The Hebrew word Mithrᵉdâth, represented by H4990, is a proper name of Persian origin. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible and refers to two different Persian individuals mentioned during the time of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
In the biblical narrative, H4990 identifies two distinct officials serving the Persian empire. The first Mithredath appears in the context of the return from exile as the treasurer H1489 under Cyrus, king H4428 of Persia H6539. He was responsible for bringing forth the temple vessels and numbering them for Sheshbazzar, the prince H5387 of Judah Ezra 1:8. The second person named Mithredath is listed as one of the men who wrote a letter to Artaxerxes H783, the king of Persia, expressing opposition to the Jews Ezra 4:7.
Several related words help establish the historical context for the individuals named Mithrᵉdâth:
- H1489 gizbâr (treasurer): This title is explicitly applied to the first Mithredath, defining his official role in the administration of King Cyrus Ezra 1:8.
- H783 'Artachshashtâ' (Artaxerxes): This is the title of the Persian king to whom the second Mithredath directed a letter, showing the political environment of the time Ezra 4:7.
- H6539 Pâraç (Persia, Persians): This word identifies the empire in which both men served, grounding their stories in the historical Persian period Ezra 1:8.
- H4428 melek (king): This term describes the rulers, Cyrus and Artaxerxes, whom these men served, highlighting their positions within the royal hierarchy (Ezra 1:8, Ezra 4:7).
- H5387 nâsîyʼ (prince, ruler): This title describes Sheshbazzar, the leader of Judah who received the sacred items from Mithredath the treasurer Ezra 1:8.
The narrative role of the name H4990 is purely historical, illustrating the administrative structure of the Persian empire and its interaction with the people of Judah.
- Administrative Function: The first Mithredath acts as a key Persian official, a treasurer H1489, who is instrumental in carrying out King Cyrus's decree to return the temple treasures to Judah Ezra 1:8.
- Political Correspondence: The second Mithredath is part of a group of officials who formally wrote to King Artaxerxes H783, placing him within the political events described in the book of Ezra Ezra 4:7.
- Persian Oversight: The presence of these two individuals in the record underscores the direct involvement of Persian officials in the affairs of the Jews during the post-exilic period.
In summary, H4990 is not a common noun but the specific Persian name Mithrᵉdâth, which identifies two different historical figures in the book of Ezra. The name is exclusively tied to the administration of the Persian empire, with one man serving as a treasurer H1489 who facilitated the return to Judah Ezra 1:8 and the other being an official who participated in a letter to the Persian king H4428 Ezra 4:7. These accounts provide insight into the historical context of the era.
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