Ezra 4:12

10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.

11 (This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring 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 restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

14 Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.
KJV
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.
WEB
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations.
ASV
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.
DARBY
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from thee unto us have come to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and they complete the walls and join up the foundations.
BLB
be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem; the rebellious and wicked city they are building, and [its] walls they are finishing, and the foundations they are repairing.
ÅB
Det være kongen vitterlig at jødene som dro bort fra det sted hvor du bor, er kommet hit til oss, til Jerusalem, og nå holder på å bygge opp igjen den opprørske og onde by og fullføre murene og utbedre grunnvollene.
OTB
la det bli kjent for kongen at jødene som kom opp fra deg har kommet til oss i Jerusalem; de gjenoppbygger den opprørske og onde byen, og fullfører murene og reparerer fundamentene.
B1930
Det være kongen vitterlig at jødene som drog bort fra det sted hvor du bor, er kommet hit til oss, til Jerusalem, og nu holder på å bygge op igjen den oprørske og onde by og fullføre murene og utbedre grunnvollene.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Chronicles 36:13

    He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.

    Read in context
  • Ezra 5:3

    At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

    Read in context
  • Ezra 5:9

    So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 48:1–2

    Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

    Read in context
  • Ezra 4:19

    I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.

    Read in context
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:22

    Abstain from every form of evil.

    Read in context
  • Luke 13:34

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 18:20

    You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

    Read in context