New American Standard Bible 1995

Ezra 4

Adversaries Hinder the Work

1Now whenthe enemiesצָרֵ֥יtza.ReiH6862of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063and Benjaminוּבִנְיָמִ֑ןu.vin.ya.MinH1144heardוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085thatthe peopleבְנֵ֤יve.NeiH1121of the exileהַגּוֹלָה֙ha.go.LahH1473were buildingבּוֹנִ֣יםbo.NimH1129a templeהֵיכָ֔לhei.KhalH1964to the Lordלַיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478,

2they approachedוַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּvai.yi.ge.ShuH5066Zerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֜לze.ru.ba.VelH2216and the headsרָאשֵׁ֣יra.SheiH7218of fathers’הָֽאָב֗וֹתha.'a.VotH1households,and saidוַיֹּאמְר֤וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to them, “Let us buildנִבְנֶ֣הniv.NehH1129with you, for we, like you, seekנִדְר֖וֹשׁnid.Ro.oshH1875your Godלֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֑םle.lo.hei.KhemH430;and we have been sacrificingזֹבְחִ֗יםzoe.ChimH2076to Him sinceH4480the daysמִימֵי֙mi.MeiH3117ofEsarhaddonH634kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Assyriaאַשּׁ֔וּר'a.ShurH804,who broughtהַמַּעֲלֶ֥הha.ma.'a.LehH5927us up hereפֹּֽה׃PohH6311.”

3But Zerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֜לze.ru.ba.VelH2216and JeshuaH3091and the restוּשְׁאָ֨רu.she.'ArH7605of the headsרָאשֵׁ֤יra.SheiH7218of fathers’הָֽאָבוֹת֙ha.'a.VotH1householdsof Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559to them, “You have nothingלֹֽא־lo'-H3808in common with us in buildingלִבְנ֥וֹתliv.NotH1129a houseבַּ֖יִתBa.yitH1004to our Godלֵאלֹהֵ֑ינוּle.lo.Hei.nuH430;but we ourselvesאֲנַ֨חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuH587will togetherיַ֜חַדYa.chadH3162buildנִבְנֶ֗הniv.NehH1129to the Lordלַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,as Kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Cyrusכּ֥וֹרֶשׁKo.reshH3566,the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃pa.RasH6539has commandedצִוָּ֔נוּtzi.Va.nuH6680us.”

4Thenthe peopleעַם־'am-H5971of the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776discouragedמְרַפִּ֖ים יְדֵ֣יme.ra.Pim ye.DeiH7503 H3027the peopleעַם־'am-H5971of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063,and frightenedH1089them from buildingלִבְנֽוֹת׃liv.NotH1129,

5and hiredH5534counselorsיוֹעֲצִ֖יםyo.'a.TzimH3289againstעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם'a.lei.HemH5921them to frustrateלְהָפֵ֣רle.ha.FerH6565their counselעֲצָתָ֑ם'a.tza.TamH6098allכָּל־kol-H3605the daysיְמֵ֗יye.MeiH3117of Cyrusכּ֚וֹרֶשׁKo.reshH3566kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Persiaפָּרַ֔סpa.RasH6539,even untilוְעַד־ve.'ad-H5704the reignמַלְכ֖וּתmal.KhutH4438of Dariusדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.veshH1867kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃pa.RasH6539.

6Now in the reignוּבְמַלְכוּת֙u.ve.mal.KhutH4438ofAhasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,in the beginningבִּתְחִלַּ֖תbit.chi.LatH8462of his reignמַלְכוּת֑וֹmal.khu.ToH4438,they wroteכָּתְב֣וּka.te.VuH3789an accusationשִׂטְנָ֔הsit.NahH7855againstעַל־'al-H5921the inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵ֥יyo.she.VeiH3427of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063and Jerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סvi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

7And in the daysוּבִימֵ֣יu.vi.MeiH3117ofArtaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא'ar.tach.Shas.ta'H783,Bishlamבִּשְׁלָ֜םbish.LamH1312,Mithredathמִתְרְדָ֤תmit.re.DatH4990,Tabeelטָֽבְאֵל֙ta.ve.'ElH2870and the restוּשְׁאָ֣רu.she.'ArH7605of his colleaguesכְּנָוֹתָ֔יוke.na.vo.tovH3674wroteכָּתַ֨בka.TavH3789to Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּ'ar.tach.shas.taH783kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Persiaפָּרָ֑סpa.RasH6539; and thetextוּכְתָב֙u.khe.TavH3791of the letterהַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ןha.nish.te.VanH5406was writtenכָּת֥וּבka.TuvH3789in Aramaicאֲרָמִ֖ית'a.ra.MitH762and translatedוּמְתֻרְגָּ֥םu.me.tur.GamH8638fromAramaicאֲרָמִֽית׃ פ'a.ra.MitH762.

The Letter to King Artaxerxes

8Rehumרְח֣וּםre.ChumH7348the commanderבְּעֵל־ טְעֵ֗םbe.'el- te.'EmH1169 H2942and Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613wroteכְּתַ֛בוּke.Ta.vuH3790a letterאִגְּרָ֥ה'i.ge.RahH104againstעַל־'al-H5922Jerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֶ֑םye.ru.she.LemH3390to Kingמַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shas.te'H783,as followsכְּנֵֽמָא׃ke.Ne.ma'H3660--

9thenאֱדַ֜יִן'e.Da.yinH116wroteRehumרְח֣וּםre.ChumH7348the commanderבְּעֵל־ טְעֵ֗םbe.'el- te.'EmH1169 H2942and Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613andthe restוּשְׁאָ֖רu.she.'ArH7606of their colleaguesכְּנָוָתְה֑וֹןke.na.va.te.HonH3675,the judgesדִּ֠ינָיֵאDi.na.ye'H1784andthe lesserH671governorsH671,the officialsטַרְפְּלָיֵ֣אtar.pe.la.Ye'H2967,the secretariesאֲפָֽרְסָיֵ֗א'a.fa.re.sa.Ye'H670,the menH756of ErechH756,the Babyloniansבָבְלָיֵא֙va.ve.la.Ye'H896,the menH7801of SusaH7801,that is, the Elamitesעֵלְמָיֵֽא׃'e.le.ma.Ye'H5962,

10and the restוּשְׁאָ֣רu.she.'ArH7606of the nationsאֻמַּיָּ֗א'u.mai.Ya'H524whichH1768the greatרַבָּ֣אra.Ba'H7229and honorableוְיַקִּירָ֔אve.ya.ki.Ra'H3358Osnapparאָסְנַפַּר֙'a.se.na.ParH620deportedהַגְלִי֙hag.LiH1541and settledוְהוֹתֵ֣בve.ho.TevH3488in the cityבְּקִרְיָ֖הbe.kir.YahH7149of Samariaשָׁמְרָ֑יִןsha.me.Ra.yinH8115,and in the restוּשְׁאָ֥רu.she.'ArH7606of the regionעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675beyondH5675theRiverנַהֲרָ֖הna.ha.Rah'H5103.Nowוּכְעֶֽנֶת׃u.khe.'E.netH3706

11thisדְּנָה֙de.NahH1836is the copyפַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶןpar.She.genH6573of the letterאִגַּרְתָּ֔א'i.gar.Ta'H104whichדִּ֚יdiH1768they sentשְׁלַ֣חוּshe.La.chuH7972to him: “To Kingמַלְכָּ֑אmal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא'ar.tach.Shas.te'H783:Your servantsעַבְדָ֛ךְav.da.yikhH5649,the menאֱנָ֥שׁ'e.NashH606in the regionעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675beyondH5675the Riverנַהֲרָ֖הna.ha.Rah'H5103,and nowוּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ פu.khe.'E.netH3706

12let it be knownיְדִ֙יעַ֙ye.Di.a'H3046to the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430that the Jewsיְהוּדָיֵ֗אye.hu.da.Ye'H3062whoH1768cameסְלִ֙קוּ֙se.Li.kuH5559up from you have comeאֲת֖וֹ'a.ToH858to us at Jerusalemלִירוּשְׁלֶ֑םli.ru.she.LemH3390;they are rebuildingבָּנַ֔יִןba.Na.yinH1124the rebelliousמָֽרָדְתָּ֤אma.ra.de.Ta'H4779and evilוּבִֽישְׁתָּא֙u.vi.yo.she.Ta'H873cityקִרְיְתָ֨אkir.ye.Ta'H7149andare finishingשַׁכְלִ֔ילוּshakh.Li.luH3635the wallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֣אve.shu.rai.Ya'H7792and repairingיַחִֽיטוּ׃ya.Chi.tuH2338the foundationsוְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖אve.'u.shai.Ya'H787.

13Nowכְּעַ֗ןke.'AnH3705let it be knownיְדִ֙יעַ֙ye.Di.a'H3046to the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430,that ifהֵ֣ןhenH2006that cityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149is rebuiltתִּתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124and the wallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'H7792are finishedיִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןyish.takh.le.LunH3635,they will not payיִנְתְּנ֔וּןyin.te.NunH5415tributeמִנְדָּֽה־min.dah-H4061,customבְל֤וֹve.LoH1093or tollוַהֲלָךְ֙va.ha.loKhH1983,and it will damageתְּהַנְזִֽק׃te.han.ZikH5142the revenueוְאַפְּתֹ֥םve.'a.pe.TomH674of the kingsמַלְכִ֖יםmal.KhimH4430.

14Nowכְּעַ֗ןke.'AnH3705becauseקֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־ko.Vel di-H3606 H6903 H1768weare in the serviceמְלַ֔חְנָאme.Lach.na'H4415of the palaceהֵֽיכְלָא֙hei.khe.La'H1965,and it is not fittingאֲֽרִֽיךְ'arikhH749for us to seeלְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑אle.me.che.Ze'H2370the king’sמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430dishonorוְעַרְוַ֣תve.'ar.VatH6173,thereforeעַ֨ל־ דְּנָ֔ה'Al- de.NahH5922 H1836we have sentשְׁלַ֖חְנָאshe.Lach.na'H7972and informedוְהוֹדַ֥עְנָאve.ho.Da'.na'H3046the kingלְמַלְכָּֽא׃le.mal.Ka'H4430,

15soH1768that a searchיְבַקַּר֩ye.va.KarH1240may be madeH5648in the recordדָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜אda.khe.Ra.nai.Ya'H1799booksבִּֽסְפַר־bis.far-H5609of your fathersאֲבָהָתָ֗ךְ'a.va.ha.TakhH2.And you will discoverוּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּחU.te.hash.kachH7912in the recordדָּכְרָנַיָּא֮da.khe.ra.nai.Ya'H1799booksבִּסְפַ֣רbis.FarH5609and learnוְתִנְדַּע֒ve.tin.Da'H3046that that cityקִרְיְתָ֨אkir.ye.Ta'H7149is a rebelliousמָֽרָדָ֗אma.ra.Da'H4779cityקִרְיָ֣אkir.Ya'H7149and damagingוּֽמְהַנְזְקַ֤תu.me.han.ze.KatH5142to kingsמַלְכִין֙mal.KhinH4430and provincesוּמְדִנָ֔ןu.me.di.NanH4083,and that they have incitedH5648revoltוְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ve.'esh.ta.DurH849withinבְּגַוַּ֔הּbe.ga.VahH1459it in pastעָלְמָ֑א'al.Ma'H5957daysיוֹמָ֖תyo.MatH3118;thereforeעַ֨ל־ דְּנָ֔ה'Al- de.NahH5922 H1836that cityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149was laidH2718wasteH2718.

16We informמְהוֹדְעִ֤יןme.hod.'InH3046the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430that ifהֵ֣ןhenH2006that cityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149is rebuiltתִּתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124and the wallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'H7792finishedיִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןyish.takh.le.LunH3635,as a resultלָקֳבֵ֣לlo.ko.VelH6903you will haveאִיתַ֖י'i.TaiH383noלָ֥אla'H3809possessionחֲלָק֙cha.LakH2508in the provincebeyondבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675the Riverנַהֲרָ֔אna.ha.Ra'H5103.”

The King Replies and Work Stops

17Thenthe kingמַלְכָּ֗אmal.Ka'H4430sentשְׁלַ֣חshe.LachH7972an answerפִּתְגָמָ֞אpit.ga.Ma'H6600to Rehumרְח֤וּםre.ChumH7348the commanderבְּעֵל־ טְעֵם֙be.'el- te.'EmH1169 H2942,to Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁ֣יve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,and to the restוּשְׁאָר֙u.she.'ArH7606of their colleaguesכְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹןke.na.Va.te.HonH3675whoדִּ֥יdiH1768liveיָתְבִ֖יןya.te.VinH3488in Samariaבְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִןbe.sha.me.Ra.yinH8115and in the restוּשְׁאָ֧רu.she.'ArH7606of the provincesbeyondעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675the Riverנַהֲרָ֛הna.ha.Rah'H5103: “Peaceשְׁלָ֖םshe.LamH8001.And nowוּכְעֶֽת׃ סu.khe.'EtH3706

18the documentנִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕אnish.te.va.Na'H5407whichדִּ֥יdiH1768you sentשְׁלַחְתּ֖וּןshe.lach.TunH7972to us has beentranslatedמְפָרַ֥שׁme.fa.RashH6568and readקֱרִ֖יke.RiH7123beforeקָדָמָֽי׃ka.da.MaiH6925me.

19A decreeטְעֵם֒te.'EmH2942has beenissuedשִׂ֣יםsimH7761by me, and a searchוּבַקַּ֣רוּu.va.Ka.ruH1240has been madeH1240and it has been discoveredוְהַשְׁכַּ֔חוּve.hash.Ka.chuH7912that that cityקִרְיְתָ֣אkir.ye.Ta'H7149has risenמִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑הmit.na.se.'AhH5376up againstעַל־'al-H5922the kingsמַלְכִ֖יןmal.KhinH4430in pastH5957daysיוֹמָת֙yo.MatH3118,that rebellionוּמְרַ֥דu.me.RadH4776and revoltוְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּרve.'esh.ta.DurH849have been perpetratedH5957in it,

20that mightyתַּקִּיפִ֗יןta.ki.FinH8624kingsוּמַלְכִ֣יןu.mal.KhinH4430haveruledהֲווֹ֙ha.VoH1934overעַל־'al-H5922Jerusalemיְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔םye.Ru.she.LemH3390,governingוְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔יןve.Sha.li.TinH7990allבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3606the provincesbeyondעֲבַ֣ר'a.VarH5675the Riverנַהֲרָ֑הna.ha.Rah'H5103, and thattributeוּמִדָּ֥הu.mi.DahH4061,customבְל֛וֹve.LoH1093and tollוַהֲלָ֖ךְva.ha.LakhH1983were paidמִתְיְהֵ֥בmit.ye.HevH3052to them.

21So, nowכְּעַן֙ke.'AnH3705issueשִׂ֣ימוּSi.muH7761a decreeטְּעֵ֔םte.'EmH2942to make theseאִלֵּ֑ךְ'i.LekhH479menגֻּבְרַיָּ֣אguv.rai.Ya'H1400stopלְבַטָּלָ֖אle.va.ta.La'H989work,that thisדָךְ֙doKhH1791cityוְקִרְיְתָ֥אve.kir.ye.Ta'H7149may not be rebuiltתִתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124untilH5704a decreeטַעְמָ֥אta'.Ma'H2942is issuedיִתְּשָֽׂם׃yi.te.SamH7761by me.

22Bewareהֱו֛וֹhe.VoH1934of being negligentשָׁל֖וּsha.LuH7960in carryingלְמֶעְבַּ֣דle.me'.BadH5648out thisדְּנָ֑הde.NahH1836matter;whyלְמָה֙le.MahH4101should damageחֲבָלָ֔אcha.va.La'H2257increaseיִשְׂגֵּ֣אyis.Ge'H7680to the detrimentלְהַנְזָקַ֖תle.han.za.KatH5142of the kingsמַלְכִֽין׃ סmal.KhinH4430?”

23Thenאֱדַ֗יִן'e.Da.yinH116as soonמִן־min-H4481 H1768as the copyפַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶןpar.She.genH6573of Kingמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxes’אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּ'ar.tach.shas.teH783documentנִשְׁתְּוָנָא֙nish.te.va.Na'H5407was readקֱרִ֧יke.RiH7123beforeקֳדָם־ko.dom-H6925Rehumרְח֛וּםre.ChumH7348and Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁ֥יve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָפְרָ֖אsa.fe.Ra'H5613and their colleaguesוּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹןu.khe.na.va.te.HonH3675,they wentאֲזַ֨לוּ'a.Za.luH236in hasteבִבְהִיל֤וּviv.hi.LuH924to Jerusalemלִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙li.ru.she.LemH3390to the Jewsיְה֣וּדָיֵ֔אye.Hu.da.Ye'H3062and stoppedוּבַטִּ֥לוּu.va.Ti.luH989them by forceבְּאֶדְרָ֥עbe.'ed.Ra'H153of armsוְחָֽיִל׃ סve.Cha.yilH2429.

24Thenבֵּאדַ֗יִןbe.Da.yinH116workעֲבִידַ֣ת'a.vi.DatH5673on the houseבֵּית־beit-H1005of Godאֱלָהָ֔א'e.la.Ha'H426in Jerusalemבִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑םbi.ru.she.LemH3390ceasedבְּטֵלַת֙be.te.LatH989,and it was stoppedבָּֽטְלָ֔אba.te.La'H989untilH5704the secondתַּרְתֵּ֔יןtar.TeinH8648yearשְׁנַ֣תshe.NatH8140of the reignלְמַלְכ֖וּתle.mal.KhutH4437of Dariusדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.veshH1868kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4430of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃ פpa.RasH6540.

Adversaries Hinder the Work

The Letter to King Artaxerxes

The King Replies and Work Stops

Commentaries on Ezra 4