Ezra · Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Ezra 4 Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Ezra and Nehemiah form one book (2 Esdras) in this edition; the reader shows them as Ezra 1–10 and Nehemiah 1–13.
1 Καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ θλίβοντες Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμὶν, ὅτι υἱοὶ τῆς ἀποικίας οἰκοδομοῦσιν οἶκον τῷ Κυρίῳ Θεῷ Ἰσραὴλ,
1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel,
2 καὶ ἤγγισαν πρὸς Ζοροβάβελ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας τῶν πατριῶν, καὶ εἶπον αὐτοῖς, οἰκοδομήσομεν μεθʼ ὑμῶν, ὅτι ὡς ὑμεῖς ἐκζητοῦμεν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, καὶ αὐτῷ ἡμεῖς θυσιάζομεν ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν Ἀσαραδὰν βασιλέως Ἀσσοὺρ τοῦ ἐνέγκαντος ἡμᾶς ὧδε.
2 they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”
3 Καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ζοροβάβελ καὶ Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν πατριῶν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, οὐχ ἡμῖν καὶ ὑμῖν τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι οἶκον τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἐπὶ τοαυτὸ οἰκοδομήσομεν τῷ Κυρίω Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ὡς ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν Κύρος ὁ βασιλεὺς Περσῶν.
3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
4 Καὶ ἦν ὁ λαὸς τῆς γῆς ἐκλύων τὰς χεῖρας τοῦ λαοῦ Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐνεπόδιζον αὐτοὺς οἰκοδομεῖν,
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.
5 καὶ μισθούμενοι ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς βουλευόμενοι τοῦ διασκεδάσαι βουλὴν αὐτῶν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας Κύρου βασιλέως Περσῶν, καὶ ἕως βασιλείας Δαρείου βασιλείας Περσῶν.
5 They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 Καὶ ἐν βασιλείᾳ Ἀσσουήρου, καὶ ἐν ἀρχῇ βασιλείας αὐτοῦ ἔγραψαν ἐπιστολὴν ἐπὶ οἰκοῦντας Ἰούδα καὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ.
6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 Καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις Ἀρθασασθὰ ἔγραψεν ἐν εἰρήνῃ Μιθραδάτῃ Ταβεὴλ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς συνδούλοις· πρὸς Ἀρθασασθὰ βασιλέα Περσῶν ἔγραψεν ὁ φορολόγος γραφὴν Συριστὶ καὶ ἡρμηνευμένην.
7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian and delivered in the Syrian language.
8 Ῥεοὺμ βαλτὰμ καὶ Σαμψὰ ὁ γραμματεὺς ἔγραψαν ἐπιστολὴν μίαν κατὰ Ἱερουσαλὴμ τῷ Ἀρθασασθὰ βασιλεῖ.
8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows.
9 Τάδε ἔκρινε Ῥεοὺμ βαλτὰμ καὶ Σαμψὰ ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ οἱ κατάλοιποι σύνδουλοι ἡμῶν, Δειναῖοι, Ἀφαρσαθαχαῖοι, Ταρφαλαῖοι, Ἀφαρσαῖοι, Ἀρχυαῖοι, Βαβυλώνιοι, Σουσαναχαῖοι, Δαυαῖοι,
9 Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
10 καὶ οἱ κατάλοιποι ἐθνῶν ὧν ἀπῴκισεν Ἀσσεναφὰρ ὁ μέγας καὶ ὁ τίμιος, καὶ κατῴκισεν αὐτοὺς ἐν πόλεσι τῆς Σομόρων καὶ τὸ κατάλοιπον πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ.
10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote.
11 Αὕτη ἡ διαταγὴ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς, ἧς ἀπέστειλαν πρὸς αὐτόν· πρὸς Ἀρθασασθὰ βασιλέα παῖδές σου ἄνδρες πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people beyond the River.
12 Γνωστὸν ἔστω τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὅτι οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι οἱ ἀναβάντες ἀπὸ σοῦ πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἤλθοσαν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἀποστάτιν καὶ πονηρὰν, ἣν οἰκοδομοῦσι· καὶ τὰ τείχη αὐτῆς κατηρτισμένα εἰσὶ, καὶ θεμελίους αὐτῆς ἀνύψωσαν.
12 Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations.
13 Νῦν οὖν γνωστὸν ἔστω τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὅτι ἐὰν ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη ἀνοικοδομηθῇ, καὶ τὰ τείχη αὐτῆς καταρτισθῶσι, φόροι οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι, οὐδὲ δώσουσι· καὶ τοῦτο βασιλεῖς κακοποιεῖ,
13 Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
14 καὶ ἀσχημοσύνην βασιλέως οὐκ ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν ἰδεῖν· διὰ τοῦτο ἐπέμψαμεν καὶ ἐγνωρίσαμεν τῷ βασιλεῖ,
14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,
15 ἵνα ἐπισκέψηται ἐν βίβλῳ ὑπομνηματισμοῦ τῶν πατέρων σου, καὶ εὑρήσεις, καὶ γνώσῃ, ὅτι ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη πόλις ἀποστάτις, καὶ κακοποιοῦσα βασιλεῖς καὶ χώρας, καὶ φυγαδείαι δούλων γίνονται ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν αἰῶνος, διὰ ταῦτα ἡ πόλις αὕτη ἠρημώθη.
15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.
16 Γνωρίζομεν οὖν ἡμεῖς τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὅτι ἂν ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη οἰκοδομηθῇ, καὶ τὰ τείχη αὐτῆς καταρτισθῇ, οὐκ ἔστι σοι εἰρήνη.
16 We inform the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.
17 Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς Ῥεοὺμ βαλτὰμ καὶ Σαμψὰ γραμματέα καὶ τοὺς καταλοίπους συνδούλους αὐτῶν τοὺς οἰκοῦντας ἐν Σαμαρείᾳ καὶ τοὺς καταλοίπους πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, εἰρήνην· καὶ φησὶν,
17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace.
18 ὁ φορολόγος ὃν ἀπεστείλατε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ἐκλήθη ἔμπροσθεν ἐμοῦ·
18 The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.
19 Καὶ παρʼ ἐμοῦ ἐτέθη γνώμη, καὶ ἐπεσκεψάμεθα καὶ εὕραμεν, ὅτι ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη ἀφʼ ἡμερῶν αἰῶνος ἐπὶ βασιλεῖς ἐπαίρεται, καὶ ἀποστάσεις καὶ φυγαδείαι γίνονται ἐν αὐτῇ·
19 I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.
20 Καὶ βασιλεῖς ἰσχυροὶ ἐγένοντο ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐπικρατοῦντες ὅλης τῆς πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, καὶ φόροι πλήρεις καὶ μέρος δίδονται αὐτοῖς.
20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll was paid to them.
21 Καὶ νῦν θέτε γνώμην, καταργῆσαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐκείνους, καὶ ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη οὐκ οἰκοδομηθήσεται ἔτι· Ὅπως ἀπὸ τῆς γνώμης
21 Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree is made by me.
22 πεφυλαγμένοι ἦτε ἄνεσιν ποιῆσαι περὶ τούτου, μή ποτε πληθυνθῇ ἀφανισμὸς εἰς κακοποίησιν βασιλεῦσι.
22 Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 Τότε ὁ φορολόγος τοῦ Ἀρθασασθὰ βασιλέως ἀνέγνω ἐνώπιον Ῥεοὺμ βαλτὰμ καὶ Σαμψὰ γραμματέως καὶ συνδούλων αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν σπουδῇ εἶς Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἐν Ἰούδα, καὶ κατήργησαν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἵπποις καὶ δυνάμει.
23 Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms.
24 Τότε ἤργησε τὸ ἔργον οἴκου τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ· καὶ ἦν ἀργοῦν ἕως δευτέρου ἔτους τῆς βασιλείας Δαρείου βασιλέως Περσῶν.
24 Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Artaxerxes
King of Persia who received the accusing letter of Rehum, sent Ezra to Jerusalem in his seventh year with a decree and funds, and in his twentieth year sent Nehemiah, his…
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:7; Ezra 7:1; Ezra 7:12
Ashurbanipal
The "great and honorable" king who, in the letter to Artaxerxes, is said to have deported peoples and settled them in Samaria and west of the Euphrates.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:10
Bishlam
Named with Mithredath, Tabeel and associates as writing a letter against the Jews to Artaxerxes.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:7
Darius
King of Persia who searched the archives, found Cyrus’s decree, ordered Tattenai to leave the work alone and funded it; the temple was finished in his sixth year.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:5; Ezra 5:6; Ezra 6:1
Esar-haddon
Sennacherib's son, who reigned in his father's place after Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him.
Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 19:37; Ezra 4:2; Isaiah 37:38
Mithredath
Named with Bishlam and Tabeel as writing an Aramaic letter against the Jews to Artaxerxes.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:7
Rehum
Rehum the commander co-wrote the letter to Artaxerxes accusing Jerusalem of rebellion; the king’s reply let them stop the work by force.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:9; Ezra 4:17
Shimshai
Scribe who co-wrote with Rehum the letter to Artaxerxes against the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:17; Ezra 4:23
Tabeel
Named with Bishlam and Mithredath as writing a letter against the Jews to Artaxerxes.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:7
Xerxes
King who reigned over 127 provinces from Susa; he deposed Vashti, made Esther queen, honored Mordecai, hanged Haman and allowed the Jews to defend themselves. Ezra 4:6 mentions an…
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:6; Esther 1:1; Esther 2:16
Zerubbabel
He led the return from Babylon and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 3-6; Hag. 2:23; Zech. 4; Matt. 1:12-13
Cross references (22)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Chronicles 22:9–10; Ezra 1:11; 1 Kings 5:4–5; 1 Corinthians 16:9; Ezra 10:16
- 2 2 Kings 19:37; 2 Kings 17:24; Galatians 2:4; 2 Kings 17:27–33; Isaiah 37:37
- 3 Nehemiah 2:20; Matthew 10:16; Acts 8:21; Ezra 6:3–5; Isaiah 44:28–45:1
- 4 Ezra 3:3; Jeremiah 38:4; Nehemiah 6:9; Isaiah 35:3–4; Nehemiah 4:11
- 5 Nahum 1:11; Ezra 5:5–6:18; Psalm 2:1–2; Acts 24:1–27; Ezra 4:24
- 6 Esther 1:1; Daniel 9:1; Matthew 27:37; Acts 24:5–9; Revelation 12:10
- 7 2 Kings 18:26; Daniel 2:4; Ezra 4:17; Isaiah 36:11; Ezra 4:9
- 8 Ezra 4:9; 2 Kings 18:18; 2 Samuel 20:25; 2 Samuel 8:17
- 9 Ezra 5:6; Ezra 6:6; 2 Kings 17:24; 2 Kings 17:30–31; Esther 2:3
- 10 Ezra 4:17; Ezra 4:11; Ezra 7:12; Ezra 4:1; 2 Kings 17:24–41
- 12 2 Chronicles 36:13; Ezra 5:3; Ezra 5:9; Psalm 48:1–2; Ezra 4:19
- 13 Ezra 7:24; Nehemiah 5:4; Romans 13:6–7; Matthew 17:25; Psalm 119:69
- 14 John 12:5–6; John 19:12–15; Ezekiel 33:31
- 15 Ezra 4:12; Esther 3:5–8; 2 Kings 24:20–25:1; Nehemiah 2:19; Jeremiah 52:3–34
- 16 2 Samuel 8:3; Ezra 4:20; 1 Kings 4:24
- 17 Romans 1:7; Ezra 5:7; Ezra 4:7; Acts 23:26; Ezra 7:12
- 18 Nehemiah 8:8
- 19 2 Kings 18:7; Proverbs 25:2; Deuteronomy 13:14; Ezra 4:15; Ezekiel 17:13–19
- 20 Genesis 15:18; 1 Kings 4:21; 1 Chronicles 18:3; Psalm 72:8; 1 Chronicles 18:6
- 22 Esther 7:3–4; Ezra 4:13; Esther 3:8–9
- 23 Romans 3:15; Ezra 4:8–9; Micah 2:1; Proverbs 4:16; Ezra 4:17
- 24 Haggai 1:15; Ezra 6:1; Job 20:5; Nehemiah 6:9; Nehemiah 6:3
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences