Ezra 4:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe compose a formal letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes.
What Does Ezra 4:8 Mean?
Two key figures now step forward: Rehum, an official of rank, and Shimshai, the scribe who would have drafted the document. Together they write a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes. The phrase in this sort introduces the text of the letter itself, which the following verses will quote. The narrative slows to let the reader hear the accusation in the accusers' own words.
It is sobering that Jerusalem, the city of God's choosing, becomes the target named in an official complaint. The world's authorities and the city of the LORD are set at odds. Yet the very preservation of this letter in Scripture turns the enemies' work against them, for it stands as a record not of Judah's guilt but of the opposition God's people endured and outlasted. What men write to condemn, God can keep as testimony.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 4:8
What does Ezra 4:8 mean?
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe compose a formal letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes.