5648 H5922this matterדְּנָ֑הde.NahH1836.Whyלְמָה֙le.MahH4101allow this threatחֲבָלָ֔אcha.va.La'H2257to increaseיִשְׂגֵּ֣אyis.Ge'H7680and the royalמַלְכִֽין׃ סmal.KhinH4430interests to sufferלְהַנְזָקַ֖תle.han.za.KatH5142?

23Whenאֱדַ֗יִן מִן־ דִּ֞י'e.Da.yin min- diH116 H4481 H1768the textפַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶןpar.She.genH6573of the letterנִשְׁתְּוָנָא֙nish.te.va.Na'H5407דִּ֚יdiH1768from Kingמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּ'ar.tach.shas.teH783was readקֱרִ֧יke.RiH7123toקֳדָם־ko.dom-H6925Rehumרְח֛וּםre.ChumH7348,Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁ֥יve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָפְרָ֖אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,and their associatesוּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹןu.khe.na.va.te.HonH3675,they wentאֲזַ֨לוּ'a.Za.luH236immediatelyבִבְהִיל֤וּviv.hi.LuH924toעַל־'al-H5922the Jewsיְה֣וּדָיֵ֔אye.Hu.da.Ye'H3062in Jerusalemלִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙li.ru.she.LemH3390and forciblyבְּאֶדְרָ֥ע וְחָֽיִל׃ סbe.'ed.Ra' ve.Cha.yilH153 H2429stoppedוּבַטִּ֥לוּu.va.Ti.luH989themהִמּ֖וֹhi.MoH1994.

24Thusבֵּאדַ֗יִןbe.Da.yinH116the constructionעֲבִידַ֣ת'a.vi.DatH5673of the houseבֵּית־beit-H1005of Godאֱלָהָ֔א דִּ֖י'e.la.Ha' diH426 H1768in Jerusalemבִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑םbi.ru.she.LemH3390ceasedבְּטֵלַת֙be.te.LatH989,and it remainedוַהֲוָת֙va.ha.VatH1934at a standstillבָּֽטְלָ֔אba.te.La'H989untilעַ֚ד'adH5705the secondתַּרְתֵּ֔יןtar.TeinH8648yearשְׁנַ֣תshe.NatH8140of the reignלְמַלְכ֖וּתle.mal.KhutH4437of Dariusדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.veshH1868kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4430of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃ פpa.RasH6540.

Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

The Decree of Artaxerxes

Commentaries on Ezra 4