Tanach
Ezra 4:18-22 עזרא ד׳:י״ח-כ״ב
Part of: Chapter 4
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
נִשְׁתְּוָנָא דִּי שְׁלַחְתּוּן עֲלֶינָא מְפָרַשׁ קֱרִי קׇדָמָֽי׃
"The text that you sent to us was explained and read before me.
"The text that you sent to us was explained and read before me.
Rashi
וּמִנִּי שִׂים טְעֵם וּבַקַּרוּ וְהַשְׁכַּחוּ דִּי קִרְיְתָא דָךְ מִן־יוֹמָת עָֽלְמָא עַל־מַלְכִין מִֽתְנַשְּׂאָה וּמְרַד וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר מִתְעֲבֶד־בַּֽהּ׃
And I ordered and they examined [(the chronicles)] and they found that this city, from days of yore, had risen against kings and incited to rebellion.
And I ordered and they examined [(the chronicles)] and they found that this city, from days of yore, had risen against kings and incited to rebellion.
Rashi
שים טעם. ומאתי היתה שימת דבר ציווי אשר צויתי:
the order was given And the order was given by me, the matter of a command that I commanded.
ובקרו והשכחו. ובדקו בספר הזכרונות המלכים ומצאו כתוב אשר העיר הזאת מימות העולם היתה מתנשאת ומתרוממת על כל מלכי העכו"ם:
and they searched and found And they searched in the annals of the kings and found written that this city, from days of yore, would raise itself up and exalt itself over all the kings of the nations.
ומרד. וסרבנות היו עושים בה למרוד במלכי העכו"ם:
and rebellion. and disobedience were committed there to rebel against the kings of the nations.
וּמַלְכִין תַּקִּיפִין הֲווֹ עַל־יְרוּשְׁלֶם וְשַׁלִּיטִין בְּכֹל עֲבַר נַהֲרָה וּמִדָּה בְלוֹ וַהֲלָךְ מִתְיְהֵב לְהֽוֹן׃
And there were powerful kings in Jerusalem [e.g., Solomon], who ruled over all [the territories of] the other side of the river, and midah, belo, and halach [viz. 13] were given to them.
And there were powerful kings in Jerusalem [e.g., Solomon], who ruled over all [the territories of] the other side of the river, and midah, belo, and halach [viz. 13] were given to them.
Rashi
ומלכין תקיפין. ומלכים חזקים היו בירושלים שהיו מושלים ושליטים בכל עבר הנהר של צד א"י כמו שנאמר בשלמה כי הוא רודה בכל עבר הנהר וגו' (מלכים א ד'). ומסים וכסף גולגולת היה נתון להם שהיו העכו"ם מעלין להם מס:
And mighty kings and mighty kings were in Jerusalem who were the rulers and governors over the entire side of the river on the side of Israel, as it says regarding Solomon (I Kings 5:4): “For he had dominion over all this side of the river, etc.” And taxes and the head tax were given to them, for the nations paid them tribute.
כְּעַן שִׂימוּ טְּעֵם לְבַטָּלָא גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ וְקִרְיְתָא דָךְ לָא תִתְבְּנֵא עַד־מִנִּי טַעְמָא יִתְּשָֽׂם׃
Now proclaim [throughout the land] to have these men desist [from building] and this city shall not be built until I authorize it.
Now proclaim [throughout the land] to have these men desist [from building] and this city shall not be built until I authorize it.
Rashi
כען שימו טעם. עתה שימו דבר להכריז בארץ לבטל אנשים הללו בני ישראל מן הבנין והעיר הזאת ירושלים לא תבנה עד אשר ממני יושם הדבר לבנות העיר על דעתי ורשותי:
Now issue an order Now give out a word to announce in the land to stop these men, the Children of Israel, from the work, and the city of Jerusalem shall not be built until orders are given with my knowledge and my authorization.
וּזְהִירִין הֱווֹ שָׁלוּ לְמֶעְבַּד עַל־דְּנָה לְמָה יִשְׂגֵּא חֲבָלָא לְהַנְזָקַת מַלְכִֽין׃ {ס}
And be careful not to err in doing this. Why should spoil increase to the detriment of kings?"
And be careful not to err in doing this. Why should spoil increase to the detriment of kings?"
Rashi
וזהירין הוו שלו. וזהירין תהיו לעשות דחוי ושגגה, שלו דשטורביר בלע"ז:
And beware of committing an error And you shall beware of committing any postponement or error. שָּׁלוּ is desto(u)rber in Old French, to violate.
למעבד על דנה. לעשות על כך:
of committing...in this matter [as translated,] of committing in this manner.
למה ישגא. מדוע יגדל מעשה השחתה בעיר הזאת להזיק המלכים, ע"כ תשובת כורש אשר השיב:
Why should...increase Why should the act of destruction in this city increase to injure the kings? Until here is Cyrus’ reply, which he sent back.
נשתונא. כתב הנשתוון אשר שלחתם אלינו היה מפורש וקרוי לפני:
The letter The writ of the letter that you sent to us was explained and read before me.