More Letter Writers - Ezra 4:9

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort”, and in chapter four and verse nine of Ezra, Ezra shared about more people who, “wrote”the letter where we read,

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,

The verse reads, “Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions;” Ezrabegan with the words, “Rehum” whose name means “compassion and was a man who returned from exile with Zerubbabel also known as Nehum” “the chancellor” which means “the owner or lord” “and Shimshai” which means “and Shimshai whose name means sunny and was the satrap of Judea for the Persian government” “the scribe” or “the secretary” “wrote a letter” which means “inscribed, engraved, recorded and a missive or epistle” “against Jerusalem” or “in opposition to Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Ezra repeated the idea that “Rehum” and “Shimshai” who was his secretary inscribed an epistle in opposition to “Jerusalem”.

The verse goes on to say, “the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, ...” Ezra continued with the words, “the Dinaites” whose name means “judgment and was the name of some of the Cuthaean colonists who were placed in the cities of Samaria after the captivity of the ten tribes”, “the Apharsathchites” whose name means “as causers of division or I will divide the deceivers”, “the Tarpelites” whose name means “they of the fallen or wondrous mountain and was the group of Assyrian colonists who were planted in the cities of Samaria after the captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel whose identity is uncertain”, “the Apharsites” whose name means “causer of division and was perhaps a title of an official”, “the Archevites” whose name means “lengthy and was a native of the city of Erech”, “the Babylonians” whose name means “confusion by mixing”, “the Susanchites” whose name means “lily and were the inhabitants of the city of Shushan or Susa”, “the Dehavites” whose name means “the sickly”, “and the Elamites” which means “and the Elamites whose name means their heaps”. Ezra shared the names of the other groups of people who validated the letter written in opposition to the people of Israel. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra that the people of Israel had many foes who were against them. Although “Rehum, Shimshai and their companions” were responsible for writing the letter, “the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites” joined in their effort to stop the children of Israel from rebuilding their temple and their city. Those who choose to follow God's Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and face opposition, and even though there may be many foes against them, none shall be able to defeat the True and the Living God.

Next time Ezra shares about, “the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".