Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The impressive list of names isn't just a historical catalog; it reveals the Samaritans were presenting themselves as a powerful, multi-ethnic coalition, united against the returning Jews. This deliberate display of diverse origins underscored their established presence and influence in the land.
Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people of Samaria, along with their various associates from different conquered regions, have written a formal letter to King Artaxerxes of Persia. This letter is intended to accuse the returned Jewish exiles and hinder their rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem, framing them as a threat to the king's authority. The verse lists the specific groups and their leaders who signed onto this official complaint against the Jews.
Why does Ezra list so many unfamiliar names here? It wasn't just a small group, but a coalition of peoples.
This verse introduces the opposition that tried to stop the rebuilding of the Temple. What's fascinating is that the leaders of this opposition (Rehum and Shimshai) identify themselves and their associates not by one name, but by a long list of origins.
A Calculated Move
These names represent various ethnic groups and regions from across the vast Assyrian and Persian empires. They were likely colonists settled in Samaria by the Assyrian kings after the northern kingdom of Israel fell. By listing these diverse origins, they were trying to show their authority and the widespread nature of their opposition to the Jews.
More Than Meets the Eye
Instead of a single, unified 'Samaritan' identity at this point, the text highlights their varied backgrounds. This suggests they were still closely tied to their ancestral lands and peoples, emphasizing their status as appointed officials representing different parts of the empire.
We see 'commander' and 'scribe,' but what do these roles reveal about the opposition's strategy?
The verse names two key figures: 'Rehum the commander' and 'Shimshai the scribe.' These aren't just random individuals; their titles tell us about their function and intent.
Leading the Charge
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Rehum, the 'commander' (or chancellor), was clearly in a position of authority, likely a military or administrative leader. He represents the force and power behind the opposition. Shimshai, the 'scribe,' was responsible for the official documentation, the writing of the letter itself. His role signifies the organized, bureaucratic method they employed to undermine the returning exiles.
A Strategic Alliance
Together, these two represent the leadership and the administrative arm of the opposition. They gathered 'the rest of their associates' – officials, governors, and representatives from various settled peoples – to present a united and formidable front. Their action wasn't a spontaneous outburst but a calculated, official complaint designed to leverage the Persian government's power against the Jews.
The diverse origins of the Samaritan leadership, drawing from many conquered peoples resettled by Assyria and Babylon, highlight their complex identity and their determined opposition to the unified Jewish return and rebuilding effort.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Deportations to Samaria
Following the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel, Assyrian kings like Sargon II deported populations from various parts of their empire and resettled them in Samaria.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon began deporting Judean elites to Babylon, a precursor to the larger exiles.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ushering in the Persian period and allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
520 BC— this verse
Opposition to Temple Rebuilding
During the reign of Darius I, officials from Samaria, including those of diverse ethnic backgrounds, wrote to the Persian king accusing the Jews rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple.
c. 486-465 BC
Reign of Xerxes I
The reign of Xerxes I followed Darius I, a period that might have seen continued administrative challenges and opposition to the Jews' rebuilding efforts.
c. 465-424 BC
Reign of Artaxerxes I
Artaxerxes I's reign is a crucial period for the post-exilic community, marked by continued opposition and Ezra's later return to Jerusalem.
This passage explains how these diverse peoples were brought to Samaria by the Assyrian king after he exiled the Israelites, directly connecting to the origins of the Samaritan colonists mentioned in Ezra.
Nehemiah 4:1-2This passage shows a similar situation where the enemies of Jerusalem (Sanballat and Tobiah) mock and threaten the returning exiles when they begin rebuilding the city walls, mirroring the opposition faced by Ezra's group.
Esther 1:1-2This passage describes the vast empire of Xerxes, ruling from India to Ethiopia, which provides context for the diverse nationalities and the extensive reach of the Persian administration from which these officials hailed.
Genesis 10:10This verse identifies Erech as a city founded by Nimrod in the land of Shinar, linking one of the specific places mentioned in Ezra 4:9 to the ancient Mesopotamian world and its peoples.
gillEzra 4:9: "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 wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions,.... who all signed the letter; namely, the governors of the following nations: the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Arc…
henryEzra 4:6-24: "And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem."
4:6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the cons…
The impressive list of names isn't just a historical catalog; it reveals the Samaritans were presenting themselves as a powerful, multi-ethnic coalition, united against the returning Jews. This deliberate display of diverse origins underscored their established presence and influence in the land.
The people of Samaria, along with their various associates from different conquered regions, have written a formal letter to King Artaxerxes of Persia. This letter is intended to accuse the returned Jewish exiles and hinder their rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem, framing them as a threat to the king's authority. The verse lists the specific groups and their leaders who signed onto this official complaint against the Jews.
The people of Samaria, along with their various associates from different conquered regions, have written a formal letter to King Artaxerxes of Persia. This letter is intended to accuse the returned Jewish exiles and hinder their rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem, framing them as a threat to the king's authority. The verse lists the specific groups and their leaders who signed onto this official complaint against the Jews.
"Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites," — The impressive list of names isn't just a historical catalog; it reveals the Samaritans were presenting themselves as a powerful, multi-ethnic coalition, united against the returning Jews. This delib…
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Last reviewed October 2026