a.phar.se.khay denotes a named group accompanying Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai beyond the river.

The term identifies a plural, determined group described as the companions of Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai beyond the river in both attested clauses.

1. A group accompanying named officials · dominant

   In Ezra 5:6, the determined masculine plural form occurs in the description of those who sent a letter to Darius; the APB renders the group as “the Apharsachites” among Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai's companions. In Ezra 6:6, the same form again identifies those companions in the command directed to Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai; the APB renders “the Apharsachites who are beyond the river.”

   Ezra 5:6Ezra 6:6

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across both verses, the APB presents the group as “the Apharsachites,” describing them as companions associated with Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai. This rendering is treated as the verse-level presentation rather than a precise lexical equivalent.