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.
