4
1 Now
when the
adversaries of
Judah and Benjamin
heard that the
children of the
captivity were
building a temple
to the LORD,
the God of
Israel,
2 they
came near to
Zerubbabel, and to
the heads
of fathers’ households, and said
to them, “Let
us build with
you, for we
seek your God
as you do; and
we have been
sacrificing to him
since the days
of Esar Haddon king
of Assyria, who
brought us up
here.”
3 But
Zerubbabel, Jeshua,
and the rest
of the heads
of fathers’ households
of Israel said to
them, “You have
nothing to do
with us in
building a house
to our God;
but we ourselves
together will
build to the
LORD, the God
of Israel, as
King Cyrus the
king of Persia
has commanded us.”
4 Then
the people of
the land weakened
the hands of
the people of
Judah, and troubled
them in building.
5 They
hired counselors
against them to
frustrate their
purpose all the
days of Cyrus
king of Persia,
even until the
reign of Darius
king of Persia.
6 In
the reign
of Ahasuerus, in
the beginning of
his reign, they
wrote an
accusation against
the inhabitants of
Judah and
Jerusalem.
7 In
the days
of Artaxerxes, Bishlam,
Mithredath, Tabeel,
and the rest
of his companions
wrote to Artaxerxes
king of Persia;
and the writing
of the letter
was written
in Syrian and delivered
in the Syrian language.
8 Rehum
the chancellor and
Shimshai the
scribe wrote
a letter against
Jerusalem to Artaxerxes
the king as
follows.
9 Then
Rehum the
chancellor, Shimshai
the scribe, and
the rest of their
companions, the
Dinaites, and
the Apharsathchites, the
Tarpelites, the Apharsites,
the Archevites, the Babylonians,
the Shushanchites, the Dehaites,
the Elamites,
10 and
the rest of
the nations whom
the great and
noble Osnappar brought over
and settled in
the city of
Samaria, and in
the rest of
the country beyond
the River, and
so forth, wrote.
11 This
is the copy
of the letter that
they sent:
To King Artaxerxes,
from your servants,
the people beyond
the River.
12 Be
it known to
the king that
the Jews who
came up from
you have come to
us to Jerusalem.
They are building
the rebellious
and bad city, and
have finished the
walls and repaired
the foundations.
13 Be
it known now
to the king
that if this
city is built
and the walls
finished, they
will not pay
tribute, custom,
or toll, and
in the end it
will be hurtful
to the kings.
14 Now
because we eat the
salt of the
palace and it
is not appropriate
for us to
see the king’s
dishonor, therefore
we have sent
and informed the
king,
15 that
search may be made
in the book
of the records
of your fathers.
You will see in
the book of
the records, and
know that this
city is a
rebellious city,
and hurtful to
kings and
provinces, and
that they
have started rebellions within
it in the
past. That is why
this city was
destroyed.
16 We
inform the king
that if this
city is built
and the walls
finished, then you
will have no
possession beyond
the River.
17 Then
the king sent
an answer to
Rehum the
chancellor, and to
Shimshai the
scribe, and to
the rest of their
companions who
live in Samaria,
and in the
rest of the country
beyond the River:
Peace.
18 The
letter which you
sent to us
has been plainly
read before me.
19 I decreed,
and search has been
made, and it
was found that
this city has
made insurrection
against kings in
the past, and
that rebellion
and revolts have been
made in it.
20 There have
also been mighty
kings over
Jerusalem who have
ruled over all
the country beyond
the River; and
tribute, custom,
and toll was
paid to them.
21 Make
a decree now
to cause these men
to cease, and that
this city not
be built until
a decree is
made by me.
22 Be careful
that you not
be slack doing so.
Why should damage
grow to the
hurt of the
kings?
23 Then
when the copy
of King Artaxerxes’
letter was read
before Rehum,
Shimshai the
scribe, and their
companions, they
went in haste to
Jerusalem to the
Jews, and made
them to cease
by force of arms.
24 Then
work stopped on God’s
house which is
at Jerusalem.
It stopped until
the second year
of the reign
of Darius king
of Persia.