The Aramaic word dikrôwn, represented by H1799, is a specific term for a register or record. It appears 3 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, exclusively within the context of official state archives. It corresponds to the Hebrew word for a memorial or record, but in Aramaic, it specifically denotes a formal, written account.
In its biblical usage, H1799 refers to official documents with legal and historical weight. In a letter opposing the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the term is used to request a search of "the book of the records" to prove the city's rebellious past Ezra 4:15. This record is presented as evidence that Jerusalem has been hurtful to kings and provinces. Later, when a search is commanded by King Darius, a roll is found in the palace containing a record of King Cyrus's original decree to rebuild the temple Ezra 6:2.
Several related Aramaic words clarify the context of creating and accessing these official records:
- H1240 bᵉqar (inquire, make search): This is the action taken to find information within a record. A search was to be made in the book of records to investigate Jerusalem's history Ezra 4:15.
- H5609 çᵉphar (a book; book, roll): This refers to the physical object where a record is kept. The records of the fathers were located in a book Ezra 4:15.
- H3790 kᵉthab (to write): This describes the creation of the record itself. The official decree found at Achmetha was a record that had been written Ezra 6:2.
The functional significance of H1799 is centered on governance and the authority of the written word.
- Historical Precedent: A record serves as an official memory that can be consulted to determine past behavior and justify current actions. Opponents of Jerusalem used the royal archives to argue that the city was historically rebellious H4779 and a source of sedition H849 Ezra 4:15.
- Legal Authority: The word highlights the power of a written decree. The record of Cyrus's command, once found, held legal standing that influenced the decision of a subsequent king Ezra 6:2.
- State Administration: The term is exclusively used in the context of royal administration, involving kings, provinces, and official archives stored in places like a palace H1001.
In summary, H1799 is more than a simple note; it is a legally and politically significant record. Its use in the book of Ezra illustrates the critical role that official, written archives played in the administration of the Persian empire, where historical precedent could determine the fate of a city and its people. It underscores the power held within a formal, state-sanctioned register.
TRV