breaking the law
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
MITHREDATH (Pers. = given by Mithra, or the sun).1. The Persian treasurer, whom Cyrus commanded to deliver to Sheshbazzar the sacred vessels (Ezr_1:8 = 1Es_2:11 Mithradates). 2. Apparently a Persian officer stationed in Samaria. Together with his colleagues he wrote to Artaxerxes (Longimanus) to hinder the re-building of the walls of Jerusalem (Ezr_4:7 = 1Es_2:16 Mithradates).
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
("given by Mithra") (the Iranian god associated with the sun).
1. Treasurer of Cyrus king of Persia; to Mithredath Cyrus gave the temple vessels for Sheshbazzar (Ezr_1:8).
2. A Persian officer in Samaria under Artaxerxes or Smerdis the Magian, who with others influenced him by letter to interrupt the building of the temple (Ezr_4:7).
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.
Mith'redath. (given by Mithra).
1. The treasurer of Cyrus, king of Persia, to whom the king gave the vessels, of the Temple. Ezr_1:8.
2. A Persian officer, stationed at Samaria. Ezr_4:7.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863
mith?rḗ-dath (מתרדת, mithredhāth; Persian = ?gift of Mithra? or ?consecrated to Mithra?):
(1) The Persian treasurer through whom Cyrus restored the sacred vessels to the returning Jewish exiles (Ezr_1:8).
(2) A Persian, perhaps an official, who was associated with Bishlam and Tabeel in corresponding with Artaxerxes concerning the restoration of Jerusalem (Ezr_4:7). In 1 Esdras 2:11, 16, the name is written MITHRADATES (which see).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
Mithredath
(Heb. Mithredath', מַתְרְדָת, from the Pers. given by Mithras, see Gesenius, Thesaur. Heb. page 832, and comp. the Gr. form of the name Μιθριδάτης, Lat. Mithridates; Sept. Μιθριδάτης and Μιθραδάτης), the name of two Persian officers after the exile.
1. The treasurer (גַּזְבָּר) of king Cyrus, commissioned by him to restore the sacred vessels of the Temple to Sheshbazzar, the Jewish chief (Ezr_1:8). B.C. 536.
2. One of the governors of Samaria, who wrote to king Artaxxerxes, or Smerdis, charging the Jews with rebellious designs in rebuilding Jerusalem (Ezr_4:7). B.C. 522.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.