Ezra 4:7
“And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.”
Ezra 4:7 is part of the book of Ezra, which recounts the events of the Jewish people returning from exile in Babylon to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. In this verse, we see a specific mention of a letter that was written and sent to King Artaxerxes of Persia.
Context:The book of Ezra is divided into two main sections: the first section focuses on the return of the exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel, and the second section focuses on the return under the leadership of Ezra. Ezra 4:7 falls within the first section, specifically during the time when the construction of the temple in Jerusalem was underway but faced opposition.
Verse Analysis:1. “And in the days of Artaxerxes”: This phrase indicates the timeframe during which the events described in the verse took place. Artaxerxes refers to Artaxerxes I, who reigned over Persia from 465-424 BC.
“wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions”:These individuals were writing the letter mentioned in the verse. They were likely officials or representatives of the surrounding nations who were opposed to the rebuilding efforts of the Jewish people. They sent this letter to King Artaxerxes.
“unto Artaxerxes king of Persia”:The letter was addressed to King Artaxerxes, the ruler of the Persian Empire. The purpose of the letter was to make the king aware of the situation in Jerusalem and dissuade him from supporting the Jews’ efforts.
“the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue”:This statement indicates that the letter was written in the Syrian language and then translated or interpreted into the same language. The reason for this choice of language is unclear, but it may have been because Aramaic (which was closely related to Syrian) was a common language in the region at that time.
Significance:
Ezra 4:7 serves as a reminder that the Jewish people faced opposition and obstacles as they sought to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The letter written by Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their companions was part of a larger effort to halt the construction project. The content of the letter is not provided in this verse, but the subsequent verses in Ezra 4 reveal that the adversaries of the Jewish people were successful in their efforts to halt the temple construction temporarily.
This verse highlights the challenges faced by God’s people when trying to fulfill His purposes. However, the book of Ezra also shows that God remained faithful to His people despite the opposition they faced. Ultimately, the temple was completed, and the Jewish people were able to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.
By studying this verse, we can gain insights into the historical context and the perseverance required to overcome obstacles when seeking to fulfill God’s plans.
