“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.” (Ezra 4:1-24 AV)
© 2011-2018 Kathy L. McFarland. All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy