Ezra 4:15

4:15 so that he may initiate a search of the records ¹  of his predecessors ²  and discover in those records ³  that this city is rebellious ⁴  and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts ⁵  from long ago. ⁶  It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed.

Ezra 4:19

4:19 So I gave orders, ⁷  and it was determined ⁸  that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in ⁹  rebellion and revolt.

Ezra 5:17

5:17 “Now if the king is so inclined, ¹⁰  let a search be conducted in the royal archives ¹¹  there in Babylon in order to determine whether King Cyrus did in fact issue orders for this temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us a decision concerning this matter.”

Ayub 29:16

29:16 I was a father ¹²  to the needy,

and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;

Amsal 25:2

25:2 It is the glory of God ¹³  to conceal ¹⁴  a matter,

and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.

[4:15]  ¹ tn Aram “the book of the minutes.”

[4:15]  ² tn Aram “of your fathers.”

[4:15]  ³ tn Aram “discover…and learn.” For stylistic reasons this has been translated as a single concept.

[4:15]  ⁴ tn Aram “is a rebellious city.”

[4:15]  ⁵ tn Aram “revolts they are making in its midst.”

[4:15]  ⁶ tn Aram “from olden days.” So also in v. 19.

[4:19]  ⁷ tn Aram “from me was placed a decree.”

[4:19]  ⁸ tn Aram “and they searched and found.”

[4:19]  ⁹ tn Aram “are being done.”

[5:17]  ¹⁰ tn Aram “if upon the king it is good.”

[5:17]  ¹¹ tn Aram “the house of the treasures of the king.”

[29:16]  ¹² sn The word “father” does not have a wide range of meanings in the OT. But there are places that it is metaphorical, especially in a legal setting like this where the poor need aid.

[25:2]  ¹³ sn The proverb provides a contrast between God and the king, and therein is the clue to the range of application involved. The interest of the king is ruling or administering his government; and so the subject matter is a contrast to the way God rules his kingdom.

[25:2]  ¹⁴ sn The two infinitives form the heart of the contrast – “to conceal a matter” and “to search out a matter.” God’s government of the universe is beyond human understanding – humans cannot begin to fathom the intentions and operations of it. But it is the glory of kings to search out matters and make them intelligible to the people. Human government cannot claim divine secrecy; kings have to study and investigate everything before making a decision, even divine government as far as possible. But kings who rule as God’s representatives must also try to represent his will in human affairs – they must even inquire after God to find his will. This is their glorious nature and responsibility. For more general information on vv. 2-27, see G. E. Bryce, “Another Wisdom ‘Book’ in Proverbs,” JBL 91 (1972): 145-57.