Ezra 4 22

Ezra 4:22 kjv

Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

Ezra 4:22 nkjv

Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?

Ezra 4:22 niv

Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?

Ezra 4:22 esv

And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?"

Ezra 4:22 nlt

Be diligent, and don't neglect this matter, for we must not permit the situation to harm the king's interests."

Ezra 4 verses

Ezra 4 22 Meaning

Ezra 4:22 presents King Artaxerxes' urgent decree to his officials, Rehum and Shimshai, strictly admonishing them against any negligence in enforcing the order to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The rhetorical question, "why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?" serves as a powerful justification and warning, implying that any failure to halt the work would result in significant detriment, likely financial or political, to the royal treasury and authority. The king demands immediate and diligent compliance to protect his sovereign interests.

Ezra 4 22 Context

Ezra 4 details the relentless opposition faced by the returned Jewish exiles attempting to rebuild their Temple and, as context shifts in this chapter, the walls of Jerusalem. The adversaries, consisting of local peoples and officials, wrote an accusatory letter to King Artaxerxes I (who ruled much later than Darius, referenced in Ezra 5-6), claiming that the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls would lead to rebellion and loss of tribute for the Persian empire. The king's advisors, likely influenced by the historical context of Jewish rebellions, advised against the construction. King Artaxerxes, acting on this information, issues a direct decree halting the work. Verse 22 is part of this royal rescript, serving as a severe personal instruction from the king to Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe, who are responsible for executing the decree. It underscores the urgency and strictness of the king's command, warning his officials against any negligence that might lead to further harm to the kingdom. This injunction effectively stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls until Nehemiah's time, approximately 20 years later.

Ezra 4 22 Word analysis

• And take heed / וּזְהִירִין (u-zehirin): Aramaic. Literally "and be careful" or "and be vigilant." It’s an active imperative, demanding close attention and watchfulness from the officials. The root suggests alertness, signifying that this matter requires their utmost focus to prevent errors or omissions.
• that you fail not / דִּי לָא תֶהֱו‍ֹן שָׁלִין (di la te-he-von shalin): Aramaic. "that not you be negligent/slack." This is a double negative structure emphasizing absolute prohibition of negligence. The word shalin means to "relax," "be remiss," or "neglect." This phrasing reveals the king's specific concern about laxity or delay on the part of his administrators.
• to do this / בָּזֶה (ba-zeh): Aramaic. "in this (matter)." Refers directly to the specific royal decree just issued: to cause the cessation of building activities in Jerusalem. This precision highlights the specific nature of their immediate duty.
• why should / מָה דֵּן (mah den): Aramaic. A rhetorical question implying "By no means should" or "It is unthinkable that." It underscores the unacceptability of the outcome that would follow from their negligence.
• damage / נִזְקָא (nizka): Aramaic. Also derived from Hebrew nezeq. It means "damage," "injury," "loss," "detriment," often referring to financial loss or administrative impairment. This is a core concern for the king, viewing Jerusalem's rebuilding as an economic and political threat.
• grow / יִסְגֵּא (yisge): Aramaic. "increase," "become great." It signifies escalation, meaning the damage would not remain static but would intensify over time if not acted upon immediately. This suggests the king perceived a growing threat.
• to the hurt of the kings / לְכֻרְסָן מַלְכָא (le-khursan malkâ): Aramaic. Literally "to the wound/loss of the king." Khursan is "hurt," "loss," "damage," confirming the adverse impact. While some translations say "kings," malkâ is singular. The original Aramaic often uses "king" as representative of the institution of kingship, hence affecting "the throne" or "the monarchy." This illustrates the king's preoccupation with his own, and by extension, the empire’s, stability and treasury.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• וּזְהִירִין דִּי לָא תֶהֱו‍ֹן שָׁלִין בָּזֶה (And take heed that you fail not to do this): This phrase is a stern, non-negotiable command, conveying the king's absolute intolerance for any laxity. It functions as a direct administrative imperative, placing full responsibility for enforcement squarely on Rehum and Shimshai. The double negation creates an intense emphasis on strict compliance.
• מָה דֵּן יִסְגֵּא נִזְקָא לְכֻרְסָן מַלְכָא (Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?): This rhetorical question highlights the severe implications of failure to comply. It appeals to the officials' understanding of their duty to protect the king's interests and treasury. It implies that to allow the work to continue would be illogical and detrimental to the crown, thus providing a compelling reason for immediate action and severe consequences for dereliction of duty.

Ezra 4 22 Bonus section

• Aramaic as Official Language: This verse is part of the section of Ezra (4:8-6:18) written in Imperial Aramaic, indicating that these were authentic royal and administrative documents or accurate records derived from them. This lends historical veracity to the events.
• Shifting Royal Policy: This decree from Artaxerxes I (465-424 BC) is significant as it strictly prohibited the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, contrasting sharply with the earlier decrees from Cyrus and Darius for the Temple and the later, favorable decree from Artaxerxes himself to Nehemiah (445 BC) allowing wall construction. This illustrates the dynamic nature of imperial policy and ultimately God's sovereign control over the hearts of kings.
• Nature of "Damage": The "damage" or "hurt" could refer to a loss of potential tribute from a defiant province, a drain on royal resources if military intervention was needed, or a symbolic loss of authority and control by allowing a historically rebellious city to fortify itself. It emphasizes a secular, political, and economic view of the matter from the Persian perspective.

Ezra 4 22 Commentary

Ezra 4:22 serves as a pivotal point in the post-exilic history of Judah, encapsulating the stringent authority of a Persian monarch. King Artaxerxes’ command underscores the prevailing perception that Jerusalem's rebuilding was a security risk and an economic liability to the empire, likely fueled by the strategic manipulation of the Jewish adversaries. The verse not only expresses royal will but also mandates diligent execution, highlighting that a king's word carries immediate and binding weight. The warning against "damage" indicates a pragmatic concern for the stability and profitability of the vast Persian Empire, emphasizing the economic and political stakes for the ruling power. This temporary success of the adversaries showcases how human authority and worldly fears could, for a season, impede God's purposes, reminding believers that even divine plans can face significant worldly opposition before their ultimate fulfillment.