This verse demonstrates how intense opposition formed against God’s people during their restoration efforts.
“Then wrote Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues, the judges and the lesser governors, the officials, the secretaries, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites,” (v.9). This verse describes a group of Persian-appointed provincial authorities and other dignitaries aligned against the rebuilding efforts of the returning Jewish exiles in Jerusalem. Rehum was the chief official (“the commander”), and Shimshai served alongside him, functioning as his scribe. Both of them, as part of the Persian administration, represent the opposition that took active steps to hinder the reconstruction of the temple, marking a significant obstacle for the exiles who had returned under the decree of King Cyrus around 538 BC. They wrote a letter to the Persian king to discourage further progress, demonstrating how local powers tried to prevent the Jewish people from restoring their place of worship.
In this verse, several locations stand out. Erech (sometimes spelled Uruk), known from ancient Mesopotamian records, was an influential city in lower Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) and had a rich cultural history dating back to at least the fourth millennium BC. Susa, also mentioned here, was a prominent city in southwestern Iran that served as a major capital of the Persian Empire. Notable Persian kings, such as Darius I (522-486 BC) and Xerxes I (486-465 BC), used Susa for administrative purposes and as a royal residence. The Elamites, also referenced, were originally from the ancient kingdom of Elam, whose territories lay primarily in what is now southwestern Iran. By the time of Ezra, the Persian Empire had absorbed these regions, reflecting how widespread the empire’s authority was.
The mention of various officials and cites from across the empire highlights the far-reaching powers that opposed the Jews. It also signals how the post-exilic community in Jerusalem was tested in their faith and perseverance. The adversity from local governors in a vast Persian territory parallels many biblical themes of God’s people facing external pressure and finding deliverance. Jesus later taught that God’s kingdom would face opposition in the world (John 16:33), yet believers can persevere in faith, believing that God ultimately guides His purposes to completion.
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Ezra 4:9 meaning
“Then wrote Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues, the judges and the lesser governors, the officials, the secretaries, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites,” (v.9). This verse describes a group of Persian-appointed provincial authorities and other dignitaries aligned against the rebuilding efforts of the returning Jewish exiles in Jerusalem. Rehum was the chief official (“the commander”), and Shimshai served alongside him, functioning as his scribe. Both of them, as part of the Persian administration, represent the opposition that took active steps to hinder the reconstruction of the temple, marking a significant obstacle for the exiles who had returned under the decree of King Cyrus around 538 BC. They wrote a letter to the Persian king to discourage further progress, demonstrating how local powers tried to prevent the Jewish people from restoring their place of worship.
In this verse, several locations stand out. Erech (sometimes spelled Uruk), known from ancient Mesopotamian records, was an influential city in lower Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) and had a rich cultural history dating back to at least the fourth millennium BC. Susa, also mentioned here, was a prominent city in southwestern Iran that served as a major capital of the Persian Empire. Notable Persian kings, such as Darius I (522-486 BC) and Xerxes I (486-465 BC), used Susa for administrative purposes and as a royal residence. The Elamites, also referenced, were originally from the ancient kingdom of Elam, whose territories lay primarily in what is now southwestern Iran. By the time of Ezra, the Persian Empire had absorbed these regions, reflecting how widespread the empire’s authority was.
The mention of various officials and cites from across the empire highlights the far-reaching powers that opposed the Jews. It also signals how the post-exilic community in Jerusalem was tested in their faith and perseverance. The adversity from local governors in a vast Persian territory parallels many biblical themes of God’s people facing external pressure and finding deliverance. Jesus later taught that God’s kingdom would face opposition in the world (John 16:33), yet believers can persevere in faith, believing that God ultimately guides His purposes to completion.