Ver. 17.-Then sent the king an answer. (2 Kings xviiL 7) and Babylon (ibi,d. xxiv. The compls.int made was of such importance 1 ; J er. Iii. 3), and also proof of the formid- tho.t an answer was returned without delay. able power possessed by certain Jewish or It was addressed both to Rehum and Shim- Israelite kings ; upon which he thought shai, since they were independent authorities. himself justified in coniplying with the Peace, and at such a time. " Peace " Samaritan request, e.nd ordering the work (shelam) is the ordinary Oriental saluta- that was going on at Jerusalem to cease tion. The other word, uk' eth, is taken by (see ver. 21). our translators to refer to the date; but it Ver. 20. - Mighty kings. David and really means, like uk'eneth (ver. 10), "and Solomon best answer to this description, ao forth," or " et cetera." possessing as they did a kingdom which Ver. 18.-The letter he.th been plainly extended from the Euphrates to the bo:ders read before me. Despatches are read to, of Egypt (1 Kings iv. 21, 24), and drawing not b?J, Oriental sovereigns, who have often tribute from the various petty J.>rinces or no literary education. (Compare Esther chiefs of the nations dwelling within those vi 1.) limits (2 Sam. viii 6-12; 1 Kings x. 14, Ver. 19.-I commanded, and search has 25). Josiah had. perhaps, more recently, been made. The Psendo-Smerdis, who was a possessed an almost equally extensive sway. fanatical adherent of Magisrn, which disal- Ver. 21.-Until another commandment lowed temples altogether (Herod., i 130), shall be given. It can scarcely be supposed and who had already destroyed the temples that the Pseudo-Smerdis ,had e.ny intention of Ormuzd in Persia(' Behistun Ins.,' col i of issuing "another commandment ; " but, par. 14, § 5), was naturally willing enough since "the laws of the Medes and Persians," to do as the Samaritans desired, and Rtop as a general rule, "altered not" (Esther i. the restoration of the Jewish temple. Ac- 19 ; Dan. vi 15), it may well be that the cordingly, he had a search made among the clause before us was one inse1ted as a matter state records, and found, as they had expected of form in most decrees, to prevent them he would, evidence of insurrections on the from being irrevocable. part of the J ewe against.the foreign countries Ver. 23.-They went up in haste. The to which they had been subject, as Assyria "adversaries" lost no time. Having ob- en. 1v. 17-24.j THE BOOK OF EZRA. 59
te.ined the decree which forhad further have much exceeded a year and a half. building, they proceeded with it to J eru- B:inf of Persia. There is probably no in- ee.lem, e.nd by e. disple.y of force compelled tent10n of distinguishing the Darius of this the Jews to eubmieaion. No doubt resist- book from "Darius the Mede" (Dan. v. 11nce might have been me.de, but resistance 31 ; vi. 1). "King of Persia" is appended would he.ve been rebellion. to his name merely out of respect and Ver. 24. - Then cee.eed the work . . . honour, e.s it is to the names of Cyrus (i. 1, 1llltil the second year of the reign of Darius. 2, 8), Artaxerxes I. (iv. 7), and Artaxerxes II. The interval of compelle,1 inaction was not (vi. 14). Such a superfluous attachment to long. The Pseudo-Smerdis reigned, at the his name of the style and title of a monarch utmost, ten months ; after which a revolution is common throughout the Old Testament, occurred, and the throne was occupied by and generally marks a distinct intention to Darius, the son of Hystaspes. If the work do the individual honour (see Gen. xii. 46 ; was resumed early in this monarch's second 1 Kings iiL 1 ; ix. 11, 16 ; xi. 18 ; 2 Chron. year, the entire period of suspension cannot xxxvi. 22, &c.).