Rehum and Shimshai are figures mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Ezra, which details the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon and the subsequent rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Their roles are significant in the context of opposition to this rebuilding effort.

Rehum

Rehum is identified as the "commander" or "chancellor" in the Persian administration during the reign of King Artaxerxes. He is noted for his opposition to the Jewish efforts to rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem. Rehum, along with Shimshai and other officials, wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes to halt the construction efforts. This letter is recorded in Ezra 4:8-16. In this letter, Rehum and his associates accuse the Jews of rebuilding a rebellious and wicked city, suggesting that if the city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the Jews will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, thereby harming the royal revenue.

The letter from Rehum and his colleagues was effective in temporarily halting the rebuilding efforts, as King Artaxerxes ordered the work to cease until further notice. This opposition highlights the political and social challenges faced by the Jewish community during this period of restoration.

Shimshai

Shimshai is referred to as the "scribe" in the same context as Rehum. As a scribe, Shimshai would have been responsible for drafting and recording official documents, including the letter sent to King Artaxerxes. His role as a scribe indicates his involvement in the administrative and bureaucratic processes of the Persian Empire.

Shimshai's participation in the opposition against the Jews underscores the organized and official nature of the resistance to the rebuilding efforts. The collaboration between Rehum and Shimshai, along with other officials, reflects the broader geopolitical dynamics of the time, where local leaders sought to maintain control and influence over their regions by appealing to the central authority of the Persian king.

Biblical Context

The account of Rehum and Shimshai is situated within the broader narrative of the Book of Ezra, which chronicles the return of the Jewish exiles and the challenges they faced in re-establishing their religious and communal life in Jerusalem. The opposition from figures like Rehum and Shimshai serves as a reminder of the external pressures and hostilities that the Jewish community had to navigate during this period.

The actions of Rehum and Shimshai are part of a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where the people of Israel face opposition from surrounding nations and authorities. This theme underscores the perseverance and faithfulness required to fulfill God's purposes despite external challenges.

Scriptural Reference

The primary scriptural reference for Rehum and Shimshai is found in the Book of Ezra, particularly in Ezra 4:8-16. The Berean Standard Bible provides the following account:

"Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech, and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, and the other peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates. (This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes: From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates: Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have returned to us at Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are completing the walls and repairing the foundations. Let it now be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will suffer."

This passage highlights the political maneuvering and the use of official channels to oppose the work of God’s people, a challenge that is met with divine intervention and perseverance in the subsequent chapters of Ezra.