SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:7
Y en días de Artajerjes escribieron Bislam, Mitrídates, Tabeel, y los demás compañeros suyos, a Artajerjes rey de Persia; y la escritura de la carta estaba hecha en siriaco, y declarada en siriaco.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:7
Verse 7. 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 Cambyses, who had been put to death. This is the person named Artaxerxes in the text: or, following the Hebrew, Artachshasta. It is generally believed, that from the time of Cyrus the great, Xerxes and Artaxerxes were names assumed by the Persian sovereigns, whatever their names had been before. Written in the Syrian tongue] That is, the Syrian or Chaldean character was used; not the Hebrew.
Interpreted, in the Syrian tongue.] That is, the language, as well as the character, was the Syriac or Chaldaic.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. And in the days of Artaxerxes , etc.] 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 think this was Smerdis, the magician and impostor, who was between Cambyses and Darius; but as he reigned but seven months, it is not very likely that he should be wrote unto, and an answer received from him; besides he sent to every nation he ruled over f42 , and so to the Jews, and proclaimed to them freedom from tribute and the militia for three years, to ingratiate himself to them: wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions ; or his company; for Jarchi thinks only one person is meant; that Mithredath Tabeel is the name of one of the adversaries of Judah; and that Bishlam is an appellative, and signifies that he wrote in peace, or in a way of salutation and greeting; but they seem to be the names of governors in the cities of Samaria under the king of Persia: these wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia ; instigated by the Samaritans: and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue ; or Chaldee, of which Ezra gives a copy in the Chaldee language; the meaning either is, that it was written both in Syriac letters, and in the Syriac language; for sometimes words are written in one language and in the character of another, as the Syriac is sometimes written in, Hebrew characters, and the Hebrew in Roman; or else there was a postscript added to this letter, explaining some things in it, which also was written in the same language: some take the word “nishtevan”, rendered “written”, to be the name of a province on the borders of the country beyond Euphrates, whose figure and characters were in high esteem, and fit to write in to kings; but the words and language were Syrian, and needed interpretation.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 tru 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 consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king suffered himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes see and hear with other men's eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them which are often done falsely. But God's judgment is just; he see things as they are __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ובימי 3117 ארתחשׁשׂתא 783 כתב 3789 בשׁלם 1312 מתרדת 4990 טבאל 2870 ושׁאר 7605 כנותו 3674 על 5921 ארתחשׁשׂתא 783 מלך 4428 פרס 6539 וכתב 3791 הנשׁתון 5406 כתוב 3789 ארמית 762 ומתרגם 8638 ארמית׃ 762
