Lexical Summary bira: Citadel, fortress, palace Original Word: בִּירָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance palace (Aramaic) corresponding to biyrah; a palace -- palace. see HEBREW biyrah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee biretha. Brown-Driver-Briggs בִּירְתָא (Baer תָּא-) noun feminine emphatic castle (so Egyptian Aramaic RevS361. A 5; B 1, 2 S-CPap. B 3, C 16 +; Nabataean = temple CISii. 164. 3; Biblical Hebrew בִּירָה); — Ezra 6:2. Topical Lexicon Historical BackgroundThe noun בִּירָא designates a fortified structure, ordinarily a royal citadel that functioned as both military stronghold and administrative archive during the Persian period. Such complexes were strategically raised on elevated ground, commanded surrounding settlements, and safeguarded official records, royal treasures, and dignitaries. Comparable fortresses are attested at Susa, Persepolis, and Pasargadae, confirming the persistence of this architectural feature throughout the Achaemenid realm. Biblical Occurrence and Immediate Context In Ezra 6:2 we read: “And in Ecbatana, the fortress in the province of Media, a scroll was found.” The term “fortress” renders בִּירָא. The narrative describes King Darius’s search for the original edict of Cyrus that authorized the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple. The critical nature of this discovery is underscored by its secure location inside the imperial citadel of Ecbatana, indicating the trust placed in such forts as repositories of state documents. Political and Administrative Function The single biblical occurrence furnishes a vivid window into Persian bureaucracy. Royal decrees were not casually archived; they were housed in the most secure wing of the citadel, often carved on clay tablets or inscribed on parchment. This detail illuminates the credibility of Ezra’s account: only a monarch with unrestricted access to a fortress archive could verify the decree and enforce it kingdom-wide. The integrity of the biblical record is thereby strengthened, showing its harmony with what is known of Persian administrative practice. Providential Implications Ezra portrays God’s providence operating through pagan structures. A document preserved behind the citadel walls—far from Jerusalem—became the legal instrument that overruled local opposition and reignited temple construction. The incident recalls Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” What seemed an impersonal fortress archive was, in fact, an instrument in the redemptive plan. Theological Resonance with Fortress Imagery While Ezra 6:2 refers to a literal stronghold, Scripture employs fortress language more broadly to depict divine protection. Psalms 18:2; 31:3; 46:7; 91:2 consistently picture the LORD as a “fortress” (מִשְׂגָּב, מָעוֹז, מְצוּדָה). The temporary security offered by Persian citadels contrasts with God’s unassailable refuge. The fortified walls of Ecbatana could safeguard a scroll; the everlasting arms of the Almighty preserve His covenant people (Deuteronomy 33:27). Typological and Christological Insight Hebrews 6:18 speaks of those “who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us,” evoking flight to a sanctuary. In Christ, believers find the ultimate citadel—“a strong tower” (compare Proverbs 18:10)—who not only protects but mediates the covenant ratified by His blood. The single Persian fortress in Ezra foreshadows a greater refuge where divine promises are stored and made accessible. Archaeological Corroboration Excavations at modern Hamadan, identified with ancient Ecbatana, reveal massive stone foundations and administrative quarters consistent with the biblical description. Cuneiform tablets recovered at analogous sites verify that royal decrees were indeed archived in fortress vaults. Such findings reinforce Scripture’s historical precision. Ministry Applications 1. Scriptural Reliability: Ezra 6:2 equips apologists to demonstrate that biblical history aligns with extra-biblical data. Related Biblical Terminology Though בִּירָא occurs only once, other terms enrich the fortress motif: Together they portray the layered defenses humans erect for safety, all ultimately surpassed by the security God provides. Concluding Summary בִּירָא, though appearing only once, opens a doorway into the interplay between imperial authority and divine providence. The fortress of Ecbatana safeguarded a decree that advanced God’s redemptive purposes, while pointing to the greater fortress found in the Lord Himself—a refuge that cannot be shaken. Forms and Transliterations בְּבִֽירְתָ֛א בבירתא bə·ḇî·rə·ṯā bəḇîrəṯā bevireTaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:2 HEB: וְהִשְׁתְּכַ֣ח בְּאַחְמְתָ֗א בְּבִֽירְתָ֛א דִּ֛י בְּמָדַ֥י KJV: at Achmetha, in the palace that [is] in the province INT: was found Ecbatana the palace which of Media 1 Occurrence |
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