And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
EZRA 4:10KJVWhat does Ezra 4:10 mean?
Ezra 4:10 refers to other groups of people—described as “the rest of the nations”—whom a powerful figure named Asnappar brought and settled in the cities of Samaria, along with others who lived west of the Euphrates River at that time. The verse is part of a letter listing the various peoples now living in the region, emphasizing the mixed population.
This verse is part of a letter sent to the Persian king by officials who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The officials are describing the diverse and foreign groups settled in Samaria and nearby areas, highlighting that these people were relocated there by Asnappar (often identified with the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal). The context is a political complaint, meant to show the king that the area is full of transplanted peoples, not native Israelites.
The Aramaic behind Ezra 4:10
- “rest” (שְׁאָר, she’ar, H7606): This word points to the remaining nations not already named, emphasizing that the list is not exhaustive but includes all other groups settled in the area.
- “nations” (עַמְמַיָּא, ‘ammayya, H524): This term means “peoples” or “nations,” highlighting the ethnic diversity in Samaria after the Assyrian resettlement.
- “Asnappar” (אַסְנַפַּר, Asnappar, H620): This name refers to a significant foreign ruler, likely Ashurbanipal, who was responsible for moving these populations, showing the deliberate policy of mixing peoples to control the region.
- “set” (יָתֵב, yatēv, H3488): This verb means “to settle” or “to place,” underlining that these groups were intentionally relocated and established in the cities, not there by chance.
Why Ezra 4:10 matters
- Ezra 4:10 clarifies that the population of Samaria was intentionally mixed by foreign rulers, which helps explain later tensions between Jews and Samaritans in the Bible.
- The verse shows that the opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem came from people who were not native to the land, but were settled there by imperial policy.
- Understanding this background helps make sense of the political and cultural dynamics in the region during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, especially the resistance to Jewish restoration efforts.