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 5:17

5:17 “Now if the king is so inclined, ⁷  let a search be conducted in the royal archives ⁸  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.”

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¹ tn Aram “the book of the minutes.”

² tn Aram “of your fathers.”

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

⁴ tn Aram “is a rebellious city.”

⁵ tn Aram “revolts they are making in its midst.”

⁶ tn Aram “from olden days.” So also in v. 19.

⁷ tn Aram “if upon the king it is good.”

⁸ tn Aram “the house of the treasures of the king.”