Keraia
Ezra 4

Ezra 4:10

Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes · Ezra 4:6–16
Read Ezra 4

Translations

Modern
…and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.
Traditional
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
Literal
…and the rest of the nations whom the great and honorable Osnappar removed and settled them in the city of Samaria, and the remainder beyond the River, and now.
Latin
…et ceteri de gentibus, quas transtulit Asenaphar magnus et gloriosus, et habitare eas fecit in civitatibus Samariæ, et in reliquis regionibus trans flumen in pace

Original

Hebrew
English
…and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.

Notes

Ezra 4:10

  • Ashurbanipal moved people from other conquered lands into Israel and Aram (see 2 Kings 17:24–41).

  • Samaria was once the capital of Israel's northern kingdom.

  • The province west of the Euphrates River included Syria, Israel, and Judah.

Ezra 4:6–23

These verses discuss later opposition to Jewish rebuilding efforts. They actually relate to events during the reign of:

  • Xerxes in 486 to 465 BC

  • Artaxerxes I in 465 to 424 BC

However, they are included here because they match the theme of opposition. Chronologically, Ezra 4:6 fits between chapters 6 and 7, while 4:7–23 fits before Nehemiah 1.

Theme notes and profiles

Zerubbabel

People

Osnappar: Assyrian king who settled people in Samaria

Places

Euphrates: Major river in ancient Near East; boundary of Promised Land Samaria: Capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel; Samaritan inhabitants

Glossary

Aramaic Archevites Artaxerxes Ashurbanipal Asnapper Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah Darius Euphrates River First Book of Esdras Osnapper Postexilic Period Rehum Samaritans Temple

Topics

Artaxerxes: A Persian King Probably Identical with Ahasuerus: Prohibits the Rebuilding of Jerusalem Asnapper: A Noble Assyrian Prince Assyria: The Re-Peopling of Samaria From, Completed by Asnappar Babylon: Empire of Colonists From, Sent to Samaria Bishlam: A Samaritan Who Obstructed the Rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem Colonization of Conquered Countries and People Cuth: A District of Asia, from Which Colonists Were Transported to Samaria Esar-Haddon (Esarhaddon): Called Asnapper False Accusation: Incidents Illustrative of Against Jews, Returned Under Ezra Modern Samaria: Inhabitants of Their True Descent Persia: Artaxerxes I Samaria: Country of: Foreign Colonies Distributed Among the Cities of, by the King of Assyria Slander: Enemies of the Jews Susanchites: The Inhabitants of Samaria the Second Temple: The Samaritans: Wrote to Artaxerxes Smerdis to Interrupt the Building