Cross Reference EZRA 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

{Ezra 4:7} And in the days 3117 of Artaxerxes 783 wrote 3789 z8804 Bishlam, 1312 Mithredath, 4990 Tabeel, 2870 and the rest 7605 of their companions, 3674 unto x5921 Artaxerxes 783 king 4428 of Persia; 6539 and the writing 3791 of the letter 5406 [was] written 3789 z8803 in the Syrian tongue, 762 and interpreted 8638 z8794 in the Syrian tongue. 762

am 3482, bc 522

Artaxerxes:
This Artaxerxes was one of the Magi, who usurped the throne after the death of Cambyses, for seven months, feigning himself to be Smerdis, brother of Cambyses. He is called Oropoestus by Justin, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by AEschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias.

Bishlam:
or, in peace

companions:
Heb. societies, "Thenª [wrote] Rehumª the chancellor,ª ª and Shimshaiª the scribe,ª and the restª of their companions;ª the Dinaites,ª the Apharsathchites,ª the Tarpelites,ª the Apharsites,ª the Archevites,ª the Babylonians,ª the Susanchites,ª the Dehavites,ª [and] the Elamites,ª" {Ezr 4:9} + "[Then] sentª ° the kingª an answerª untoª Rehumª the chancellor,ª ª and [to] Shimshaiª the scribe,ª and [to] the restª of their companionsª that¹ dwellª ° in Samaria,ª and [unto] the restª beyondª the river,ª Peace,ª and at such a time.ª" {Ezr 4:17} + "The copyª of the letterª that¹ Tatnai,ª governorª on this sideª the river,ª and Shetharboznai,ª and his companionsª the Apharsachites,ª which¹ [were] on this sideª the river,ª sentª ° untoª Dariusª the king:ª" {Ezr 5:6}

the Syrian tongue:
That is, probably, both the language and character were Syrian or Chaldaic; and therefore, from the "Rehumª the chancellorª ª and Shimshaiª the scribeª wroteª ° aª letterª againstª Jerusalemª to Artaxerxesª the kingª in this sort:ª" {Ezr 4:8} of this chapter, to "Blessedª ° [be] the LORDª Godª of our fathers,ª which¹ hath putª ° [such a thing] as this¹ in the king'sª heart,ª to beautifyª °¹ the houseª of the LORDª which¹ [is] in Jerusalem:ª" {Ezr 7:27}, the original is not Hebrew, but Chaldee, in those parts which consist of letters, decrees, etc., originally written in that language. "Then saidª ° Eliakimª the sonª of Hilkiah,ª and Shebna,ª and Joah,ª unto¹ Rabshakeh,ª Speak,ª ° I pray thee,¹ to¹ thy servantsª in the Syrian language;ª for¹ we¹ understandª ° [it]: and talkª ° not¹ with¹ us in the Jews' languageª in the earsª of the peopleª that¹ [are] on¹ the wall.ª" {2Kg 18:26} + "Then saidª ° Eliakimª and Shebnaª and Joahª unto¹ Rabshakeh,ª Speak,ª ° I pray thee,¹ unto¹ thy servantsª in the Syrian language;ª for¹ we¹ understandª ° [it]: and speakª ° not¹ to¹ us in the Jews' language,ª in the earsª of the peopleª that¹ [are] on¹ the wall.ª" {Isa 36:11} + "Then spakeª ° the Chaldeansª to the kingª in Syriack,ª O king,ª liveª ° for ever:ª tellª ° thy servantsª the dream,ª and we will shewª ° the interpretation.ª" {Dan 2:4}

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