Ezra 4:15-16

4:15 so that he may initiate a search of the records ¹  of his predecessors ²  and discover in those records ³  that this city is rebellious ⁴  and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts ⁵  from long ago. ⁶  It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed. 4:16 We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control ⁷  of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.”

Ezra 4:19

4:19 So I gave orders, ⁸  and it was determined ⁹  that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in ¹⁰  rebellion and revolt.

Ezra 4:21

4:21 Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct. ¹¹ 

Ezra 5:16

5:16 Then this Sheshbazzar went and laid the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem. From that time to the present moment ¹²  it has been in the process of being rebuilt, although it is not yet finished.’

Ezra 4:13

4:13 Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury ¹³  will suffer loss.

Ezra 5:8

5:8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, ¹⁴  and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands.

Ezra 6:8

6:8 “I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-Euphrates the complete costs are to be given to these men, so that there may be no interruption of the work. ¹⁵ 

Ezra 6:12

6:12 May God who makes his name to reside there overthrow any king or nation ¹⁶  who reaches out ¹⁷  to cause such change so as to destroy this temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given orders. Let them be carried out with precision!”

Ezra 5:17

5:17 “Now if the king is so inclined, ¹⁸  let a search be conducted in the royal archives ¹⁹  there in Babylon in order to determine whether King Cyrus did in fact issue orders for this temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us a decision concerning this matter.”

¹ tn Aram “the book of the minutes.”

² tn Aram “of your fathers.”

³ tn Aram “discover…and learn.” For stylistic reasons this has been translated as a single concept.

⁴ tn Aram “is a rebellious city.”

⁵ tn Aram “revolts they are making in its midst.”

⁶ tn Aram “from olden days.” So also in v. 19.

⁷ tn Aram “will not be to you.”

¹³ tn Aram “from me was placed a decree.”

¹⁴ tn Aram “and they searched and found.”

¹⁵ tn Aram “are being done.”

¹⁹ tn Aram “until a command is issued from me.”

²⁵ tn Aram “from then and until now.”

³¹ tn Aram “the treasury of kings.” The plural “kings” is Hebrew, not Aramaic. If the plural is intended in a numerical sense the reference is not just to Artaxerxes but to his successors as well. Some scholars understand this to be the plural of majesty, referring to Artaxerxes. See F. C. Fensham, Ezra and Nehemiah (NICOT), 74.

³⁷ tn Aram “stones of rolling.” The reference is apparently to stones too large to carry.

⁴³ tn The words “of the work” are not in the Aramaic, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁴⁹ tn Aram “people.”

⁵⁰ tn Aram “who sends forth his hand.”

⁵⁵ tn Aram “if upon the king it is good.”

⁵⁶ tn Aram “the house of the treasures of the king.”