Ezra 4:11

4:11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent to him:)

“To King Artaxerxes, ¹  from your servants in ²  Trans-Euphrates:

Ezra 4:16

4:16 We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control ³  of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.”

[4:11]  ¹ tn The Masoretic accents indicate that the phrase “to Artaxerxes the king” goes with what precedes and that the letter begins with the words “from your servants.” But it seems better to understand the letter to begin by identifying the addressee.

[4:11]  ² tn Aram “men of.”

[4:16]  ³ tn Aram “will not be to you.”