Ezra 4:1
enemies <06862> [the adversaries.]
These were the Samaritans, the descendants of the various nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants captive.
exiles <01473 01121> [children of the captivity. Heb. sons of the transportation.]
Ezra 4:4
discourage <07503> [weakened.]
<0926> [troubled.]
Ezra 4:7
Artaxerxes .............. Artaxerxes <0783> [A.M. 3482. B.C. 522. Artaxerxes.]
This Artaxerxes was one of the Magi, who usurped the throne after the death of Cambyses, for seven months, feigning himself to be Smerdis, brother of Cambyses: he is called Oropoestus by Justin, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by AEschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias.
Bishlam <01312> [Bishlam. or, in peace. companions. Heb. societies.]
Aramaic ..... Aramaic <0762> [the Syrian tongue.]
That is, probably, both the language and character were Syrian or Chaldaic; and therefore, from the 8th verse of this chapter, to ch. 7:27, the original is not Hebrew, but Chaldee, in those parts which consist of letters, decrees, etc., originally written in that language.
