What is the meaning of "Yedi'a Lehevei l'Malka"?
Rashi: The king should know.
What do we learn from "Di Seliku Min Levasach"?
Malbim: You freed them. This proves that the building ceased in the days of Koresh. If it was after him, we must say, with difficulty, "they left your Medinah."
What is the meaning of "Kiryesa Maradta u'Viyshta Banayin"?
Rashi: They build a city that rebels and sins.
Malbim: Here is where the translators deviated. One could explain Kiryesa Maradta [u'Viyshta] with the previous words - they came to Yerushalayim, a rebellious [and evil] city. Banayin refers to the Seifa - they are building the Beis ha'Mikdash 1 and founding (preparing to build) the walls, for they already tied the foundation. If so, it is not Sheker. However, one could explain Kiryesa Maradta u'Viyshta Banayin - they are building the rebellious, evil city.
No word in the verse refers to the Beis ha'Mikdash. Perhaps it is obvious that they build it, like Koresh commanded. However, if so, why did all these nations see a need to inform the king that the Jews do like he commanded? (PF)
What is the meaning of "v'Shuraya Shachlilu"?
Rashi: They built foundations for the walls.
What is the meaning of "v'Ushaya Yachitu"?
Rashi: They stitch the walls and connect them 1 .
Ibn Ezra #1: Ushaya are foundations - the Targum of "v'Nehersu Yesodoseha" is v'Yisglaun Ushaya. "Yachitu" is like Chut ha'Shani - they put a thread on the foundations for building, like a measuring rod.
Ibn Ezra #2: This is like the Targum of "v'Yispersu Ale Se'enah"- v'Chatitu, tying and connection. My first Perush is primary.
Why did they not fear lest the king learn that their claim [that the Jews are building the city wall and not the Bayis] is false, and they will be Chayav Misah?
Malbim: The words could be interpreted in two ways. In one way, it is Emes - they came to the city and are building the Bayis. The authors could say that so was their intent. The translators can exempt themselves, for the words can mean that they are building the city 1 (refer to 4:12:3:2).
Malbim (7): Normally, the translators wrote their names at the top, and the authors at the bottom. Here, they wrote that all the nations on the other side of the river say so. (Surely the king will not suspect that all of them lie!)
Malbim (7): Also, the charge that they built the wall was false. They did not build it until Artachshasta gave special permission for this. Building the Bayis is not rebellion, for it is not a fortress in which one may take refuge! It was built of wood and stone, so it was easy to burn it if they will rebel! Really, it was a great fraud. Tzarei Yehudah bribed counselors. They knew that the king's letter cannot be retracted, and the Bayis is not rebellion, since Yerushalayim's wall was breached.
