Ezr 4:9-10 | TNotes | STEP | 4:9 Adding greetings from an assortment of key political figures and local ethnic leaders would give credibility to the letter’s accusations and ensure that the message would have maximum political weight. • Judges were trusted court officials who knew the Persian laws. • Having the support of people from the Mesopotamian cities of Babylon and Erech and the Persian city of Susa would make the case against the Jews more persuasive.

c2 Kgs 17:24-41►

‏ Ezra 4:9-10

4:9 ^a Adding greetings from an assortment of key political figures and local ethnic leaders would give credibility to the letter’s accusations and ensure that the message would have maximum political weight.

• Judges were trusted court officials who knew the Persian laws.

• Having the support of people from the Mesopotamian cities of Babylon and Erech and the Persian city of Susa would make the case against the Jews more persuasive.
4:10 ^b Ashurbanipal had deported people from other conquered lands into the lands of Israel and Aram (see 2 Kgs 17:24-41 ^c).

• The city of Samaria was the former capital of the northern kingdom of Israel.

• The province west of the Euphrates River included Syria, Israel, and Judah.