Ezra 5:8

"They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace."

Key Reflection

The letter addressed to King Darius emphasized "all peace," a phrase that would have immediately set the tone for diplomatic correspondence between Persia and its provinces. This salutation, common in official communications during the Persian Empire, indicated that the writers intended to convey messages of goodwill and compliance, ensuring that their request or report was well-received by the monarch. Such careful wording reflects the formal and hierarchical nature of inter-kingdom communication, where maintaining positive relations through respectful language was crucial.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Great stones -literally, as in the margin; i. e., stones so large that they were rolled along, not carried. Others translate “polished stones.”

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