Bible Strands
Ezra 4:9
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,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text lists the signatories of a written petition addressed to King Artaxerxes, naming Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates. This occurs during a moment of administrative correspondence aimed at halting Jerusalem's rebuilding efforts.
The words — The Hebrew אֱדַ֜יִן ('e.Da.yin) literally means "then," marking the chronological shift into the letter's official header. בְּעֵל־טְעֵם (be.'el-te.'Em) translates to "lord of command," a title applied to Rehum that underscores his administrative authority over the listed provinces.
The thread — The letter's signatories and their provincial jurisdictions reappear in Ezra 5:6 and Ezra 6:6, where Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai are named as regional governors. The pattern of foreign populations settled by imperial decree echoes the colonization recorded in 2 Kings 17:24.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize how administrative networks and deported populations were mobilized to obstruct religious restoration. It demands attention to the precise chains of authority that opposed the returnees' work.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
Cross-references
- Ezra 5:6 This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.
- Ezra 6:6 Therefore Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!
- 2 Kings 17:24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.
- 2 Kings 17:30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
- Genesis 10:22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
- Esther 1:2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
- Esther 2:3 and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.
- Isaiah 21:2 A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”
- Jeremiah 25:25 all the kings of Zimri, Elam, and Media;
- Jeremiah 49:34 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah.