Keraia
Ezra 4

Ezra 4:7

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

Translations

Modern
And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.
Traditional
And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
Literal
And in the days of Artaxerxes, wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the letter was written in Aramaic and translated in Aramaic.
Latin
Et in diebus Artaxerxis scripsit Beselam, Mithridates, et Thabeel, et reliqui qui erant in consilio eorum, ad Artaxerxem regem Persarum: epistola autem accusationis scripta erat syriace, et legebatur sermone syro.

Original

Hebrew
English
And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.

Notes

Ezra 4:7

  • The exact date of these events is unknown. They might have happened around the same time as an Egyptian revolt in 448 BC. This was a few years before Artaxerxes I sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem in 445 BC. If this is true, the enemies of Judah and Artaxerxes likely believed the Jews would revolt like the Egyptians did.

  • Aramaic was the international diplomatic language of the Persian Empire.

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

The Medes and Persians Zerubbabel

People

Artaxerxes: Persian king during Ezra and Nehemiah's time Bishlam: Samaritan official who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem Mithredath: A Persian official who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem Tabeel: Persian official involved in accusing the Jews to Artaxerxes

Places

Persia: An empire that ruled over the exiled Jews

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Archevites Artaxerxes Bishlam Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah Darius First Book of Esdras Mithredath Postexilic Period Samaritans Tabeal, Tabeel 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 Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Syriack Language: Syrian Medo-Persian Kingdom: Kings of, Mentioned in Scripture: Artaxerxes Smerdis (An Usurper) Mithredath: A Persian officer Who Joined in Writing a Letter Which Was Deadly Opposed to the Jews Persia: Artaxerxes I Slander: Enemies of the Jews Syria: Inhabitants of Spoke the Syriack Language Tabeel: A Persian official in Samaria the Second Temple: The Samaritans: Wrote to Artaxerxes Smerdis to Interrupt the Building