Ezra 4:16

be buildedagain, and the walls thereof set up R.V. be builded and the walls finished.

by this means i.e. in consequence of Jerusalem becoming once more a fortified city and so recovering her capacity for rebellion.

thou shalt have no portion onthis side the river R.V. beyond the river. For this expression see note on Ezra 4:12.

no portion For the use of this phrase cf. Joshua 22:25; Jos 22:27, 2 Samuel 20:1; John 13:8 (οὐκ ἔχεις μέρος), 2 Corinthians 6:15 (τίς μέρις πιστῷ μετὰ ἀπίστου). The letter concludes with an exaggerated appeal to the king's alarms.

(1) The Jews would be a centre of rebellion among the Western nations:

(2) A Jewish empire might spring from the fortifications of Jerusalem as an Israelite empire once before had done. In either case the Persian king would find himself deprived of his hold upon the country W. of the Euphrates.

The LXX. read οὐκ ἐστιν σοι εἰρήνη : i.e. thou shalt have no peace. 1Es 2:24, -thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Cœle-Syria and Phœnice". Both paraphrases of our text.