1 esdras 2:16 - Ezra 4:7. But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, with the others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against those who lived in Judea and Jerusalem the letter following:
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What does "1 esdras 2:16" mean?
The verse you cited, 1 Esdras 2:16 (equivalent to Ezra 4:7 in the canonical book of Ezra), describes an act of opposition against the rebuilding efforts in Judea and Jerusalem during the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia. Let's break it down:
"In the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians...": This specifies the historical period when the events take place. Artaxerxes was a Persian king, and there were several Persian kings with that name. It's important to note that determining which Artaxerxes is being referred to is a complex question of biblical chronology.
"...Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, with the others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places...": This identifies a group of individuals who were officials or representatives, possibly of the Persian administration, living in the region of Samaria and other locations. Samaria was a territory north of Judea that had a long history of rivalry with the Jews. They represent the opposition to the rebuilding. It's important to note that the names vary slightly between 1 Esdras and the canonical Ezra, which is common with ancient texts.
"...wrote to him against those who lived in Judea and Jerusalem...": This states that this group composed and sent a letter to King Artaxerxes, and the content of the letter was intended to hinder or stop the rebuilding efforts in Judea and Jerusalem.
"...the letter following:": This indicates that the subsequent verses will contain the text of the letter they sent to the king.
In Essence:
The verse sets the scene for opposition. A group of officials from Samaria and surrounding areas wrote a letter to the Persian King Artaxerxes, with the specific goal of undermining the efforts of the Jewish people to rebuild their temple and city in Judea and Jerusalem. This paints a picture of political tensions and competing interests during the Persian period. This is not just a religious issue; it is tied up with regional power dynamics and concerns about loyalty and control of the area.
Significance:
This verse highlights a critical juncture in the post-exilic history of the Jewish people. The rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem was not just a physical act, but also a restoration of Jewish identity and religious practice. The opposition described here shows the challenges and obstacles they faced in achieving this goal. It introduces a plot line that continues in the following verses, where the content of the letter is revealed and its impact on the rebuilding efforts is described.
1 esdras 2:16 - Ezra 4:7. But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, with the others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against those who lived in Judea and Jerusalem the letter following:
What does "1 esdras 2:16" mean?
The verse you cited, 1 Esdras 2:16 (equivalent to Ezra 4:7 in the canonical book of Ezra), describes an act of opposition against the rebuilding efforts in Judea and Jerusalem during the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia. Let's break it down:
"In the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians...": This specifies the historical period when the events take place. Artaxerxes was a Persian king, and there were several Persian kings with that name. It's important to note that determining which Artaxerxes is being referred to is a complex question of biblical chronology.
"...Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, with the others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places...": This identifies a group of individuals who were officials or representatives, possibly of the Persian administration, living in the region of Samaria and other locations. Samaria was a territory north of Judea that had a long history of rivalry with the Jews. They represent the opposition to the rebuilding. It's important to note that the names vary slightly between 1 Esdras and the canonical Ezra, which is common with ancient texts.
"...wrote to him against those who lived in Judea and Jerusalem...": This states that this group composed and sent a letter to King Artaxerxes, and the content of the letter was intended to hinder or stop the rebuilding efforts in Judea and Jerusalem.
"...the letter following:": This indicates that the subsequent verses will contain the text of the letter they sent to the king.
In Essence:
The verse sets the scene for opposition. A group of officials from Samaria and surrounding areas wrote a letter to the Persian King Artaxerxes, with the specific goal of undermining the efforts of the Jewish people to rebuild their temple and city in Judea and Jerusalem. This paints a picture of political tensions and competing interests during the Persian period. This is not just a religious issue; it is tied up with regional power dynamics and concerns about loyalty and control of the area.
Significance:
This verse highlights a critical juncture in the post-exilic history of the Jewish people. The rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem was not just a physical act, but also a restoration of Jewish identity and religious practice. The opposition described here shows the challenges and obstacles they faced in achieving this goal. It introduces a plot line that continues in the following verses, where the content of the letter is revealed and its impact on the rebuilding efforts is described.