translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: EZR

label: NET study note

text: The practice referred to in v. 11 has been understood in various ways: hanging (cf. 1 Esd 6:32 and KJV); flogging (cf. NEB, NLT); impalement (BDB 1091 s.v. זְקַף ; HALOT 1914 s.v. מחא hitpe; cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV). The latter seems the most likely.


text: The sixth year of the reign of Darius would be ca. 516 B.C .


text: At this point the language of the book reverts from Aramaic ( 4:8 –6:18) back to Hebrew. Aramaic will again be used in Ezra 7:12-26 .


text: The expression “king of Assyria” is anachronistic, since Assyria fell in 612 b.c. , long before the events of this chapter. Perhaps the expression is intended subtly to contrast earlier kings of Assyria who were hostile toward Israel with this Persian king who showed them favor.