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Ezra 4:11-16 King James Version (KJV)
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
15 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.
16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
Ezra 4:11-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 This is the text of the letter they sent to him:
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the region west of the Euphrates River:
12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax, and the royal revenue will suffer. 14 Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king, and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king 15 that a search should be made in your fathers’ record books. In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
These are my thoughts, please share yours.
11 These men who wrote this letter to the king were people trying to stop God’s people from doing what the Lord wanted them to do, they were trouble makers looking to there highest authority when the Israelites highest authority was God.
12 This city was being rebuilt to bring glory back to the Lord, this was not evil but the people change their words to get aid from the king, people may lie about us to prevent us from doing the Lord’s will.
13 Taxes were important, this could have been a possibility but it would have broken the peace with that kingdom and cause more trouble.
14 An oath to the king while as Christians we are to follow the law of the land and the rulers of it, we are not to do this when it goes against the Lord, Israel had a respect for the king but God was first in their eyes as He should be with us as well.
15 The true reason why the city was destroyed was because of them no longer following after God and Him allowing judgment to come their way. People of the world are going to have their own view on things that takes the power and influence of the Lord out of it, we as Christians are to stay on the truth regardless of how the world sees things.
16 The only area that might be taken would be Israel and not the entire west of the Euphrates.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
15 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.
16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
Ezra 4:11-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 This is the text of the letter they sent to him:
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the region west of the Euphrates River:
12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax, and the royal revenue will suffer. 14 Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king, and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king 15 that a search should be made in your fathers’ record books. In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
These are my thoughts, please share yours.
11 These men who wrote this letter to the king were people trying to stop God’s people from doing what the Lord wanted them to do, they were trouble makers looking to there highest authority when the Israelites highest authority was God.
12 This city was being rebuilt to bring glory back to the Lord, this was not evil but the people change their words to get aid from the king, people may lie about us to prevent us from doing the Lord’s will.
13 Taxes were important, this could have been a possibility but it would have broken the peace with that kingdom and cause more trouble.
14 An oath to the king while as Christians we are to follow the law of the land and the rulers of it, we are not to do this when it goes against the Lord, Israel had a respect for the king but God was first in their eyes as He should be with us as well.
15 The true reason why the city was destroyed was because of them no longer following after God and Him allowing judgment to come their way. People of the world are going to have their own view on things that takes the power and influence of the Lord out of it, we as Christians are to stay on the truth regardless of how the world sees things.
16 The only area that might be taken would be Israel and not the entire west of the Euphrates.