That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
Search through the official records of your ancestors, and you will discover in those records that this city has always been rebellious and harmful to kings and provinces. You'll find that the people have stirred up trouble and revolt from ancient times, which is why this city was destroyed in the first place.
The enemies of Jerusalem are telling the Persian king to check historical records, claiming they will prove Jerusalem has always been a troublesome, rebellious city that threatens rulers.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a letter written by local enemies of the Jews to King Artaxerxes of Persia around 458 BC. They were trying to stop the Jews from rebuilding Jerusalem after their return from Babylonian exile. The enemies were referencing Jerusalem's past conflicts with various empires, including the Babylonian conquest that had destroyed the city and led to the exile.
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