Nehemiah 2:19

2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this, ¹  they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

Ezra 4:12

4:12 Now ²  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. ³  They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations.

Ezra 4:15

4:15 so that he may initiate a search of the records ⁴  of his predecessors ⁵  and discover in those records ⁶  that this city is rebellious ⁷  and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts ⁸  from long ago. ⁹  It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed.

¹ tn The Hebrew text does not include the words “all this,” but they have been added in the translation for clarity.

² tn The MT takes this word with the latter part of v. 11, but in English style it fits better with v. 12.

³ sn Management of the provinces that were distantly removed from the capital was difficult, and insurrection in such places was a perennial problem. The language used in this report about Jerusalem (i.e., “rebellious,” “odious”) is intentionally inflammatory. It is calculated to draw immediate attention to the perceived problem.

⁴ tn Aram “the book of the minutes.”

⁵ tn Aram “of your fathers.”

⁶ tn Aram “discover…and learn.” For stylistic reasons this has been translated as a single concept.

⁷ tn Aram “is a rebellious city.”

⁸ tn Aram “revolts they are making in its midst.”

⁹ tn Aram “from olden days.” So also in v. 19.