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 6:1-2

Darius Issues a Decree

6:1 So Darius the king issued orders, and they searched in the archives ¹⁰  of the treasury which were deposited there in Babylon. 6:2 A scroll was found in the citadel ¹¹  of Ecbatana which is in the province of Media, and it was inscribed as follows:

“Memorandum:

Amsal 25:2

25:2 It is the glory of God ¹²  to conceal ¹³  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.”

[6:1]  ¹⁰ tn Aram “the house of the archives.”

[6:2]  ¹¹ tc The translation reads בִירְתָא (birta’, citadel”) rather than the reading בְּבִירְתָא (bÿvireta’, “in the citadel”) found in the MT. The MT probably experienced dittography here.

[25:2]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ 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.