Ezra 4:12 - Forerunner Commentary

Ezra 4:12

10 ^aand the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond¹ the River —^band so forth.

11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him)
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River,¹ and so forth:

12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the ^arebellious and evil city, and are finishing its ^bwalls and repairing the foundations.

13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay ^atax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished.

14 Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king,

15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed.

16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.

17 The king sent an answer:
To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River:
Peace,¹ and so forth.

18 The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me.

19 And¹ I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it.

20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ^aruled over all the region ^bbeyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.

21 Now¹ give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.

22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?

23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease.

24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Verse Comparison: Ezra 4:12

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Ezra 4:13 >>

American Standard Version
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.

Amplified® Bible
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem. This rebellious and bad city they are rebuilding, and have restored its walls and repaired the foundations.

Contemporary English Version
You should know that the Jews who left your country have moved back to Jerusalem and are now rebuilding that terrible city. In fact, they have almost finished rebuilding the walls and repairing the foundations.

Darby English Version
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from thee unto us have come to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and they complete the walls and join up the foundations.

Good News Bible
"We want Your Majesty to know that the Jews who came here from your other territories have settled in Jerusalem and are rebuilding that evil and rebellious city. They have begun to rebuild the walls and will soon finish them.

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem; they are rebuilding the rebellious and evil city and are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.

New International Version
The king should know that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.

New King James Version
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
let the king know that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem; they rebuild the rebellious and evil city and have started to finish the walls and repairing the foundations.

Revised Standard Version
be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.

Young's Literal Translation
Be it known to the king, that the Jews who have come up from thee unto us, have come in to Jerusalem, the rebellious and base city they are building, and the walls they have finished, and the foundations they join.

New English Translation
Now¹ let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city.² They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations.

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