Ezra 4:12-13

4:12 Now ¹  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. ²  They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations. 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 ³  will suffer loss.

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.

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, ¹⁰  and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands.

Ezra 7:24

7:24 Furthermore, be aware of the fact ¹¹  that you have no authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or the attendants at the temple of this God.

[4:12]  ¹ tn The MT takes this word with the latter part of v. 11, but in English style it fits better with v. 12.

[4:12]  ² 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.

[4:13]  ³ 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.

[4:15]  ⁵ tn Aram “the book of the minutes.”

[4:15]  ⁶ tn Aram “of your fathers.”

[4:15]  ⁷ tn Aram “discover…and learn.” For stylistic reasons this has been translated as a single concept.

[4:15]  ⁸ tn Aram “is a rebellious city.”

[4:15]  ⁹ tn Aram “revolts they are making in its midst.”

[4:15]  ¹⁰ tn Aram “from olden days.” So also in v. 19.

[5:8]  ⁷ tn Aram “stones of rolling.” The reference is apparently to stones too large to carry.

[7:24]  ⁹ tn Aram “we are making known to you.”