Ezra 4

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

2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”

4 Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.

5 They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.

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

9 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,

10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.

11 (This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:

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

13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

14 Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king

15 that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.

17 Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.

18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

19 I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.

20 And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.

21 Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.

22 See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?

23 When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

24 Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

1 ¶ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

2 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.

3 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.

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5 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.

6 ¶ 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.

7 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.

8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

9 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,

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

13 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.

14 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;

15 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.

16 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.

17 ¶ [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.

18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23 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.

24 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.

1 And when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the prison were building the temple unto the LORD God of Israel,

2 And they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief fathers, and said unto them: We will build with you, for we seek your God, as ye do: and we have not sacrificed since the days of Assar Haddon king of Assyria, which brought us up.

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief fathers of Israel, answered them: It is not fitting for us or you to build the house of our God, but we will build only to the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia commanded us.

4 And the people of the land restrained the hand of the people of Judah, and discouraged them from building.

5 And they hired counselors against them, and prevented their counsel, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, unto the kingdom of Darii king of Persia.

6 For when Ahasuerus was king, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote a charge against them of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Arthahsastha wrote Bislam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their council, unto Arthahsastha king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in Syriac, and was interpreted in Syriac.

8 And Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote this letter against Jerusalem unto Arthazer the king:

9 We, Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and others of the council of Dinah, and of Apharsah, and of Tarpla, and of Persia, and of Arach, and of Babylon, and of Shushan, and of Deha, and of Elam

10 And the rest of the people, whom the great and renowned Asnaphar brought over, and set them in the cities of Samaria, and in other cities on this side the river, and in Canaan.

11 And this is the substance of the letter which they sent unto Arthahsaxerxes the king: Thy servants, the men that are on this side the river, and in Canaan.

12 Let it be known unto the king, that the Jews which are come up from thee unto us are come to Jerusalem, to the rebellious and wicked city, and build it, and make the walls thereof, and bring it up out of the ground.

13 Now therefore let it be known unto the king, that when this city is built, and the walls thereof rebuilt, they shall not give the treasury, nor the toll, nor the yearly tribute; and the taking thereof shall be a hurt to kings.

14 But now that we all are present, having destroyed the temple, we would no longer see the king's reproach: therefore let us send and let it be known unto the king,

15 Let it be searched in the book of the chronicles of thy fathers, and thou shalt find in the book of the same chronicles, and shalt know that this city is rebellious and hurtful unto kings and countries, and make others also to fall away of old time, wherefore the city is also destroyed.

16 Therefore let it be known unto the king, that wheresoever this city is built, and the walls thereof are made, thou shalt not retain any thing of it on this side the river.

17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their council that dwelt in Samaria, and to the rest that were beyond the river; peace and salutation.

18 the letter which ye have sent us is publicly read before me.

19 And I commanded that they should search. And it hath been found, that this city of old time hath rebelled against the kings, and there is rebellion and sedition therein.

20 And there were mighty kings in Jerusalem, which ruled over all that was beyond the river, and gave them the tribute, and the treasury, and the yearly interest.

21 Do therefore according to this commandment: Forbid these men that the city be not built, until I give the commandment.

22 Take heed therefore that ye be not negligent therein; lest harm come unto the king.

23 And it came to pass, when the letter of king Arthur was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their council, that they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and rebuked them with their arm and with violence.

24 And he ceased from the work of the house of God which was in Jerusalem, and continued until the second year of Darii king of Persia.