Lexical Summary eshtaddur: Effort, Endeavor, Striving Original Word: אֶשְׁתַּדּוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sedition (Aramaic) from shdar (in a bad sense); rebellion -- sedition. see HEBREW shdar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from shedar Definition a revolt NASB Translation revolt (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶשְׁתַּדּוּר noun masculine revolt; — absolute Ezra 4:15,19. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Nuance The term denotes an intentional, authoritative investigation—an ordered search designed to uncover reliable information from established records. It conveys more than casual curiosity; it is an official and methodical inquiry meant to yield decisive evidence for governmental action. Occurrences in Scripture Ezra 4:15 and Ezra 4:19 are the only biblical appearances. Both verses fall within the Aramaic correspondence exchanged during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s temple. The city’s opponents urge King Artaxerxes to “search the archives” (Ezra 4:15), and the king replies, “I issued a decree, and a search was made” (Ezra 4:19). In each case the word directs imperial attention to written sources presumed to hold determinative authority over present policy. Historical Backdrop After the decree of Cyrus permitted Judean exiles to return, the Persian administration inherited both Babylonian precedent and its own sophisticated archival system. Local officials such as Rehum and Shimshai leveraged that system by appealing to the crown: if Persia’s records showed Jerusalem’s rebellious history, the city’s reconstruction could be halted. Artaxerxes obliged, and the subsequent search confirmed earlier revolts under previous Judean kings, leading to a temporary cessation of building. Theological Emphasis 1. Divine Providence in Pagan Bureaucracy The Persian request for documentation demonstrates God’s sovereign rule even through secular processes. While the first search produced a hostile verdict, a later search (Ezra 6:1–3, employing a different verb) uncovered Cyrus’s decree and advanced God’s purpose. The contrast underscores the Lord’s control over the same archives men attempt to manipulate. 2. Truth Verified by Record Scripture affirms that factual history supports redemptive history. The chronicled past of Israel—both its failures and God’s steadfast covenant—stands open to scrutiny. That transparency invites confidence in the trustworthiness of God’s word (Psalm 119:160). 3. Accountability Before the King In Ezra 4 the search is commanded by a monarch; in final judgment God will conduct His own flawless inquiry (Hebrews 4:13; Revelation 20:12). Earthly records can be incomplete or biased; divine records are perfect and decisive. Ministry and Pastoral Application • Responsible Investigation. Believers should emulate Berean diligence (Acts 17:11) by testing claims against reliable sources, chiefly the Scriptures. Related Biblical Motifs Search and discovery recur throughout Scripture—Joseph’s cup in Benjamin’s sack (Genesis 44:12), Achan’s hidden spoils (Joshua 7:18), or the Magi’s diligent search for the Christ (Matthew 2:8). Each instance highlights that nothing concealed remains hidden from divine oversight (Luke 12:2). Summary Strong’s Hebrew 849 points to a deliberate, authoritative search of historical records. In Ezra it becomes a tool both for opposition and for eventual confirmation of God’s plan. The word reminds believers that careful inquiry, anchored in reliable testimony, serves God’s larger narrative—a narrative ultimately upheld by the flawless record of His own Word. Forms and Transliterations וְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ ואשתדור veeshtadDur wə’eštaddūr wə·’eš·tad·dūrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:15 HEB: מַלְכִין֙ וּמְדִנָ֔ן וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ עָבְדִ֣ין בְּגַוַּ֔הּ NAS: and that they have incited revolt within KJV: and that they have moved sedition within the same INT: to kings and provinces revolt may be made within Ezra 4:19 2 Occurrences |
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