Berean Interlinear
Ezra
Chapter 4
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
ṣā·rê
When the enemies
When the enemies
yə·hū·ḏāh
of Judah
of Judah
ū·ḇin·yā·min
and Benjamin
and Benjamin
way·yiš·mə·‘ū
heard
heard
kî-
that
that
ḇə·nê
the exiles
the exiles
hag·gō·w·lāh
. . .
. . .
bō·w·nîm
were building
were building
hê·ḵāl
a temple
a temple
Yah·weh
for the LORD ,
for the LORD ,
’ĕ·lō·hê
the God
the God
yiś·rā·’êl
of Israel ,
of Israel ,
they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
way·yig·gə·šū
they approached
they approached
’el-
. . .
. . .
zə·rub·bā·ḇel
Zerubbabel
Zerubbabel
wə·’el-
. . .
. . .
rā·šê
and the heads
and the heads
hā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ
of the families ,
of the families ,
way·yō·mə·rū
saying
saying
lā·hem
. . . ,
. . . ,
niḇ·neh
“ Let us build
“ Let us build
‘im·mā·ḵem
with you
with you
kî
because ,
because ,
ḵā·ḵem
like you ,
like you ,
niḏ·rō·wōš
we seek
we seek
lê·lō·hê·ḵem
your God
your God
’ă·naḥ·nū
. . .
. . .
zō·ḇə·ḥîm
and have been sacrificing
and have been sacrificing
wə·lō
to Him since
to Him since
mî·mê
the time
the time
me·leḵ
of King
of King
’ê·sar
ḥad·dōn
Esar-haddon
Esar-haddon
’aš·šūr
of Assyria ,
of Assyria ,
ham·ma·‘ă·leh
who brought
who brought
’ō·ṯā·nū
us
us
pōh
here . ”
here . ”
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”
zə·rub·bā·ḇel
But Zerubbabel ,
But Zerubbabel ,
wə·yê·šū·a‘
Jeshua ,
Jeshua ,
ū·šə·’ār
and the other
and the other
rā·šê
heads
heads
hā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ
of the families
of the families
lə·yiś·rā·’êl
of Israel
of Israel
way·yō·mer
replied
replied
lā·hem
- ,
- ,
lō-
“ You have no
“ You have no
lā·ḵem
part
part
wā·lā·nū
with us
with us
liḇ·nō·wṯ
in building
in building
ba·yiṯ
a house
a house
lê·lō·hê·nū
for our God ,
for our God ,
kî
since
since
’ă·naḥ·nū
we
we
ya·ḥaḏ
alone
alone
niḇ·neh
must build
must build
Yah·weh
it for the LORD ,
it for the LORD ,
’ĕ·lō·hê
the God
the God
yiś·rā·’êl
of Israel ,
of Israel ,
ka·’ă·šer
as
as
ham·me·leḵ
-
-
kō·w·reš
Cyrus
Cyrus
me·leḵ-
king
king
pā·rās
of Persia
of Persia
ṣiw·wā·nū
has commanded us . ”
has commanded us . ”
Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.
way·hî
Then
Then
‘am-
the people
the people
hā·’ā·reṣ
of the land
of the land
mə·rap·pîm
set out to discourage
set out to discourage
yə·ḏê
. . .
. . .
‘am-
the people
the people
yə·hū·ḏāh
of Judah
of Judah
ū·mə·ḇa·la·hīm
and make them afraid
and make them afraid
’ō·w·ṯām
-
-
liḇ·nō·wṯ
to build .
to build .
They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
wə·sō·ḵə·rîm
They hired
They hired
yō·w·‘ă·ṣîm
counselors
counselors
‘ă·lê·hem
against them
against them
lə·hā·p̄êr
to frustrate
to frustrate
‘ă·ṣā·ṯām
their plans
their plans
kāl-
throughout
throughout
yə·mê
the reign
the reign
kō·w·reš
of Cyrus
of Cyrus
me·leḵ
king
king
pā·ras
of Persia
of Persia
wə·‘aḏ-
and down to
and down to
mal·ḵūṯ
the reign
the reign
dā·rə·yā·weš
of Darius
of Darius
me·leḵ-
king
king
pā·rās
of Persia .
of Persia .
At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
biṯ·ḥil·laṯ
At the beginning
At the beginning
mal·ḵū·ṯōw
. . .
. . .
ū·ḇə·mal·ḵūṯ
of the reign
of the reign
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
of Xerxes ,
of Xerxes ,
śiṭ·nāh
an accusation
an accusation
kā·ṯə·ḇū
was lodged
was lodged
‘al-
against
against
yō·šə·ḇê
the people
the people
yə·hū·ḏāh
of Judah
of Judah
wî·rū·šā·lim
and Jerusalem .
and Jerusalem .
And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.
ū·ḇî·mê
And in the days
And in the days
’ar·taḥ·šaś·tā
of Artaxerxes [king]
of Artaxerxes [king]
pā·rās
of Persia ,
of Persia ,
biš·lām
Bishlam ,
Bishlam ,
miṯ·rə·ḏāṯ
Mithredath ,
Mithredath ,
ṭā·ḇə·’êl
Tabeel ,
Tabeel ,
ū·šə·’ār
and the rest of
and the rest of
kə·nå̄·wō·ṯō
his associates
his associates
kā·ṯaḇ
wrote [a letter]
wrote [a letter]
‘al-
to
to
me·leḵ
vvv
vvv
ʾar·taḥ·šaś·tå̄
Artaxerxes .
Artaxerxes .
ū·ḵə·ṯāḇ
-
-
han·niš·tə·wān
[It]
[It]
kā·ṯūḇ
was written
was written
’ă·rā·mîṯ
in Aramaic
in Aramaic
ū·mə·ṯur·gām
and then translated
and then translated
’ă·rā·mîṯ
- .
- .
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
rə·ḥūm
Rehum
Rehum
bə·‘êl-
the commander
the commander
ṭə·‘êm
. . .
. . .
wə·šim·šay
and Shimshai
and Shimshai
sā·p̄ə·rā
the scribe
the scribe
kə·ṯa·ḇū
wrote
wrote
ḥă·ḏāh
[the]
[the]
’ig·gə·rāh
letter
letter
‘al-
against
against
yə·rū·šə·lem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
mal·kā
to King
to King
lə·’ar·taḥ·šaśt
Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes
kə·nê·mā
as follows :
as follows :
From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
’ĕ·ḏa·yin
-
-
rə·ḥūm
From Rehum
From Rehum
bə·‘êl-
the commander
the commander
ṭə·‘êm
. . . ,
. . . ,
wə·šim·šay
Shimshai
Shimshai
sā·p̄ə·rā
the scribe ,
the scribe ,
ū·šə·’ār
and the rest
and the rest
kə·nā·wā·ṯə·hō·wn
of their associates —
of their associates —
dî·nā·yê
the judges
the judges
wa·’ă·p̄ar·saṯ·ḵā·yê
and officials
and officials
ṭar·pə·lā·yê
over Tripolis ,
over Tripolis ,
’ă·p̄ā·rə·sā·yê
Persia ,
Persia ,
ʾar·kə·wå̄y
Erech
Erech
ḇā·ḇə·lā·yê
and Babylon ,
and Babylon ,
‘ê·lə·mā·yê
the Elamites
the Elamites
šū·šan·ḵā·yê
of Susa
of Susa
di·hū
,
,
and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.
bə·qir·yāh
in the cities
in the cities
dî
of
of
šā·mə·rā·yin
Samaria
Samaria
ū·šə·’ār
and elsewhere
and elsewhere
‘ă·ḇar-
west
west
na·hă·rāh
of the Euphrates
of the Euphrates
ū·ḵə·‘e·neṯ
. . . .
. . . .
ū·šə·’ār
and the rest
and the rest
’um·may·yā
of the peoples
of the peoples
dî
whom
whom
rab·bā
the great
the great
wə·yaq·qî·rā
and honorable
and honorable
’ā·sə·nap·par
Ashurbanipal
Ashurbanipal
haḡ·lî
deported
deported
wə·hō·w·ṯêḇ
and settled
and settled
him·mōw
. . .
. . .
(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:
də·nāh
( This
( This
par·še·ḡen
is the text
is the text
’ig·gar·tā
of the letter
of the letter
dî
. . .
. . .
šə·la·ḥū
they sent
they sent
‘ă·lō·w·hî
to him .)
to him .)
‘al-
To
To
mal·kā
King
King
’ar·taḥ·šaśt
Artaxerxes ,
Artaxerxes ,
ʿaḇ·ḏå̄yḵ
From your servants ,
From your servants ,
’ĕ·nāš
the men
the men
‘ă·ḇar-
west
west
na·hă·rāh
of the Euphrates
of the Euphrates
ū·ḵə·‘e·neṯ
. . . :
. . . :
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.
le·hĕ·wê
Let it be
Let it be
yə·ḏî·a‘
known
known
lə·mal·kā
to the king
to the king
dî
that
that
yə·hū·ḏā·yê
the Jews
the Jews
dî
who
who
sə·li·qū
came
came
min-
from
from
lə·wā·ṯāḵ
you
you
‘ă·le·nā
to us
to us
’ă·ṯōw
have returned
have returned
lî·rū·šə·lem
to Jerusalem .
to Jerusalem .
bā·na·yin
And they are rebuilding
And they are rebuilding
mā·rā·ḏə·tā
that rebellious
that rebellious
ū·ḇi·yō·šə·tå̄
and wicked
and wicked
qir·yə·ṯā
city ,
city ,
ʾă·šaḵ·lə·lū
restoring
restoring
wə·šū·ray·yå̄
[its] walls ,
[its] walls ,
ya·ḥî·ṭū
and repairing
and repairing
wə·’uš·šay·yā
its foundations .
its foundations .
Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
kə·‘an
Let it now
Let it now
le·hĕ·wê
be
be
yə·ḏî·a‘
known
known
lə·mal·kā
to the king
to the king
dî
that
that
hên
if
if
ḏāḵ
that
that
qir·yə·ṯā
city
city
tiṯ·bə·nê
is rebuilt
is rebuilt
wə·šū·ray·yāh
and its walls
and its walls
yiš·taḵ·lə·lūn
are restored ,
are restored ,
lā
they will not
they will not
yin·tə·nūn
pay
pay
min·dāh-
tribute ,
tribute ,
ḇə·lōw
duty ,
duty ,
wa·hă·lāḵ
or toll ,
or toll ,
mal·ḵîm
and the royal
and the royal
wə·’ap·pə·ṯōm
treasury
treasury
tə·han·ziq
will suffer .
will suffer .
Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king
kə·‘an
Now
Now
kāl-
because
because
qo·ḇêl
dî-
mə·laḥ
mə·laḥ·nā
we are in the service
we are in the service
hê·ḵə·lā
of the palace
of the palace
lā
vvv
vvv
’ărîḵ-
and it is not fitting
and it is not fitting
la·nā
for us
for us
lə·me·ḥĕ·zê
to allow
to allow
‘al-
. . .
. . .
də·nāh
. . .
. . .
mal·kā
the king
the king
wə·‘ar·waṯ
to be dishonored ,
to be dishonored ,
šə·laḥ·nā
we have sent
we have sent
wə·hō·w·ḏa‘·nā
to inform
to inform
lə·mal·kā
the king
the king
that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
dî
that
that
yə·ḇaq·qar
a search should be made
a search should be made
dā·ḵə·rā·nay·yā
of the record
of the record
bis·p̄ar-
books
books
dî
of
of
’ă·ḇā·hā·ṯāḵ
your fathers .
your fathers .
dā·ḵə·rā·nay·yā
[In these]
[In these]
bis·p̄ar
books
books
ū·ṯə·haš·kaḥ
you will discover
you will discover
wə·ṯin·da‘
and verify
and verify
dî
that
that
qir·yə·ṯā
the city
the city
ḏāḵ
mā·rā·ḏā
is a rebellious
is a rebellious
qir·yā
city ,
city ,
ū·mə·han·zə·qaṯ
harmful
harmful
mal·ḵîn
to kings
to kings
ū·mə·ḏi·nān
and provinces ,
and provinces ,
‘ā·ḇə·ḏîn
inciting
inciting
wə·’eš·tad·dūr
sedition
sedition
bə·ḡaw·wah
-
-
min-
from
from
‘ā·lə·mā
ancient
ancient
yō·w·māṯ
times .
times .
‘al-
That is why
That is why
də·nāh
this
this
qir·yə·ṯā
city
city
ḏāḵ
. . .
. . .
hā·ḥā·rə·ḇaṯ
was destroyed .
was destroyed .
We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.
’ă·naḥ·nāh
We
We
mə·hō·wḏ·‘în
advise
advise
lə·mal·kā
the king
the king
dî
that
that
hên
if
if
ḏāḵ
this
this
qir·yə·ṯā
city
city
tiṯ·bə·nê
is rebuilt
is rebuilt
wə·šū·ray·yāh
and its walls
and its walls
yiš·taḵ·lə·lūn
are restored ,
are restored ,
lā·qo·ḇêl
. . .
. . .
də·nāh
. . .
. . .
’î·ṯay
you will have
you will have
lā
no
no
lāḵ
-
-
ḥă·lāq
dominion
dominion
ba·‘ă·ḇar
west
west
na·hă·rā
of the Euphrates .
of the Euphrates .
Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
mal·kā
[Then] the king
[Then] the king
šə·laḥ
sent
sent
piṯ·ḡā·mā
this reply :
this reply :
‘al-
To
To
rə·ḥūm
Rehum
Rehum
bə·‘êl-
the commander
the commander
ṭə·‘êm
. . . ,
. . . ,
wə·šim·šay
Shimshai
Shimshai
sā·p̄ə·rā
the scribe ,
the scribe ,
ū·šə·’ār
and the rest
and the rest
kə·nā·wā·ṯə·hō·wn
of your associates
of your associates
dî
. . .
. . .
yā·ṯə·ḇîn
living
living
bə·šā·mə·rā·yin
in Samaria
in Samaria
ū·šə·’ār
and elsewhere
and elsewhere
‘ă·ḇar-
in the region west
in the region west
na·hă·rāh
of the Euphrates :
of the Euphrates :
šə·lām
Greetings .
Greetings .
ū·ḵə·‘eṯ
. . .
. . .
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.
niš·tə·wā·nā
The letter
The letter
dî
. . .
. . .
šə·laḥ·tūn
you sent
you sent
‘ă·le·nā
us
us
mə·p̄ā·raš
has been translated
has been translated
qĕ·rî
and read
and read
qā·ḏā·māy
in my presence .
in my presence .
I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.
ū·min·nî
vvv
vvv
śîm
I issued
I issued
ṭə·‘êm
a decree ,
a decree ,
ū·ḇaq·qa·rū
and a search was conducted .
and a search was conducted .
wə·haš·ka·ḥū
It was discovered
It was discovered
dî
that
that
ḏāḵ
this
this
min-
. . .
. . .
qir·yə·ṯā
city
city
miṯ·naś·śə·’āh
has revolted
has revolted
‘al-
against
against
mal·ḵîn
kings
kings
‘ā·lə·mā
from ancient
from ancient
yō·w·māṯ
times ,
times ,
ū·mə·raḏ
engaging in rebellion
engaging in rebellion
wə·’eš·tad·dūr
and sedition
and sedition
miṯ·‘ă·ḇeḏ-
. . .
. . .
bah
.
.
And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
taq·qî·p̄în
And mighty
And mighty
hă·wōw
. . .
. . .
ū·mal·ḵîn
kings
kings
‘al-
have ruled over
have ruled over
yə·rū·šə·lem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
wə·šal·lî·ṭîn
and exercised authority
and exercised authority
bə·ḵōl
over the whole
over the whole
‘ă·ḇar
region west
region west
na·hă·rāh
of the Euphrates ;
of the Euphrates ;
ū·mid·dāh
and tribute ,
and tribute ,
ḇə·lōw
duty ,
duty ,
wa·hă·lāḵ
and toll
and toll
miṯ·yə·hêḇ
were paid
were paid
lə·hō·wn
to them .
to them .
Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
kə·‘an
Now, therefore ,
Now, therefore ,
śî·mū
issue
issue
ṭə·‘êm
an order
an order
’il·lêḵ
for these
for these
guḇ·ray·yā
men
men
lə·ḇaṭ·ṭā·lā
to stop ,
to stop ,
ḏāḵ
so that this
so that this
wə·qir·yə·ṯā
city
city
lā
will not
will not
ṯiṯ·bə·nê
be rebuilt
be rebuilt
‘aḏ-
until
until
min·nî
I
I
ṭa‘·mā
so order
so order
yit·tə·śām
. . . .
. . . .
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
ū·zə·hî·rîn
See that you
See that you
hĕ·wōw
. . .
. . .
šā·lū
do not neglect
do not neglect
lə·me‘·baḏ
. . .
. . .
‘al-
. . .
. . .
də·nāh
this matter .
this matter .
lə·māh
Why
Why
ḥă·ḇā·lā
allow this threat
allow this threat
yiś·gê
to increase
to increase
mal·ḵîn
and the royal
and the royal
lə·han·zā·qaṯ
interests to suffer ?
interests to suffer ?
When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
’ĕ·ḏa·yin
When
When
min-
. . .
. . .
dî
. . .
. . .
par·še·ḡen
the text
the text
niš·tə·wā·nā
of the letter
of the letter
dî
mal·kā
from King
from King
ʾar·taḥ·šaś·tå̄
Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes
qĕ·rî
was read
was read
qo·ḏām-
to
to
rə·ḥūm
Rehum ,
Rehum ,
wə·šim·šay
Shimshai
Shimshai
sā·p̄ə·rā
the scribe ,
the scribe ,
ū·ḵə·nā·wā·ṯə·hō·wn
and their associates ,
and their associates ,
’ă·za·lū
they went
they went
ḇiḇ·hî·lū
immediately
immediately
‘al-
to
to
yə·hū·ḏā·yê
the Jews
the Jews
lî·rū·šə·lem
in Jerusalem
in Jerusalem
bə·’eḏ·rā‘
and forcibly
and forcibly
wə·ḥā·yil
. . .
. . .
ū·ḇaṭ·ṭi·lū
stopped
stopped
him·mōw
them .
them .
Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
bê·ḏa·yin
Thus
Thus
‘ă·ḇî·ḏaṯ
the construction
the construction
bêṯ-
of the house
of the house
’ĕ·lā·hā
of God
of God
dî
. . .
. . .
bî·rū·šə·lem
in Jerusalem
in Jerusalem
bə·ṭê·laṯ
ceased ,
ceased ,
wa·hă·wāṯ
and it remained
and it remained
bā·ṭə·lā
at a standstill
at a standstill
‘aḏ
until
until
tar·tên
the second
the second
šə·naṯ
year
year
lə·mal·ḵūṯ
of the reign
of the reign
dā·rə·yā·weš
of Darius
of Darius
me·leḵ-
king
king
pā·rās
of Persia .
of Persia .