Ezra 4:11

4:11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent to him:)

“To King Artaxerxes, ¹  from your servants in ²  Trans-Euphrates:

Ezra 9:11

9:11 which you commanded us through your servants the prophets with these words: ³  ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land defiled by the impurities of the local residents! ⁴  With their abominations they have filled it from one end to the other with their filthiness.

[4:11]  ¹ tn The Masoretic accents indicate that the phrase “to Artaxerxes the king” goes with what precedes and that the letter begins with the words “from your servants.” But it seems better to understand the letter to begin by identifying the addressee.

[4:11]  ² tn Aram “men of.”

[9:11]  ³ tn Heb “through your servants the prophets, saying.”

[9:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”