Ezra 4:7-23 ▼

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the letter was written in Aramaic and translated in Aramaic.

8 Rehum the owner of the command and Shimshai the scribe wrote one letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, thus:

9 Then Rehum the owner of the command, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, Dinaites, and Apharsathchites, Tarpelites, Apharsites, Archevites, Babylonians, Susanchites who are Elamite,

10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and honorable Osnappar removed and settled them in the city of Samaria, and the remainder beyond the River, and now.

11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent to him:) To Artaxerxes the king, from your servants, the men beyond the River, and now,

12 be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem; the rebellious and wicked city they are building, and its walls they are finishing, and the foundations they are repairing.

13 Now be it known to the king that if this city is built and the walls are completed, tax, tribute, and custom they will not pay, and the treasury of the king will be diminished.

14 Now according to all that the salt of the palace is our salt, and the nakedness of the king it was not proper for us to see, on account of this we have sent and informed the king,

15 that he may search in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records, and you will know that this city is a rebellious city, causing loss to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city from the days of old. On account of this was this city destroyed.

16 We are making known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, upon this, dominion beyond the River is not unto you.

17 The king sent an answer: To Rehum the owner of the command, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria and the remainder beyond the River, Peace. And now,

18 the letter that you? sent to us has been read clearly before me.

19 And I made a decree, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been made in it.

20 And there have been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.

21 Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until a decree is made by me.

22 And take heed of negligence to do upon this. Why should the damage become great to the harm of the kings?

23 Then from the time that the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and made them cease by force and strength.