Who are Rehum and Shimshai in this passage?

Rehum is called the chancellor, a kind of chief official or governor in the region under the Persian king. Shimshai is the scribe, the one who writes and records official matters. Together they speak for a group of peoples who had been moved into the land around Samaria. They use their positions and their writing skills to oppose the Jews who have returned to Jerusalem. By sending a careful, formal letter to King Artaxerxes, they hope to stop the rebuilding work in Jerusalem by stirring up fear and suspicion at the royal court.

What is the complaint against Jerusalem in this letter?

The officials say that the Jews are rebuilding a "rebellious and bad city." They claim that if Jerusalem is rebuilt and its walls are set up, the people there will refuse to pay toll, tribute, and custom. They warn that this would damage the king’s income and weaken his hold on the region. They also tell the king to search the old records, saying he will find that Jerusalem has a history of rebellion and trouble for kings and provinces. Their whole complaint is shaped to make the city look dangerous to the empire.

Why do the enemies call Jerusalem a rebellious and bad city?

They use this harsh language to paint the work in Jerusalem in the worst possible way. They point to times in the past when kings of Judah did rebel against great empires, and Jerusalem was later destroyed for it. Instead of seeing the returnees as people quietly rebuilding under royal permission, they twist the story to make it sound like the start of a new revolt. The goal is not fairness, but to frighten Artaxerxes so he will stop the building, using old sins and past conflicts against the present work.

What do toll, tribute, and custom mean in this passage?

Toll, tribute, and custom are different types of taxes and payments that people under a king would owe. Toll can point to fees for using roads or passing through certain places. Tribute is money or goods a conquered people regularly send to show they are under the king. Custom is often linked with charges on trade and goods moving in and out of an area. In the letter, the officials warn that if Jerusalem is strong again, the people there will refuse to pay any of these, so the king will lose both money and control.

Why do the writers ask the king to search the book of the records?

They urge the king to look into the official records of earlier kings so he will see that Jerusalem has a history of resisting foreign rule. They want him to find reports that the city was rebellious and stirred up trouble in provinces. By doing this, they hope to give weight to their accusations. Instead of bringing fresh proof, they lean on old history to argue that nothing has changed. They use the past destruction of the city as support for stopping its rebuilding now.

What does it mean that they have maintenance from the king's palace?

When they say they have maintenance from the king’s palace, they are saying they are supported and paid by the king. The picture is of officials who receive their living, their “salt,” from the royal treasury. They use this to claim they are only acting out of concern for the king’s honor and income. In reality, their words cover deeper hostility toward the Jews and their work. They dress their opposition as loyalty, hoping this will make their accusations sound more trustworthy to Artaxerxes.

Who are the nations listed with Rehum and Shimshai?

The passage lists groups like the Dinaites, Apharsathchites, Tarpelites, Archevites, Babylonians, Susanchites, Dehavites, and Elamites. These names point to peoples brought from different parts of the Assyrian and later empires and settled in the cities of Samaria. They had been placed there in the past to replace the ten tribes who were taken away. These mixed nations are now living in the land near Judah. Together they join against the Jews, showing how many different groups can unite when they feel threatened by God’s people and their work.

What does it mean that the king will have no portion on this side the river?

The phrase "this side the river" refers to the land west of the Euphrates, the region where Jerusalem and Samaria are. When the letter says the king will have no portion there, it warns that if Jerusalem is rebuilt and its walls are raised, the Jews will not only stop paying taxes, but might take over the wider area. The idea is that the king would lose his share, his control and rights, in that whole region. This is meant to alarm Artaxerxes, even though it stretches the truth to make the situation sound much worse.

How does this passage show the nature of opposition to God's work?

This passage shows that opposition often comes through fear, lies, and half-truths. The officials exaggerate what the Jews are doing, call Jerusalem rebellious, and predict loss of taxes and control. They use past failures to condemn present faithfulness. They also hide their hostility under a show of loyalty to the king. In the same way, those who resist God’s work today may misrepresent believers, stir up fear about the results, and pretend they are only protecting order or honor, when their real problem is with what God is doing.

How can believers respond when they are falsely accused like the Jews here?

When reading this passage, believers can see that God’s people are sometimes lied about and opposed, even when they are obeying. The Jews did not win by clever words in this letter, but by staying rooted in their calling and trusting that God knew the truth. Today, when facing false charges, believers can remember that God sees and keeps record better than any earthly book. Instead of giving in to fear or anger, they can seek to walk honestly, pray for wisdom, and keep serving, knowing that opposition does not cancel God’s purposes.

Ezra.4.8

Ezra 4:8

KJV

Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

The Letter to King Artaxerxes

Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

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,

And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

¶ This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.

Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.

Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

Cross References

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