Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:16
We certify the king that, if this city be built [again], and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
16. be builded again, and the walls thereof set up ] R.V. be builded and the walls finished.
by this means ] i.e. in consequence of Jerusalem becoming once more a fortified city and so recovering her capacity for rebellion.
thou shalt have no portion on this side the river ] R.V. beyond the river. For this expression see note on Ezr 4:12.
no portion ] For the use of this phrase cf. Jos 22:25; Jos 22:27 , 2Sa 20:1, Joh 13:8 ( ), 2Co 6:15 ( ). The letter concludes with an exaggerated appeal to the king’s alarms.
(1) The Jews would be a centre of rebellion among the Western nations:
(2) A Jewish empire might spring from the fortifications of Jerusalem as an Israelite empire once before had done. In either case the Persian king would find himself deprived of his hold upon the country W. of the Euphrates.
The LXX. read : i.e. thou shalt have no peace. 1Es 2:24 , ‘thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Cle-Syria and Phnice’. Both paraphrases of our text.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up,…. As it formerly was, and now attempted, as they suggest:
by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river; the river Euphrates; intimating that the Jews would not only shake off his yoke, and refuse to pay tribute themselves, but would seize on all his dominions on that side the river, and annex them to their own.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(16) No portion on this side the river.The same unscrupulous use of language: that is, if the river Euphrates is meant. In the days of Solomon, and once or twice subsequently, the Israelites had advanced towards the river, but it was not likely that they would ever do so again. The letter may, however, have been intended to suggest loosely that Jerusalem might become a centre of general disaffection.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Ezr 4:16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded [again], and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
Ver. 16. We certify the king ] They doubt not of audience, while they sang a song of Utile, which therefore they thus set on with more confidence than charity.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thou shalt have: Ezr 4:20, 2Sa 8:3, 1Ki 4:24
Reciprocal: Ezr 6:8 – the king’s Ezr 7:21 – beyond the river Neh 2:19 – will ye rebel