CHAPTER 4
When the enemies
of Judah
and Benjamin
heard
that
the exiles
were building
a temple
for the LORD,
the God
of Israel,
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."
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
the king
of Persia
has commanded us."
Then
the people
of the land
set out to discourage
the people
of Judah
and make them afraid
to build.
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.
At the beginning
of the reign
of Xerxes,
an accusation
was lodged
against
the people
of Judah
and Jerusalem.
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 translated for the king.
The Aramaic script read as follows:
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 rest
of the peoples
whom
the great
and honorable
Ashurbanipal
relocated
and settled
in the cities
of
Samaria
and
elsewhere 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
from
you
have returned
to us
at Jerusalem.
And they are rebuilding
that rebellious
and wicked
city,
restoring
its walls,
and repairing
its foundations.
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.
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
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.
We
advise
the king
that
if
this
city
is rebuilt
and its walls
are restored,
you will have
no
dominion
west
of the Euphrates.
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.
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.
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.
Now, therefore,
issue
an order
for these
men
to stop,
so that this
city
will not
be rebuilt
until
I
so order.
See that you
do not neglect
this matter.
Why
allow this threat
to increase
and the royal
interests to suffer?
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.
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 King
Darius
of Persia.