22
I was ashamed to ask King Artaxerxes for soldiers and horsemen. They could have kept us safe from enemies on the road. But we had told the king that our God would keep us safe. We had said, "The gracious hand of our God helps everyone who looks to him. But he becomes very angry with anyone who deserts him."
Reference
Greek: μέ (mé)
me
Hebrew: ʼănâʼ
I
Hebrew: bôsheth
shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause); by implication (specifically) an idol
Greek: αἰτέω (aitéō)
to ask (in genitive case)
Hebrew: bᵉʻâʼ
to seek or ask
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Hebrew: ʼArtachshashtâʼ
Artachshasta (or Artaxerxes), a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: κατέχω (katéchō)
to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively)
Greek: ἡμεῖς (hēmeîs)
we (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἐγγύς (engýs)
near
Hebrew: ʼÔwn
On, an Israelite
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: εἰ μή (ei mḗ)
if not
Hebrew: ʼăbâl
nay, i.e. truly or yet
Hebrew: ʼănûw
we
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: ἡμῖν (hēmîn)
to (or for, with, by) us
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: διατηρέω (diatēréō)
to watch thoroughly, i.e. (positively and transitively) to observe strictly, or (negatively and reflexively) to avoid wholly
Hebrew: ʼâtsal
to separate; hence, to select, refuse, contract
Greek: ἡμεῖς (hēmeîs)
we (only used when emphatic)
Hebrew: ʼănûw
we
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: channûwn
gracious
Greek: χείρ (cheír)
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument)
Hebrew: ʼekeph
a load; by implication, a stroke (others dignity)
Greek: ἡμῖν (hēmîn)
to (or for, with, by) us
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Greek: εἰ μή (ei mḗ)
if not
Hebrew: ʼăbâl
nay, i.e. truly or yet
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Hebrew: qaṭ
a little, i.e. (adverbially) merely
Hebrew: zaʻam
strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin)
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Good
Lamentations 3:25
Romans 8:28
Kingdom
Ezra 7:6
Ezra 7:28
Parallel theme
1 Peter 3:12
2 Chronicles 16:9
2 Chronicles 15:2
Psalm 34:22
Hebrews 10:38
References God
1 Chronicles 28:9
Verse Explanation
Ezra explained that he was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect them because he had already testified that God's hand is favorably upon those who seek Him, while His power and anger oppose those who abandon Him.
History
c. 458 BC. Ezra's decision emphasized faith in God's protection rather than dependence on Persian military escorts.