Ezra 4:20

4:20 Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates ¹  and who were the beneficiaries of ²  tribute, custom, and toll.

Ezra 4:2

4:2 they came to Zerubbabel and the leaders ³  and said to them, “Let us help you build, ⁴  for like you we seek your God and we have been sacrificing to him ⁵  from the time ⁶  of King Esarhaddon ⁷  of Assyria, who brought us here.” ⁸ 

1 Samuel 8:3

8:3 But his sons did not follow ⁹  his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice. ¹⁰ 

1 Samuel 8:1

Israel Seeks a King

8:1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

Kisah Para Rasul 4:24

4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind ¹¹  and said, “Master of all, ¹²  you who made the heaven, the earth, ¹³  the sea, and everything that is in them,

[4:20]  ¹ sn The statement that prior Jewish kings ruled over the entire Trans-Euphrates is an overstatement. Not even in the days of David and Solomon did the kingdom of Israel extend its borders to such an extent.

[4:20]  ² tn Aram “were being given to them.”

[4:2]  ³ tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.” So also in v. 3.

[4:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “Let us build with you.”

[4:2]  ⁵ tc The translation reads with the Qere, a Qumran MS, the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Arabic version וְלוֹ (vÿlo, “and him”) rather than the Kethib of the MT, וְלֹא (vÿlo’, “and not”).

[4:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “days.”

[4:2]  ⁷ sn Esarhaddon was king of Assyria ca. 681-669 b.c.

[4:2]  ⁸ sn The Assyrian policy had been to resettle Samaria with peoples from other areas (cf. 2 Kgs 17:24-34). These immigrants acknowledged Yahweh as well as other deities in some cases. The Jews who returned from the Exile regarded them with suspicion and were not hospitable to their offer of help in rebuilding the temple.

[8:3]  ⁹ tn Heb “walk in” (also in v. 5).

[8:3]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and they turned aside after unjust gain and took bribes and perverted justice.”

[4:24]  ¹¹ sn With one mind. Compare Acts 1:14.

[4:24]  ¹² tn Or “Lord of all.”

[4:24]  sn The use of the title Master of all (δεσπότης, despoths) emphasizes that there is a sovereign God who is directing what is taking place.

[4:24]  ¹³ tn Grk “and the earth, and the sea,” but καί (kai) has not been translated before “the earth” and “the sea” since contemporary English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.