Ezra 5:17
15 and instructed, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.’
16 So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”
Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
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
- Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
- KJV
- Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
- WEB
- Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”
- ASV
- Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king`s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
- DARBY
- And now, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that orders were given by king Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
- BLB
- And now if [it is] good to the king, let a search be made in the house of the treasure of the king that [is] there in Babylon, whether it is that by King Cyrus a decree was issued to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and let us send the will of the king concerning this.
- ÅB
- Dersom nå kongen så synes, så la det bli gransket i kongens skattkammer der i Babel om det er så at kong Kyros har gitt befaling til å bygge dette Guds hus i Jerusalem, og kongen la oss så få vite hva som er hans vilje i denne sak!
[^1]: Tatnai o.s.v. ESR 5, 3. - OTB
- Derfor, hvis det behager kongen, la det bli gjennomført en søk i de kongelige arkivene der i Babylon for å fastslå om en forordning virkelig ble utstedt av kong Kyros for å gjenoppbygge dette Guds hus i Jerusalem; og la kongen sende oss sin beslutning angående denne saken.”
- B1930
- Dersom nu kongen så synes, så la det bli gransket i kongens skattkammer der i Babel om det er så at kong Kyros har gitt befaling til å bygge dette Guds hus i Jerusalem, og kongen la oss så få vite hvad som er hans vilje i denne sak!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ezra 4:15
that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
Read in contextEzra 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 contextProverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
Read in contextEzra 6:1–5
Thus King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon.
Read in context