And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
During the time when Artaxerxes was king, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their associates wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated into Aramaic.
This verse describes how local officials wrote a formal complaint letter to the Persian king in the official government language of that time.
📚 Historical Context
During the Persian Empire's rule after the Babylonian exile, Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, but they faced strong opposition from neighboring groups. These opponents wrote letters to Persian kings like Artaxerxes to stop the reconstruction efforts, reflecting the political tensions and cultural conflicts of the time. This verse specifically highlights a letter written in Aramaic, the common administrative language, which underscores the use of official channels to influence imperial decisions.
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