Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
Then Rehum the governor and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter, along with the rest of their associates: the people from Dina, Apharsathca, Tarpel, Apharsa, Archeva, Babylon, Shushan, Dehava, and Elam.
This verse lists the various government officials and ethnic groups who joined together to write a complaint letter against the Jewish people rebuilding Jerusalem.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Ezra, the Jewish people had returned from exile in Babylon and were attempting to rebuild the temple and walls in Jerusalem under Persian rule. Local inhabitants, who were descendants of people resettled by previous empires, felt threatened by this and actively opposed the efforts by writing letters to the Persian authorities. The verse specifically lists the names of these opponents, including various ethnic groups, to highlight the diverse coalition against the Jewish restoration.
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