בְּהִילוּ
a hurry; only adverb, hastily
Definition
בְּהִילוּ is an Aramaic adverb meaning 'in haste' or 'hastily.' It describes an action performed with urgency and speed, often under pressure or in response to a command. The word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Ezra 4:23, where it conveys the immediate and hurried compliance of local officials to a royal decree. As an adverb, it modifies the verb 'to make to cease,' emphasizing the swift execution of the order to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in Ezra 4:23, within the context of the Persian Empire's administrative correspondence. It describes how Rehum and Shimshai, along with their associates, quickly enforced King Artaxerxes' command to halt the Jewish reconstruction efforts in Jerusalem. The usage highlights the urgency and authority behind imperial decrees, showing how promptly provincial officials acted to comply with royal instructions.
Etymology
בְּהִילוּ is derived from the Aramaic root בְּהַל (H927), which means 'to hasten' or 'to hurry.' It is a cognate of the Hebrew root בָּהַל (H926), sharing a similar sense of rushing or alarm. The word's formation as an adverb emphasizes the manner of an action, specifically its speed, reflecting a semantic development from the verbal idea of hastening to the adverbial description of how something is done.
Semantic Range
While בְּהִילוּ itself is not theologically rich, its use in Ezra 4:23 illustrates the opposition faced by God's people in fulfilling His purposes. The haste with which the enemies of Judah act underscores the persistent challenges to rebuilding and restoration, themes central to Ezra's narrative of God's faithfulness amid adversity. Understanding this urgency enriches reading by highlighting the tension between human decrees and divine plans.
In the Aramaic administrative context of the Persian Empire, בְּהִילוּ reflects the efficiency and responsiveness expected of provincial officials. Royal commands were to be executed promptly to maintain imperial control and order. This cultural setting differs from modern casual haste, as it carried legal and political weight, with delays potentially seen as disobedience or insubordination.
מְהֵרָה (mᵉhērâ, H4116) — A Hebrew adverb also meaning 'quickly' or 'speedily,' used more frequently in biblical Hebrew to describe urgent action, often in contexts of divine or human commands (e.g., Genesis 18:6).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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