The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence. The letter you sent usThis phrase refers to the correspondence sent by the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin to King Artaxerxes, expressing their concerns about the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The act of sending a letter in ancient times was a significant endeavor, often involving scribes and messengers. The Hebrew root for "letter" (אִגֶּרֶת, iggeret) indicates a written document, which was a primary means of communication over long distances. This highlights the seriousness with which the opposition to the rebuilding project was taken, as they sought to influence the king's decision through formal channels. has been read
The reading of the letter signifies the official acknowledgment and consideration of its contents by the king. In the ancient Near Eastern context, reading a letter aloud was a common practice, ensuring that the message was clearly communicated and understood by all present. This public reading underscores the transparency and the gravity of the situation, as the king and his court would deliberate on the matter based on the information presented. and translated
Translation was a crucial process in the Persian Empire, which was a vast and multicultural realm. The need for translation indicates that the original letter was likely written in Aramaic, the lingua franca of the empire, and needed to be rendered into the language of the court, possibly Persian. This highlights the administrative sophistication of the Persian Empire and the importance of clear communication across different languages and cultures. The act of translation also emphasizes the king's desire to fully understand the concerns raised before making a decision. in my presence
The phrase "in my presence" indicates that King Artaxerxes himself was directly involved in the review of the letter. This personal involvement by the king suggests the importance of the issue at hand. In the context of ancient monarchies, the presence of the king in such matters was a sign of the weight and authority of the decision to be made. It reflects the king's role as the ultimate arbiter in the affairs of his empire, ensuring that he was fully informed before issuing a decree. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzraA scribe and priest who led the second group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He is known for his dedication to the Law of God and his role in the spiritual and physical restoration of Jerusalem. 2. ArtaxerxesThe Persian king during the time of Ezra. He received the letter from the adversaries of Judah and Jerusalem, which led to the halting of the rebuilding efforts. 3. Adversaries of Judah and BenjaminThese were the people who opposed the rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem. They wrote to King Artaxerxes to stop the work. 4. JerusalemThe city central to Jewish identity and worship, which was in the process of being rebuilt after the Babylonian exile. 5. The LetterA document sent by the adversaries to King Artaxerxes, accusing the Jews of rebellion and seeking to halt the reconstruction efforts. Teaching Points Opposition to God's WorkOpposition is a common experience for those who seek to do God's will. Just as the Jews faced resistance, believers today may encounter challenges when pursuing God's purposes. The Power of Prayer and PerseveranceDespite opposition, the Jews continued to seek God's guidance and strength. Believers are encouraged to remain steadfast in prayer and perseverance. The Role of LeadershipEzra's leadership was crucial in navigating the challenges faced by the Jews. Godly leadership is essential in guiding communities through adversity. The Importance of DiscernmentThe letter was read and translated, indicating the need for careful examination and discernment of information. Believers should seek wisdom and understanding in all matters. Trust in God's SovereigntyDespite human opposition, God's plans ultimately prevail. Trusting in His sovereignty provides peace and assurance in the face of trials. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the opposition faced by the Jews in Ezra 4 reflect the challenges believers face today in fulfilling God's purposes? 2. In what ways can we apply the perseverance shown by the Jews in Ezra 4 to our own spiritual journeys? 3. How does the role of leadership in Ezra 4 inform our understanding of godly leadership in the church today? 4. What can we learn from the process of reading and translating the letter in Ezra 4 about the importance of discernment in our lives? 5. How does the theme of God's sovereignty in Ezra 4 encourage us to trust Him amidst opposition and trials? Connections to Other Scriptures Nehemiah 2Nehemiah also faced opposition when rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, showing a pattern of resistance against God's people. Daniel 6Daniel faced opposition from those who sought to undermine his faithfulness to God, similar to the adversaries in Ezra. Acts 4The early church faced opposition from religious leaders, paralleling the resistance faced by the Jews in rebuilding efforts. People Ahasuerus, Apharesattechites, Apharesites, Apharsathchites, Apharsites, Archevites, Artaxerxes, Asnapper, Babylonians, Benjamin, Bishlam, Cyrus, Darius, Dehaites, Dehavites, Dehites, Dianites, Dinaites, Dinites, Elamites, Esarhaddon, Jeshua, Mithredath, Persians, Rehum, Shimshai, Shushanchites, Tabeel, Tarpelites, ZerubbabelPlaces Assyria, Beyond the River, Erech, Jerusalem, Persia, Samaria, SusaTopics Clear, Distinctly, Document, Explained, Letter, Plainly, Presence, Sense, TranslatedDictionary of Bible Themes Ezra 4:18 5393 literacy Ezra 4:6-23 7560 Samaritans, the Library Building in Troublous Times
'Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel; 2. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto Him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 3. But Zerubbabel, and Joshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Original Text and Its History.
1. The original language of the Old Testament is Hebrew, with the exception of certain portions of Ezra and Daniel and a single verse of Jeremiah, (Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26; Dan. 2:4, from the middle of the verse to end of chap. 7; Jer. 10:11,) which are written in the cognate Chaldee language. The Hebrew belongs to a stock of related languages commonly called Shemitic, because spoken mainly by the descendants of Shem. Its main divisions are: (1,) the Arabic, having its original seat in the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
The Median wars--The last native dynasties of Egypt--The Eastern world on the eve of the Macedonian conquest. [Drawn by Boudier, from one of the sarcophagi of Sidon, now in the Museum of St. Irene. The vignette, which is by Faucher-Gudin, represents the sitting cyno-cephalus of Nectanebo I., now in the Egyptian Museum at the Vatican.] Darius appears to have formed this project of conquest immediately after his first victories, when his initial attempts to institute satrapies had taught him not …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 A Reformer's Schooling
'The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House Officers, Taxation, Publicans
It was the very busiest road in Palestine, on which the publican Levi Matthew sat at the receipt of "custom," when our Lord called him to the fellowship of the Gospel, and he then made that great feast to which he invited his fellow-publicans, that they also might see and hear Him in Whom he had found life and peace (Luke 5:29). For, it was the only truly international road of all those which passed through Palestine; indeed, it formed one of the great highways of the world's commerce. At the time …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Ninth Commandment
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.' Exod 20: 16. THE tongue which at first was made to be an organ of God's praise, is now become an instrument of unrighteousness. This commandment binds the tongue to its good behaviour. God has set two natural fences to keep in the tongue, the teeth and lips; and this commandment is a third fence set about it, that it should not break forth into evil. It has a prohibitory and a mandatory part: the first is set down in plain words, the other …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ezra 4:18 NIVEzra 4:18 NLTEzra 4:18 ESVEzra 4:18 NASBEzra 4:18 KJV
Ezra 4:18 Commentaries
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