In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that even official correspondence was meticulously crafted, written in Aramaic and then "interpreted" (or translated) within the same Aramaic language. This suggests a deliberate, perhaps even formal, effort to ensure their message was communicated precisely and unambiguously to the Persian king.
In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After detailing how the Samaritans initially hindered the Temple's construction during Cyrus's reign and continued their opposition through Xerxes, Ezra now describes another attempt under King Artaxerxes. This verse introduces a group, including Bishlam and Mithredath, who wrote a letter to Artaxerxes accusing the Jews, with the correspondence conducted in Aramaic, the common language of administration in the region. This sets the stage for the king's eventual decree, which would halt the building project once more.
Why would an official letter be written in one language and then 'interpreted' in the same one? It reveals more than just a translation.
Ezra 4:7 tells us the letter was written in the 'Syrian tongue' and 'interpreted' in the 'Syrian tongue.' This phrasing might seem odd at first glance, but it points to the linguistic landscape of the ancient Near East.
A Lingua Franca
The 'Syrian tongue,' often understood as Aramaic, had become the common language of diplomacy, trade, and administration throughout the Persian Empire. It wasn't just a local dialect; it was the equivalent of English today in international relations.
Character vs. Language
The text likely means the letter was written using Aramaic characters and then expressed in the Aramaic language. Sometimes, official communications might be written in the script of one language but articulated in another, or vice-versa. In this case, both the script and the language were Aramaic, highlighting its official status in the Persian administration. This shows how deeply ingrained Aramaic was in the functioning of the empire, even for correspondence concerning a distant province like Judah.
The name 'Artaxerxes' appears multiple times, but pinpointing which Artaxerxes makes a big difference in understanding the timeline of opposition.
The identity of 'Artaxerxes' in Ezra 4:7 is crucial for understanding the historical flow of opposition to the rebuilding efforts.
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Multiple Monarchs, One Name
'Artaxerxes' was a regnal name, meaning several Persian kings could be referred to by this title. Commentators debate whether this Artaxerxes is the same as the one mentioned later in Ezra (Ezra 7:1) and Nehemiah, or if it refers to an earlier king, possibly even a usurper like Pseudo-Smerdis, who reigned briefly.
Impact on the Narrative
If this is an earlier Artaxerxes, the opposition detailed here happens before the Temple is completed and before Nehemiah rebuilds the walls. If it's the later Artaxerxes (Longimanus), it aligns more closely with Nehemiah's account and the rebuilding of the city walls. The verse, by simply stating 'in the days of Artaxerxes,' allows for this ambiguity, reflecting the compiler's focus on types of opposition rather than a strict, always-clear chronological order.
Understand the original words
melek · Hebrew Noun
A sovereign ruler or monarch, specifically used here for Persian kings. Biblically, the title implies supreme authority over a specific realm and its subjects.
arami · Aramaic Noun/Adjective
A Semitic language that served as the lingua franca of the Ancient Near East during the Persian period; it was the diplomatic and administrative language of the empire.
This verse highlights the complex political landscape of the Persian Empire, where official correspondence was conducted in Aramaic, the lingua franca of the region, reflecting the diverse and multilingual nature of the empire.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great allows Jewish return
After the Babylonian exile, Persian King Cyrus the Great issues a decree permitting the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, marking the beginning of the Second Temple period.
c. 529 BC
Death of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus's death leads to a period of succession and consolidation under his son Cambyses II, during which the Samaritans begin their opposition to the Temple rebuilding.
c. 522 BC
Reign of Pseudo-Smerdis (Gomates)
A Magian priest named Gomates usurps the throne, posing as Smerdis, Cyrus's son. His brief and turbulent reign likely saw renewed opposition to the Jewish work, though records are unclear.
c. 486-465 BC
Reign of Xerxes I
Known as Ahasuerus in Ezra 4:6, Xerxes' reign saw continued challenges for the returning Jews, though the focus of this specific opposition might have been more general unrest.
465-424 BC— this verse
Reign of Artaxerxes I Longimanus
This Artaxerxes is a key figure in the post-exilic period. The Jewish returnees and their opponents faced periods of both progress and significant setbacks during his long reign.
This passage describes the vast empire of Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus), the same period mentioned in Ezra 4:6, highlighting the political landscape where such official correspondence and accusations could occur.
Daniel 2:4This verse shows the use of Aramaic (Syrian tongue) in official communications with the Babylonian and Persian empires, providing context for why the letter in Ezra was written in this language.
Nehemiah 2:7This passage illustrates a similar situation where Nehemiah requests permission from Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem, showing a recurring pattern of petitions and official responses during the Persian rule.
Isaiah 7:6This verse mentions a plot against Judah by the 'kingdom of Syria' (Aram), demonstrating a historical precedent of conflict and animosity between the Arameans (Syrians) and the people of Judah, which fuels the accusations in Ezra.
gillEzra 4:7: "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."
And in the days of Artaxerxes,.... The same with Ahasuerus, in the preceding verse; and who also is Cambyses, which is his name in Heathen authors, Artaxerxes being a common name to the kings of Persia; though some (f) think this was Smerdis, the magicia…
clarkeEzra 4:7: "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."
In the days of Artaxerxes - After the death of Cambyses, one of the Magi named Oropaestus by Trogus Pompeius, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by Aeschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias, usurped the empire, feigning himself to be Smerdis, the brother of Camby…
This verse highlights that even official correspondence was meticulously crafted, written in Aramaic and then "interpreted" (or translated) within the same Aramaic language. This suggests a deliberate, perhaps even formal, effort to ensure their message was communicated precisely and unambiguously to the Persian king.
After detailing how the Samaritans initially hindered the Temple's construction during Cyrus's reign and continued their opposition through Xerxes, Ezra now describes another attempt under King Artaxerxes. This verse introduces a group, including Bishlam and Mithredath, who wrote a letter to Artaxerxes accusing the Jews, with the correspondence conducted in Aramaic, the common language of administration in the region. This sets the stage for the king's eventual decree, which would halt the building project once more.
After detailing how the Samaritans initially hindered the Temple's construction during Cyrus's reign and continued their opposition through Xerxes, Ezra now describes another attempt under King Artaxerxes. This verse introduces a group, including Bishlam and Mithredath, who wrote a letter to Artaxerxes accusing the Jews, with the correspondence conducted in Aramaic, the common language of administration in the region. This sets the stage for the king's eventual decree, which would halt the building project once more.
"In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated." — This verse highlights that even official correspondence was meticulously crafted, written in Aramaic and then "interpreted" (or translated) within the same Aramaic language. This suggests a deliberat…
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Last reviewed October 2026