Ezr 4:7-24. LETTER TO ARTAXERXES.
7. in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, &c.--The three officers
named are supposed to have been deputy governors appointed by the king
of Persia over all the provinces subject to his empire west of the
Euphrates.
the Syrian tongue--or Aramæan language, called sometimes in our
version, Chaldee. This was made use of by the Persians in their decrees
and communications relative to the Jews (compare
2Ki 18:26;
Isa 36:11).
The object of their letter was to press upon the royal notice the
inexpediency and danger of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. They
labored hard to prejudice the king's mind against that measure.
JFB.
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