Ezra 4:7 - In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and delivered in the Syrian language.
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What does "Ezra 4:7" mean?
This verse, Ezra 4:7, is part of a section in the book of Ezra that describes opposition to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Jewish people returned from exile in Babylon. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"In the days of Artaxerxes...": This refers to the reign of a Persian king named Artaxerxes. However, there's some debate among scholars about which Artaxerxes is being referred to here. It's most likely Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) or possibly Artaxerxes II (Mnemon). The point is that it establishes the historical context of the events.
"Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions...": These are the names of officials or individuals who were against the rebuilding of the Jewish temple and Jerusalem. They represented a group of people who felt threatened by the growing power and influence of the returning Jewish community. They likely had vested interests in the region and feared losing control or power.
"wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia...": This indicates that these officials sent a letter of complaint or accusation to the Persian king, Artaxerxes. Their aim was to persuade him to stop the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem.
"and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and delivered in the Syrian language.": This is a crucial detail. "Syrian" here refers to the Aramaic language, which was the official language of the Persian Empire for diplomatic and administrative purposes. This means:
The letter was not written in Hebrew. The Jewish people would have been using Hebrew or a related dialect.
The letter was written in a language understood by the Persian court. By using Aramaic, the writers ensured that their message would be easily read and understood by the king and his advisors.
It highlights the political and administrative realities of the time. The Persian Empire was a vast and diverse entity, and Aramaic served as a common language for communication across its territories.
In summary, the verse means that a group of officials who opposed the rebuilding of the Jewish temple wrote a formal complaint to King Artaxerxes of Persia. They deliberately used Aramaic (the "Syrian" language) because it was the official language of the Persian Empire, ensuring their message would be understood and acted upon by the king and his court. This highlights the political maneuvering and opposition faced by the Jewish people in their efforts to rebuild their temple and city.
The verse also serves as a transition in the narrative. It explains why the following passage (Ezra 4:8-22) is written in Aramaic, as it represents the text of the letter sent to the king.
Ezra 4:7 - In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and delivered in the Syrian language.
What does "Ezra 4:7" mean?
This verse, Ezra 4:7, is part of a section in the book of Ezra that describes opposition to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Jewish people returned from exile in Babylon. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"In the days of Artaxerxes...": This refers to the reign of a Persian king named Artaxerxes. However, there's some debate among scholars about which Artaxerxes is being referred to here. It's most likely Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) or possibly Artaxerxes II (Mnemon). The point is that it establishes the historical context of the events.
"Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions...": These are the names of officials or individuals who were against the rebuilding of the Jewish temple and Jerusalem. They represented a group of people who felt threatened by the growing power and influence of the returning Jewish community. They likely had vested interests in the region and feared losing control or power.
"wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia...": This indicates that these officials sent a letter of complaint or accusation to the Persian king, Artaxerxes. Their aim was to persuade him to stop the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem.
"and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and delivered in the Syrian language.": This is a crucial detail. "Syrian" here refers to the Aramaic language, which was the official language of the Persian Empire for diplomatic and administrative purposes. This means:
The letter was not written in Hebrew. The Jewish people would have been using Hebrew or a related dialect.
The letter was written in a language understood by the Persian court. By using Aramaic, the writers ensured that their message would be easily read and understood by the king and his advisors.
It highlights the political and administrative realities of the time. The Persian Empire was a vast and diverse entity, and Aramaic served as a common language for communication across its territories.
In summary, the verse means that a group of officials who opposed the rebuilding of the Jewish temple wrote a formal complaint to King Artaxerxes of Persia. They deliberately used Aramaic (the "Syrian" language) because it was the official language of the Persian Empire, ensuring their message would be understood and acted upon by the king and his court. This highlights the political maneuvering and opposition faced by the Jewish people in their efforts to rebuild their temple and city.
The verse also serves as a transition in the narrative. It explains why the following passage (Ezra 4:8-22) is written in Aramaic, as it represents the text of the letter sent to the king.