Ezra 4 15

Ezra 4:15 kjv

That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

Ezra 4:15 nkjv

that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed.

Ezra 4:15 niv

so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed.

Ezra 4:15 esv

in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste.

Ezra 4:15 nlt

We suggest that a search be made in your ancestors' records, where you will discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past. In fact, it was destroyed because of its long and troublesome history of revolt against the kings and countries who controlled it.

Ezra 4 verses

Ezra 4 15 Meaning

This verse details the accusation leveled against Jerusalem by its adversaries, arguing for its past as a persistently rebellious and destructive city, which has a long history of sedition against kings and provinces. The accusers advise King Artaxerxes to consult imperial historical records to confirm these claims, asserting that such evidence will validate their argument for stopping the city's reconstruction.

Ezra 4 15 Context

Ezra 4 details the opposition faced by the returned exiles in Jerusalem as they sought to rebuild the Temple and city. Following an earlier refusal by Zerubbabel and Joshua to allow their adversaries (local Samaritans and other peoples) to participate in the rebuilding, these adversaries mounted a concerted effort to halt the work. Verses 8-16 describe a letter sent by Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the scribe, along with others, to King Artaxerxes I. Their letter is written in Aramaic (the administrative language of the Persian Empire), which spans from Ezra 4:8 to 6:18, reflecting its official nature. This specific verse (4:15) is part of their cunning argument to the king. They attempt to manipulate the king by appealing to historical precedent and imperial records, suggesting that Jerusalem's reconstruction poses a direct threat to the stability and revenue of the Persian Empire, leveraging fears of rebellion that historically troubled the region.

Ezra 4 15 Word analysis

• that search may be made (וְיִתְבַּקַּר, wə·yit·baq·qar): Aramaic for "and let search be made." This term implies an official and thorough investigation. It emphasizes the request for the king to use his authoritative power to verify the claims through existing royal records. It's a strategic move by the adversaries, feigning objectivity while directing the king to evidence they believe supports their biased agenda.
• in the book of the records (בְּסֵפֶר דּוּכְרָנַיָּא, bə·sê·p̄er duḵ·rā·nay·yāʾ): This is a crucial phrase.
  • book (sēper): Refers to a scroll or official document.
  • of the records (dûḵrāna(yā)): Derived from the Aramaic root dkar, "to remember, to mention." This signifies imperial chronicles, memoirs, or annals – official historical documents kept in the royal archives. These archives were well-organized and crucial for Persian administration and policy-making. The adversaries knew such records existed and likely contained information on past Judean rebellions, particularly the later periods of the kingdom of Judah.
• of your fathers (אֲבָהָתָךְ, ʾă·ḇā·hā·ṯāḵ): Refers to the predecessors of Artaxerxes I, i.e., previous Persian kings like Cyrus I, Darius I, Xerxes I. This appeals to dynastic authority and precedent, implying that if past kings faced issues, the current king should too be vigilant.
• and you will find (וּתְהַשְׁכַּח, u·ṯə·haš·kaḵ): Aramaic for "and you will find." This is presented as an assured outcome, suggesting the evidence is clear and undeniable.
• this city is a rebellious city (קִרְיְתָא דָּא קִרְיָא מָרָדָא, qir·yə·ṯāʾ dāʾ qir·yāʾ mā·rā·ḏāʾ): A very strong accusation.
  • rebellious (mārāḏāʾ): Means rebellious, unsubmissive, in opposition to authority. This term indicates a serious crime against the empire, punishable by severe measures. The adversaries paint Jerusalem not just as having a history of rebellion, but being by nature "a rebellious city."
• and harmful to kings (וּמַזִּקַת לִמְלָכִין, ū·maz·ziqqaṯ liḵ·lā·ḵīn): From nāzaq, meaning to injure, hurt, damage. This goes beyond mere disobedience to actively causing detriment and loss, particularly economic, to the kings and the empire. It implies an ongoing threat.
• and provinces (וּמְדִינָת, ū·mə·ḏīnāṯ): Not just damaging to the central authority, but also disruptive to surrounding administrative regions, implying regional instability and financial loss due to rebellion and conflict.
• and that sedition has been made in it (וְהִתְגָּרוּת עַבְדוּ בִגְוַהּ, wə·hiṯ·gārūṯ ʿab·ḏū ḇiḡ·wāh):
  • sedition (hiṯgārūṯ): Refers to incitement to revolt, provocation, insurrection, open hostility. This word denotes direct, organized uprising.
  • has been made in it: Accuses the inhabitants of active revolutionary activity.
• of old (מִן יוֹמָת עָלְמָא, min yō·māṯ ʿāl·māʾ): Literally "from days of eternity" or "from ancient times." This phrase emphasizes the deep historical roots of Jerusalem's alleged rebellious character, painting it as an enduring problem, not just an isolated incident. This is designed to suggest that stopping the rebuilding is a permanent necessity.

Ezra 4 15 Bonus section

The efficiency and comprehensiveness of the Persian imperial record-keeping system are well-documented by ancient historians, making the adversaries' appeal to the royal archives a very believable and practical demand to King Artaxerxes. These records would have included chronicles of revolts, administrative summaries of tribute, and correspondence concerning various regions. While Jerusalem had indeed rebelled against previous powers (e.g., against Babylon under Zedekiah), the adversaries' claim extends this history to imply an inherent, perpetual character of rebellion against any foreign overlord, including Persia. They carefully frame their accusation in terms of fiscal loss and instability ("harmful to kings and provinces"), touching upon Artaxerxes' primary concerns: maintaining peace, control, and maximizing tribute from his vast empire. The irony is that the king's search in his fathers' records eventually leads to the finding of Cyrus's decree in Ezra 6, ultimately turning the adversaries' own suggested method of investigation against them and validating the rebuilding efforts.

Ezra 4 15 Commentary

Ezra 4:15 is the critical thrust of the letter from Jerusalem's adversaries, leveraging the known administrative meticulousness of the Persian Empire. By requesting a search of imperial archives, they present themselves as credible informants seeking truth, while cleverly directing the king to selective historical evidence that supports their biased narrative. Their portrayal of Jerusalem as inherently "rebellious," "harmful," and consistently engaged in "sedition from of old" is a masterclass in politically motivated slander. They twist historical fact (Judah did rebel against Babylon, the preceding imperial power) into a justification for halting the benevolent decree of Cyrus, applying past misdeeds to a people currently focused on religious reconstruction and under a different imperial system. This verse highlights the consistent tactic of Satan and his agents to oppose God's work by casting doubt, fabricating accusations, and appealing to secular power with half-truths that exploit earthly rulers' fears for their stability and revenue. This strategic maneuver eventually led King Artaxerxes to issue a decree to stop the work, temporarily hindering God's purpose for Jerusalem until divine intervention brought it back into favor. The "search" they advocate for is not a neutral investigation, but a fishing expedition for condemnatory evidence to reinforce their desired outcome.