Ezra 4 New American Standard Bible

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Ezra 4 New American Standard Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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and we have been sacrificing<MH2076> to Him since<MH4480> the days<MH3117> of Esarhaddon<MH634> king<MH4428> of Assyria<MH804b>, who brought<MH5927> us up<MH5927> here<MH6311>.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>But Zerubbabel<MH2216> and Jeshua<MH3091> and the rest<MH7605> of the heads<MH7218> of fathers’<MH1> <i>households</i> of Israel<MH3478> said<MH559> to them, “You have nothing<MH3808> <i>in common</i> with us in building<MH1129> a house<MH1004> to our God<MH430>; but we ourselves<MH587> will together<MH3162> build<MH1129> for the LORD<MH3068> God<MH430> of Israel<MH3478>, just<MH3512c> as<MH3512c> King<MH4428> Cyrus<MH3566>, the king<MH4428> of Persia<MH6539>, has commanded<MH6680> us.” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Then the people<MH5971a> of the land<MH776> <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[a]</a></span>discouraged<MH7503, 3027> the people<MH5971a> of Judah<MH3063>, and frightened<MH1089> them from building<MH1129>, <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>and bribed<MH5534b> advisers<MH3289> against<MH5921> them to frustrate<MH6565a> their advice<MH6098> all<MH3605> the days<MH3117> of Cyrus<MH3566> king<MH4428> of Persia<MH6539>, even until<MH5704> the reign<MH4438> of Darius<MH1867> king<MH4428> of Persia<MH6539>. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Now in the reign<MH4438> of <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[b]</a></span>Ahasuerus<MH325>, in the beginning<MH8462> of his reign<MH4438>, they wrote<MH3789> an accusation<MH7855> against<MH5921> the inhabitants<MH3427> of Judah<MH3063> and Jerusalem<MH3389>. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>And in the days<MH3117> of <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[c]</a></span>Artaxerxes<MH783a>, Bishlam<MH1312>, Mithredath<MH4990>, Tabeel<MH2870b>, and the rest<MH7605> of his colleagues<MH3674> wrote<MH3789> to Artaxerxes<MH783a> king<MH4428> of Persia<MH6539>; and the <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[d]</a></span>text<MH3791> of the letter<MH5406> was written<MH3789> in Aramaic<MH762> and translated<MH8638> <i>from</i> Aramaic<MH762>. <p class="hdg">The Letter to King Artaxerxes</p><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[e]</a></span>Rehum<MH7348b> the commander<MH1169, 2942> and Shimshai<MH8124> the scribe<MH5613a> wrote<MH3790> a letter<MH104> against<MH5922> Jerusalem<MH3390> to King<MH4430> Artaxerxes<MH783b>, as follows<MH3660>— <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[f]</a></span>Rehum<MH7348b> the commander<MH1169, 2942>, Shimshai<MH8124> the scribe<MH5613a>, and the rest<MH7606> of their colleagues<MH3675>, the judges<MH1784a> and the lesser<MH671b> governors<MH671b>, the officials<MH2967>, the secretaries<MH670>, the men<MH756> of<MH756> Erech<MH756>, the Babylonians<MH896>, the men<MH7801> of<MH7801> Susa<MH7801>, that is, the Elamites<MH5962>, <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>and the rest<MH7606> of the nations<MH524> which<MH1768> the great<MH7229> and honorable<MH3358> <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[g]</a></span>Osnappar<MH620> deported<MH1541> and settled<MH3488> in the city<MH7149> of Samaria<MH8115>, and in the rest<MH7606> of the region<MH5675> beyond<MH5675> the <i>Euphrates</i> River<MH5103>. And now<MH3706> <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>this<MH1836> is a copy<MH6573> of the letter<MH104> which<MH1768> they sent<MH7972> to him: <p class="paragraph"> “To King<MH4430> Artaxerxes<MH783b>: Your servants<MH5649>, the men<MH606> of the region<MH5675> beyond<MH5675> the <i>Euphrates</i> River<MH5103>; and now<MH3706> <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>let it be<MH3046> known<MH3046> to the king<MH4430> that the Jews<MH3062> who<MH1768> came<MH5559b> up<MH5559b> from you have come<MH858> to us at Jerusalem<MH3390>; they are rebuilding<MH1124> the rebellious<MH4779a> and evil<MH873> city<MH7149> and are finishing<MH3635> the walls<MH7792> and repairing<MH2338> the foundations<MH787>. <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Now<MH3705> let it be<MH3046> known<MH3046> to the king<MH4430>, that if<MH2006> that city<MH7149> is rebuilt<MH1124> and the walls<MH7792> are finished<MH3635>, they will not pay<MH5415> tribute<MH4061>, custom<MH1093> tax<MH1093>, or toll<MH1983>, and it will <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[h]</a></span>be detrimental<MH5142> to the revenue<MH674> of the kings<MH4430>. <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Now<MH3705> because<MH6903, 1768> we <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[i]</a></span>are in the service<MH4415> of the palace<MH1965>, and it is not fitting<MH749> for us to see<MH2370> the king’s<MH4430> shame<MH6173>, for this<MH1836> reason<MH5922> we have sent<MH7972> <i>word</i> and informed<MH3046> the king<MH4430>, <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>so<MH1768> that<MH1768> a search<MH1240> may be conducted<MH1240> in the record<MH1799b> books<MH5609> of your fathers<MH2>. And you will discover<MH7912> in the record<MH1799b> books<MH5609> and learn<MH3046> that that city<MH7149> is a rebellious<MH4779a> city<MH7149> and detrimental<MH5142> to kings<MH4430> and provinces<MH4083>, and that they have revolted<MH5648, 849> within<MH1459> it in past<MH5957> days<MH3118>; for this<MH1836> reason<MH5922> that city<MH7149> was laid<MH2718> waste<MH2718>. <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>We are informing<MH3046> the king<MH4430> that if<MH2006> that city<MH7149> is rebuilt<MH1124> and the walls<MH7792> finished<MH3635>, then as a result<MH6903> of this<MH1836> you will have<MH383> no<MH3809> possession<MH2508> in <i>the province</i> beyond<MH5675> the <i>Euphrates</i> River<MH5103>.” <p class="hdg">The King Replies and Work Stops</p><p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><i>Then</i> the king<MH4430> sent<MH7972> a response<MH6600> to Rehum<MH7348b> the commander<MH1169, 2942>, Shimshai<MH8124> the scribe<MH5613a>, and to the rest<MH7606> of their colleagues<MH3675> who<MH1768> live<MH3488> in Samaria<MH8115> and in the rest<MH7606> of <i>the provinces</i> beyond<MH5675> the <i>Euphrates</i> River<MH5103>: “Peace<MH8001>. And now<MH3706>, <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>the document<MH5407> which<MH1768> you sent<MH7972> to us has been <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[j]</a></span>translated<MH6568> <i>and</i> read<MH7123> before<MH6925> me. <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>And a decree<MH2942> has been <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[k]</a></span>issued<MH7761> by me, and a search<MH1240> has been conducted<MH1240> and it has been discovered<MH7912> that that city<MH7149> has risen<MH5376> up against<MH5922> the kings<MH4430> in past<MH5957> days<MH3118>, and that rebellion<MH4776> and revolt<MH849> have been perpetrated<MH5648> in it, <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>that mighty<MH8624> kings<MH4430> have <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[l]</a></span>ruled<MH1934> over<MH5922> Jerusalem<MH3390>, governing<MH7990> all<MH3606> <i>the provinces</i> beyond<MH5675> the <i>Euphrates</i> River<MH5103>, and that tribute<MH4061>, custom<MH1093> tax<MH1093>, and toll<MH1983> were paid<MH3052> to them. <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Now<MH3705> issue<MH7761> a decree<MH2942> to make those<MH479> men<MH1400> stop<MH989> <i>work,</i> so that this<MH1791> city<MH7149> will not be rebuilt<MH1124> until<MH5704> a decree<MH2942> is issued<MH7761> by me. <span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>And beware<MH1934> of being negligent<MH7960> in carrying<MH5648> out<MH5648> this<MH1836> <i>matter;</i> why<MH4101> should there be great<MH7680> damage<MH2257>, to the detriment<MH5142> of the kings<MH4430>?” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Then<MH116> as soon<MH4481, 1768> as the copy<MH6573> of King<MH4430> Artaxerxes’<MH783b> decree<MH5407> was read<MH7123> before<MH6925> Rehum<MH7348b> and Shimshai<MH8124> the scribe<MH5613a> and their colleagues<MH3675>, they went<MH236> in a hurry<MH924> to Jerusalem<MH3390> to the Jews<MH3062> and stopped<MH989> them by military<MH2429> force<MH153>. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Then<MH116> work<MH5673> on the house<MH1005> of God<MH426> in Jerusalem<MH3390> was discontinued<MH989>, and it was stopped<MH989> until<MH5704> the second<MH8648> year<MH8140> of the reign<MH4437> of Darius<MH1868> king<MH4430> of Persia<MH6540>.<A name="fn"></a></p><br /><br /><span class="footnotesbot">[a]</span> <span class="fnverse">4</span> Lit <i>slackened the hands of</i><br><span class="footnotesbot">[b]</span> <span class="fnverse">6</span> Or <i>Xerxes;</i> Heb <i>Ahash-verosh</i><br><span class="footnotesbot">[c]</span> <span class="fnverse">7</span> Heb <i>Artah-shashta</i><br><span class="footnotesbot">[d]</span> <span class="fnverse">7</span> Lit <i>writing</i><br><span class="footnotesbot">[e]</span> <span class="fnverse">8</span> Chs 4:8-6:18 are in Aram<br><span class="footnotesbot">[f]</span> <span class="fnverse">9</span> Uncertain, MT <i>Then Rehum</i><br><span class="footnotesbot">[g]</span> <span class="fnverse">10</span> I.e., prob. Ashurbanipal<br><span class="footnotesbot">[h]</span> <span class="fnverse">13</span> Or <i>certainly be...to the kings</i><br><span class="footnotesbot">[i]</span> <span class="fnverse">14</span> Lit <i>eat the salt of</i><br><span class="footnotesbot">[j]</span> <span class="fnverse">18</span> Lit <i>clearly read</i><br><span class="footnotesbot">[k]</span> <span class="fnverse">19</span> Lit <i>put</i> forth<br><span class="footnotesbot">[l]</span> <span class="fnverse">20</span> Lit <i>been</i><br></div><br /><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">New American Standard Bible<br>Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020<br>by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. 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Ezra 4 New American Standard Bible