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Ezra 4
Ezra 4:1
General Information:
The non-Jewish people offer to help build the temple.
who had been exiled
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "whom the Babylonians had taken into exile" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezra 4:2
Zerubbabel
This is a man's name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:2. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Esarhaddon, king of Assyria
He ruled in Assyria before Cyrus ruled in Persia. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Ezra 4:3
Jeshua
This is a man's name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:6.
It is not you, but we who must build
Possible meanings are 1) the Jewish leader felt that Cyrus had authorized only them to build the temple or 2) building the temple was the exclusive work of the Jews and no non-Jew would be permitted to contribute to the work.
Ezra 4:4
the people of the land
"the people who were living in the land at that time," which could include non-Jews and Jews whose families the Babylonians had not taken into exile
made the Judeans' hands weak
This speaks of the people of the land discouraging the Judeans as if they made their hands physically weak. Alternate translation: "discouraged the Judeans" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Judeans
people who returned from Babylon and settled in the land of Judah
Ezra 4:5
to frustrate their plans
"to make it so the Judeans could not build the temple as they had planned"
Ezra 4:6
wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem
The abstract nouns "accusation" can be translated as a verb "accuse." You may need to make explicit what the enemies accused the Judeans of doing. Alternate translation: "wrote a letter in which they accused those who lived in Judah and Jerusalem of disobeying the king" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Ezra 4:7
Bishlam ... Mithredath ... Tabeel
names of men (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
The letter
This is the letter spoken of in Ezra 4:6.
Aramaic
the language used in that area at the time for official business
translated
into Persian
Ezra 4:8
Shimshai
This is a man's name. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Rehum
This is a man's name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:1.
Ezra 4:9
Erech ... Susa
names of cities (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Ezra 4:10
Ashurbanipal
This is a name of a man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
the Province Beyond the River
This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Ezra 4:11
This is a copy
Ezra includes in his writing the content of the letter sent to King Artaxerxes.
the Province Beyond the River
This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Ezra 4:12
a rebellious city
The city is a metonym for the people who live in it. Alternate translation: "a city that they plan to live in and rebel against you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
repaired the foundations
"fixed the foundations" or "mended the foundations"
Ezra 4:13
if this city is built and the wall is completed
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "if they build the city and complete the wall" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
but they will harm the kings
The word "harm" refers to the Judeans no longer giving money to the kings.
Ezra 4:14
we have eaten the palace salt
Possible meanings are that this refers to 1) the writers being loyal to the king or 2) the king giving the writers special honors. Alternate translation: "we are loyal to you" or "you have honored us by making us your officials" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezra 4:15
a rebellious city
The city is a metonym for the people who live in it. Alternate translation: "a city in which live people who have rebelled against your father" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
the city was destroyed
This can be translated in active form, in which case you will need to make explicit who destroyed the city. The "city" represents the people who live in it. Alternate translation: "the Babylonians destroyed the city" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezra 4:16
if this city and wall are built
This can be translated in active form. See how you translated these words in Ezra 4:13. Alternate translation: "if they build the city and wall" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
there will be nothing remaining for you
Here "nothing" is an exaggeration to make the king think that he will be losing much tax money if the Judeans rebel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
the Province Beyond the River
This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Ezra 4:17
the Province Beyond the River
This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Rehum
This is a man's name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:2.
Shimshai
This is a man's name. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:8.
the River
the Euphrates River
Ezra 4:18
The letter that you sent me has been translated and read
This can be translated in active form, in which case you will need to make explicit who translated and read the letter to the king. Alternate translation: "I have had my servants translate and read the letter that you sent to me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezra 4:19
General Information:
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Ezra 4:20
the Province Beyond the River
This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Tribute and taxes were paid to them
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "The people in Jerusalem paid tribute and taxes to those kings" or "Those kings were able to collect tribute and taxes" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezra 4:21
make a decree
"make a law"
Ezra 4:22
Be careful not to neglect this
The litotes "not to neglect" is an understatement to emphasize that the writers want Artaxerxes to do what they tell him to do. Alternate translation: "Be careful to do this" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-litotes)
Why allow this threat to grow and cause more loss for the royal interests?
Artaxerxes uses a question to tell them that he understands that he will lose taxes and honor if the city is built. Alternate translation: "You must make sure that this threat does not grow and cause more loss for the royal interests." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
threat to grow
Danger is spoken of as if it were a plant that could increase in size. Alternate translation: "danger to become worse" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
cause more loss for the royal interests
The words "the royal interests" are a metonym for the king himself. Alternate translation: "cause more bad things to happen to the kings" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezra 4:23
King Artaxerxes's decree was read
This can be translated in active form, in which case you will need to make explicit who read the decree from the king to the officials. Alternate translation: "The messengers from King Artaxerxes read his decree" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Rehum
See how you translated this in Ezra 2:1.
Shimshai
See how you translated this in Ezra 4:7.
Ezra 4:24
the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius
This delay lasted about 16 years.