Ezra 4:17

Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) Peace, and at such a time.—Salutation, and so forth. The account of the reply and the beginning of it are strangely blended, as before.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true 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 sees things as they are.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The book of the records - Compare Esther 2:23; Esther 6:1; Esther 10:2. The existence of such a "book" at the Persian court is attested also by Ctesias.

Of thy fathers - i. e., thy predecessors ripen the throne, Cambyses, Cyrus, etc. If Artaxerxes was the Pseudo-Smerdis (Ezra 4:7 note), these persons were not really his "fathers" or ancestors; but the writers of the letter could not venture to call the king an impostor.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. we have maintenance from the king's palace—literally, "we are salted with the salt of the palace." "Eating a prince's salt" is an Oriental phrase, equivalent to "receiving maintenance from him."

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe,.... This affair, upon examination, being found to be of importance, the king of Persia thought fit to send an answer to the above letter, which was doing them an honour, and gave them the power and authority they wished to have:

and to the rest of their companions that dwelt in Samaria; in the kingdom, province, and cities of Samaria:

and unto the rest beyond the river; the river Euphrates, the rest of the nations before mentioned, Ezra 4:9.

Peace, and at such a time: that is, all health and prosperity, &c.

Geneva Study Bible

Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, {l} Peace, and {m} at such a time.

(l) Or Shalom, salvation or greeting.

(m) Or, Cheeth, also called Cheeneth as in Ezr 4:10.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. an answer] Another Persian word in the original, ‘pithgama’, used also in Esther 1:20, a ‘decree’, and Ecclesiastes 8:11, ‘sentence’. The LXX. omits. Vulg. ‘verbum’. Here = a royal rescript.

Rehum &c.] see Ezra 4:9.

that dwell in Samaria] A detail not mentioned with such directness in Ezra 4:10. A comparison with that verse shows that the city, not the district, is intended.

unto the rest beyond the river] So margin of R.V.—R.V. text in the rest of the country beyond the river. See Ezra 4:10, where the application of the word ‘rest’ is clearly the same. There it follows after the verb ‘set in’ (lit. ‘cause to dwell’), here after the verb ‘dwell’. The district or territory, not the population, is referred to.

and at such a time] R.V. and so forth. Cf. Ezra 4:11.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - Then sent the king an answer. The complaint made was of such importance that an answer was returned without delay. It was addressed both to Rehum and Shimshai, since they were independent authorities.. Peace, and at such a time. "Peace" (sheldm) is the ordinary Oriental salutation. The other word, uk'eth, is taken by our translators to refer to the date; but it really means, like uk'eneth (ver. 10), "and so forth," or "et cetera." Ezra 4:17

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The royal answer to this letter. פּתגּמא - a word which has also passed into the Hebrew, Ecclesiastes 8:11; Esther 1:20 - is the Zend. patigama, properly that which is to take place, the decree, the sentence; see on Daniel 3:16. עבר וּשׁאר still depends upon בּ: those dwelling in Samaria and the other towns on this side the river. The royal letter begins with וּכעת שׁלם, "Peace," and so forth. כּעת is abbreviated from כּענת.