Ezra 4

¹ When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,

² they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of families and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God just as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."

³ But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of families of Israel said to them, "You have no part with us in building a house to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us."

⁴ Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.

⁵ They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

⁶ At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they lodged an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic script and translated into Aramaic.

⁸ Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:

⁹ Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges, the envoys, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites),

¹⁰ and the rest of the peoples whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and the rest of the province Beyond the River—and now:

¹¹ This is a copy of the letter they sent to him: "To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River. And now:

¹² Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.

¹³ Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, tax, or toll, and the royal revenue will be reduced.

¹⁴ Now since we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to see the king dishonored, we have sent and informed the king,

¹⁵ so that a search may be made in the book of records of your fathers. You will find in the book of records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited revolt within it from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

¹⁶ We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will have no possession in the province Beyond the River."

¹⁷ The king sent this reply: "To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and the rest of the province Beyond the River: Peace. And now:

¹⁸ The letter you sent to us has been read and translated before me.

¹⁹ I issued a decree, and a search was made. It was found that this city from ancient times has risen against kings and that rebellion and revolt have been made in it.

²⁰ Mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem who governed the entire province Beyond the River, and tribute, tax, and toll were paid to them.

²¹ Now issue a decree to make these men stop. This city must not be rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.

²² Be careful not to be negligent in this matter. Why should damage increase to the harm of kings?"

²³ As soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went in haste to Jerusalem and stopped the Jews by force of arms.

²⁴ At that time the work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.