Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
Now because we receive our living from the king's palace, and it would not be right for us to see the king dishonored, we have sent this message to inform the king;
The writers are telling the king that because he supports them, they feel obligated to warn him about something that might harm his reputation or authority.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Ezra, chapter 4, the Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon and were facing opposition while attempting to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem under Persian rule. The adversaries, likely Samaritans or other local groups loyal to the Persian king, wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes to demonstrate their allegiance and warn him of potential threats from the Jews. They referenced their dependence on the king's resources as a motive for reporting any actions that could dishonor him, aiming to protect their own interests.
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