Глава 2

1–7. Decree of Cyrus on the release of the Jews from captivity. 8–9. Exit of the Jews. 10–15. Return of blood vessels. 16–24. Opposition to the building of the church: a letter to Artaxerxes. 25–31. Artaxerxes' response and the cessation of construction of the church. 2Ezra 2:1 In the first year of the reign of Cyrus the Persian, in fulfillment of the word of the Lord from the mouth of Jeremiah, 1. Art. 1–15 present a presentation of 1Ezra I that is similar almost to the point of literalism. See notes to 1Ezd I. 2Ezra 2:2 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, and he declared throughout his whole kingdom, verbally and in writing: 2Ezra 2:3 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord of Israel, the Lord Most High, has made me king of the world. 2Ezra 2:4 And he commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea. 2Ezra 2:5 Therefore whosoever is of you of his people, let his Lord be with him, and let him go to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: he is the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem. 2Ezra 2:6 Therefore, as many of them live in a place, let the inhabitants of that place help them with gold and silver, 2Ezra 2:7 with gifts of horses and cattle and other votive offerings for the church of the Lord in Jerusalem. 2Ezra 2:8 And the elders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, and all those whom the Lord had moved by spirit, went up and built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; 2Ezra 2:9 And those who lived in their neighborhood helped them all: with silver and gold, and horses and cattle, and very many votive offerings of many whose spirit was moved. 2Ezra 2:10 And King Cyrus brought out the sacred vessels of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried from Jerusalem and placed in his church. 2Ezra 2:11 Having brought them out, King Cyrus of Persia handed them over to Mithridates, his treasurer, 2Ezra 2:12 and through him they were delivered to Samanaser, prince of Judah. 12. And through him they (the vessels) were transferred to Samanassar (Σαμανασσάρω). In VI17 the same person is called Savanassar (Σαβανασς). B 1Ed I8; V:14, 16 – in the LXX the same name appears in the form Σασαρασάρ and Σαβανασάρ. From IV:13; V:6 it is clear that the writer of 2 Ezra means Zerubbabel by this name. 2Ezra 2:13 And the number of them was: one thousand gold pots, one thousand silver pots, twenty-nine silver incense burners, thirty gold bowls, two thousand four hundred and ten silver basins, and a thousand other vessels. 2Ezra 2:14 All the vessels of gold and silver were brought, five thousand four hundred and sixty-nine. 13–14. The total number of all vessels is determined by the figure 5,469. In 1Ezd I11 a different number is indicated. Libraries σπονδεία, in 1 Ezra ψυκτήρες, Russian. "dish" Incense burners (θυίσκαι) in 1 Ezd in Russian. translation, "knives". The numbers 2 Rides are considered by some authors to be more accurate than 1 Rides. But the general nature of the book under review hardly provides a basis for this. 2Ezra 2:15 And they were brought by Samanassar and those who returned with him from the captivity of Babylon to Jerusalem. 2Ezra 2:16 During the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Belem and Mithridates, and Tabellius and Raphim, and Beeltethem and Samellius the scribe and others who agreed with them, living in Samaria and other places, wrote him the following letter: 16–31. Art. 16–31 represent a reproduction of 1Edra IV:1–23. See note. to 1 Ride. The names of the people who opposed the Jews are given differently. Vilem Bishlam. Tavellius Taveil. Rafim Rehum. Beeltefm: the author is believed to have taken as his own name the title of Rehum beelteem, "counselor", as did the LXX in 1Ezra IV:9, Ρεούμ Βαλτάμ. Samellius Shimshai (1Ezra IV:9). For the chronology of the section, see note. to 1Ezra IV:7. 2Ezra 2:17 To King Artaxerxes, lord, your servants Raphim, the recorder of events, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges who are in Cole-Syria and Phenicia. 17. And the judges. Probably an erroneous translation of the proper name Dinea (the name of the people), taken as a common noun. 2Ezra 2:18 Now let it be known to the lord king that the Jews who came out from you to us, having come to Jerusalem, that apostate and treacherous city, are building its squares, rebuilding the walls and laying the foundation of the church. 18. And they lay the foundation of the church. The wording of the letter 1Ezra IV speaks only of walls; there is no mention of the church. By the time of Artaxerxes the church had already been rebuilt. The writer understood the document in his own way. 2Ezra 2:19 So, if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, then they will not only not agree to pay taxes, but will also rebel against the kings. 2Ezra 2:20 And since the building of the church had already begun, we considered it good not to neglect it, 2Ezra 2:21 But let the lord king know whether it pleases you to look in the books of your fathers. 2Ezra 2:22 You will find a record of this in the books of remembrance, and you will know that this city was a traitor and troubled kings and cities, 2 Ezra 2:23 and the Jews are apostates, always conspiring in it, for which reason this city was devastated. 2Ezra 2:24 So now we inform you, lord king, that if this city is built and its walls are restored, there will be no passage for you to Cole-Syria and Phenicia. 2Ezra 2:25 Then the king wrote in answer to Raphim the recorder of events, and Beeltethm and Samellius the scribe, and the rest who agreed with them, and who dwelt in Samaria and Syria and Phenicia, as follows: 2Ezra 2:26 I read the letter that you sent to me, and ordered it to be examined; and it was found that this city had long rebelled against kings, 2Ezra 2:27 And these people stir up rebellions and wars in it, and there were kings in Jerusalem, strong and powerful, who owned and collected tribute from Cole-Syria and Phenicia. 2Ezra 2:28 So now I have ordered that these people be forbidden from building this city, and that nothing more be done. 2 Ezra 2:29 and so that malicious enterprises will not have further success to the concern of the kings. 2Ezra 2:30 After reading what was written from King Artaxerxes, Raphim and Samellius the scribe and those who agreed with them hastily went to Jerusalem with the cavalry and the militia of the people 2Ez 2:31 and began to hold back the builders. And the construction of the Jerusalem temple stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia. 31. Art. 31 shows that the author of the book saw the letter as a protest against the construction of the church.