The Aramaic word Ṭarpᵉlay, represented by H2967, refers to the Tarpelites, a collective term for the inhabitants of Tarpel, a place in Assyria. This word is of foreign derivation and appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the biblical text, marking its specific and limited use.
The single appearance of H2967 is in Ezra 4:9. In this verse, the Tarpelites are named as part of a large coalition of different peoples. This group, led by officials such as Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe, wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes to formally oppose the rebuilding of Jerusalem by the returning Jewish exiles. The term is used to identify one of the many foreign groups that had been settled in the region of Samaria.
The context of H2967 places it alongside several other names and titles that describe the opposition to the Jews:
- H7348 Rᵉchûwm (Rehum): The name of the chancellor who led the effort to write the letter against Jerusalem Ezra 4:9. He is identified as a key figure in the opposition.
- H8124 Shimshay (Shimshai): The scribe who co-authored the letter with Rehum. His name means "sunny" and he is noted as a Samaritan Ezra 4:9.
- H3675 kᵉnâth (companions): This term refers to the colleagues or associates of Rehum and Shimshai. It collectively designates "the rest" of the groups who joined the complaint, including the Tarpelites Ezra 4:9.
- H1784 Dîynay (Dinaite): Listed immediately before the Tarpelites, the Dinaites were another of the foreign Assyrian tribes that made up the coalition opposing the rebuilding efforts Ezra 4:9.
While the term H2967 itself does not carry direct theological weight, its context is significant within the biblical narrative.
- Organized Opposition: The inclusion of the Tarpelites in a long list of peoples demonstrates the breadth of the formal, organized resistance to the rebuilding of God's house in Jerusalem.
- Foreign Identity: The name is one of many foreign-derived terms in Ezra 4:9, such as Dinaites H1784, Archevites H756, and Babylonians H896. This highlights the diverse, non-Israelite population settled in Samaria that felt threatened by the restoration of Jerusalem.
- Political Context: The Tarpelites were signatories to an official letter of complaint sent by a chancellor H1169H2942 and a scribe H5613, situating their role within the political and legal challenges faced by the post-exilic community.
In summary, H2967 Ṭarpᵉlay is a specific identifier for the Tarpelites, a people from an Assyrian territory. Its sole biblical mention is as part of a list of peoples who officially united to obstruct the reconstruction of Jerusalem. The word's importance lies not in its definition alone, but in its role as part of a collective body of opposition that the returning Israelites had to overcome.
TRV