Ezra 4:12

Translations

Modern

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.

Traditional

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.

Literal

…be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem; the rebellious and wicked city they are building, and its walls they are finishing, and the foundations they are repairing.

Latin

Notum sit regi quia Judæi, qui ascenderunt a te ad nos, venerunt in Jerusalem civitatem rebellem et pessimam, quam ædificant exstruentes muros ejus, et parietes componentes.

Original

Hebrew

English

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.

Notes

Ezra 4:11–22

Ezra contains a copy in Aramaic of the letter sent to Artaxerxes and his response.

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

Related verses

Ezra 5:3
At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
2 Chronicles 36:13
He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.
Ezra 5:9
So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
Ezekiel 17:12–21
“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.
Acts 24:5
We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
2 Kings 18:20
You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?
Jeremiah 52:3
For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Daniel 9:25
Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
Nehemiah 1:3
And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
1 Peter 2:13–15
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,
Ezra 4:19
I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Ancient Letter Writing Aramaic Archevites Artaxerxes Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah Darius First Book of Esdras Jew Postexilic Period Rehum Samaritans Temple

Topics

Artaxerxes: A Persian King Probably Identical with Ahasuerus: Prohibits the Rebuilding of Jerusalem Bishlam: A Samaritan Who Obstructed the Rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem False Accusation: Incidents Illustrative of Against Jews, Returned Under Ezra Foundation: Joined Together by Corner Stones Foundation: Laid For: Walls Persia: Artaxerxes I Slander: Enemies of the Jews the Second Temple: The Samaritans: Wrote to Artaxerxes Smerdis to Interrupt the Building

Ezra 4:12

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