Now when the adversaries of Judah
and Benjamin
heard
that the children
of the captivity
builded
the temple
unto the LORD
God
of Israel
;
Then they came to Zerubbabel
, and to the chief
of the fathers
, and said
unto them, Let us build
with you: for we seek
your God
, as ye do ; and we do sacrifice
unto him since the days
of Esarhaddon
king
of Assur
, which brought us up hither
.
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua
, and the rest
of the chief
of the fathers
of Israel
, said
unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build
an house
unto our God
; but we ourselves together
will build
unto the LORD
God
of Israel
, as king
Cyrus
the king
of Persia
hath commanded
us.
Then the people of the land
weakened
the hands
of the people
of Judah
, and troubled
them in building
,
And hired counsellors
against them, to frustrate
their purpose
, all the days
of Cyrus
king
of Persia
, even until the reign
of Darius
king
of Persia
.
And in the reign of Ahasuerus
, in the beginning
of his reign
, wrote
they unto him an accusation
against the inhabitants
of Judah
and Jerusalem
.
And in the days of Artaxerxes
wrote
Bishlam
, Mithredath
, Tabeel
, and the rest
of their companions
, unto Artaxerxes
king
of Persia
; and the writing
of the letter
was written
in the Syrian tongue
, and interpreted
in the Syrian tongue
.
Rehum the chancellor
and Shimshai
the scribe
wrote
a
letter
against
Jerusalem
to Artaxerxes
the king
in this sort
:
Then wrote Rehum
the chancellor
, and Shimshai
the scribe
, and the rest
of their companions
; the Dinaites
, the Apharsathchites
, the Tarpelites
, the Apharsites
, the Archevites
, the Babylonians
, the Susanchites
, the Dehavites
, and the Elamites
,
And the rest of the nations
whom
the great
and noble
Asnappar
brought over
, and set
in the cities
of Samaria
, and the rest
that are on this side
the river
, and at such a time
.
This is the copy
of the letter
that
they sent
unto him
, even unto Artaxerxes
the king
; Thy servants
the men
on this side
the river
, and at such a time
.
Be it known
unto the king
, that the Jews
which
came up
from
thee
to us
are come
unto Jerusalem
, building
the rebellious
and the bad
city
, and have set up
the walls
thereof , and joined
the foundations
.
Be it known now
unto the king
, that, if
this
city
be builded
, and the walls
set up
again, then will they not
pay
toll
, tribute
, and custom
, and so thou shalt endamage
the revenue
of the kings
.
Now because
we have
maintenance
from the king's palace
, and it was not
meet
for us to see
the king's
dishonour
, therefore
have we sent
and certified
the king
;
That search may be made in the book
of the records
of thy fathers
: so shalt thou find
in the book
of the records
, and know
that this
city
is a rebellious
city
, and hurtful
unto kings
and provinces
, and that they have moved
sedition
within the same
of
old
time
: for
which
cause was this
city
destroyed
.
We certify
the king
that, if
this
city
be builded
again , and the walls
thereof set up
, by this
means
thou shalt have
no
portion
on this side
the river
.
Then sent the king
an answer
unto
Rehum
the chancellor
, and to Shimshai
the scribe
, and to the rest
of their companions
that dwell
in Samaria
, and unto the rest
beyond
the river
, Peace
, and at such a time
.
The letter which ye sent
unto us
hath been plainly
read
before
me.
And I commanded
, and search
hath been made, and it is found
that this
city
of
old
time
hath made insurrection
against
kings
, and that rebellion
and sedition
have been made
therein.
There have been mighty
kings
also over
Jerusalem
, which have ruled
over all
countries beyond
the river
; and toll
, tribute
, and custom
, was paid
unto them.
Give ye now
commandment
to cause
these
men
to cease
, and that this
city
be not
builded
, until
another commandment
shall be given
from me
.
Take heed now that ye fail
not to do
this
: why
should damage
grow
to the hurt
of the kings
?
Now when
the copy
of king
Artaxerxes
' letter
was read
before
Rehum
, and Shimshai
the scribe
, and their companions
, they went up
in haste
to Jerusalem
unto
the Jews
, and made them
to cease
by force
and power
.
Then ceased
the work
of the house
of God
which is at Jerusalem
. So it ceased
unto
the second
year
of the reign
of Darius
king
of Persia
.