Definition: The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse together. It's a bit old, but it gives us a snapshot of a very important event in Jewish history! Here's what it means in simple terms: "Ezra 5:6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:" This verse tells us about a message sent to King Darius. Let’s unpack it: “Ezra 5:6” : This is the specific passage of scripture we're talking about. It's a section of Jewish law (religious texts) that was discovered and preserved. “The copy of the letter…” : It means that someone – likely a scribe or messenger – wrote a letter on behalf of Ezra. Think of it like a record or transmission. “Tatnai, governor on this side the river…” : This is a very important name: Tatnai was the ruler (governor) of a region along the Euphrates River in ancient Israel. He was responsible for overseeing everything near that river. “Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites” : This refers to a group of people called the Apharsachites. They were a powerful and rebellious group of Jewish leaders who had been exiled from Jerusalem during the time of King David. They weren’t fully accepted into the community. “which [were] on this side the river” : This is key! It means that these Apharsachites were located on the Euphrates River. They were a group who had been living in exile and weren't allowed to be part of the Jewish community. “Sent unto Darius the king:” Finally, this tells us that the letter was sent to King Darius. It was a request or message to him. In short: This verse describes a communication – a letter – sent by a group of Jewish leaders (the Apharsachites) to King Darius. It’s a record of an attempt to reach out and possibly influence the king, perhaps to reconcile with the Jewish people or bring about some kind of change. Important Context: This message happened during a time of great upheaval in ancient Israel. The exiled group of Apharsachites were trying to re-establish their community and reclaim their rights. It's part of a larger story of religious conflict and political maneuvering in the Old Testament. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific event or period in Jewish history? Give you a simplified analogy to understand the message behind the text?