JAHZEIAH.One of four men who are mentioned as opposing (so RV [Note: Revised Version.] ) Ezra in the matter of the foreign wives (Ezr_10:15). The AV [Note: Authorized Version.] regarded Jahzeiah and his companions as supporters of Ezra, rendering were employed about this matter. This view is supported by LXX [Note: Septuagint.] , 1Es_9:14 RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ; but the Heb. phrase here found elsewhere (cf. 1Ch_21:1, 2Ch_20:23, Dan_11:14) expresses opposition.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
ja-zē?ya, ja?zē̇-ya (יחזיה, yaḥzeyāh, ?Yah sees?): In Ezr_10:15, son of Tikvah, and a contemporary of Ezra. It is disputed whether he and Jonathan opposed or supported Ezra in the matter of prosecuting those who had married foreign wives = Ezekias, 1 Esdras 9:14, or Ezias. See JONATHAN, 9.
Two translations of the Hebrew phrase (עמד על־זאת, ‛āmadh ‛āl-zō'th) are given: (1) ?stood over this matter,? i.e. supported Ezra; so the King James Version (?were employed in this matter?), and so Septuagint, 1 Esdras 9:14, the Revised Version margin. This is supported by 9:4, ?Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly,? where the same phrase is found. (2) The Revised Version (British and American) ?stood up against this matter,? so BDB, Gesenius, Bertheau, Stade. Both translations can be supported by parallels in Hebrew. The context is better suited by the former rendering.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.