Ezra 4:15

that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers Literally, that one may search, i.e. the officials in whose keeping the records were. Perhaps the plural should be read, as in Ezra 4:19.

For this appeal to -the book of records", compare chap. Ezra 6:1-2, and the allusions in the book of Esther to the existence of such an official register recording facts and events of State importance, Esther 2:23; Esther 6:1; Esther 10:2. Rawlinson refers to Diodorus Siculus (II. 32) who speaks of -the royal parchments in which the Persians in accordance with some law preserved the record of the deeds of former time" (ἐκ τῶν βασιλικῶν διφθερῶν, ἐν αἷς οἱ Πέρσαι τὰς παλαιὰς πράξεις κατά τινα νόμον εἶχον συντεταγμένας).

thy fathers This expression might be adduced to prove that the Artaxerxes addressed could not be Pseudo-Smerdis. But it would be unfair to lay stress upon it. The context shows that the king's predecessors in the rule of Western Asia are intended, Assyrian and Babylonian no less than Median and Persian.

hurtful i.e. as a nucleus of revolt.

kings and provinces i.e. to subject kings as well as to the great king.

-Provinces" (cf. the use of the word, Ezra 2:1) applied to the large districts into which the Empire was divided. See Daniel 2:48; Daniel 3:2; Esther 1:22; Esther 3:8, &c. They are described as 127 in number in Esther 1:1; Esther 8:9.

they have moved sedition within the same i.e. the Jews within the city of Jerusalem; cf. 19.

… of old time: for whichcause, &c. An expression better suited to writers in the days of Artaxerxes than in the reign of Pseudo-Smerdis, only 65 years from the date of the destruction of Jerusalem (586 b.c.).

destroyed R.V. laid waste.