Bible Commentary

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:16”

That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city [is] a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:15”

Now because we have maintenance from [the king’s] palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 14. have maintenance from the king’s palace ] R.V. eat the salt of the palace; which preserves the metaphor of the original. The LXX. omitted the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:14”

Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be built, and the walls set up [again, then] will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and [so] thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. 13. set up again ] R.V. finished. then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:13”

Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls [thereof], and joined the foundations. 12. the Jews ] We have here practically the first application of this name to the new … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:12”

This [is] the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, [even] unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. 11. unto him, even unto Artaxerxes ] R.V. unto Artaxerxes the king. the men on this side the river ] R.V. beyond the river. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:11”

And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest [that are] on this side the river, and at such a time. 10. and the rest of the nations ] Implying that the number was not nearly exhausted by these nine … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:10”

Then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, [and] the Elamites, 9. then wrote &c.] Although Ezr 4:8 ends with ‘in this sort’, the actual copy of the letter is not given … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:9”

Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 8. At this verse begins the first long section (Ezr 4:8 to Ezr 6:18) written in the Aramaic language (see Introd.), which the Compiler has probably extracted bodily from Aramaic records. Ezr 4:8 introduces briefly the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:8”

And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter [was] written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. 7. And in the days of Artaxerxes ] Artaxerxes Longimanus succeeded his father Xerxes and reigned … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 4:7”