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Ezra
Chapter 4
1
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin
heard
that the children of the captivity
built
the temple unto Jehovah/God . . . 'Elohiym/Godhead 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 'Elohiym/Godhead,
as
you do
and
we do sacrifice unto Him
since
the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur,
which
brought us up here.
3
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua,
and
the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them,
"You
have nothing to do with us
to
build an house unto our 'Elohiym/Godhead.
But
we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah/God . . .
'Elohiym/Godhead
of Israel,
as
king Cyrus the king of Persia has 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 counselors 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, Asnapper, 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,
"Your
servants the men on this side the river,
and
at such a time. 12
Be
it known unto the king,
that
the Jews, who came up from you 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 built,
and
the walls set up again,
then
will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom,
and
so you shall damage 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 dishonor,
therefore
have we sent and certified the king 15
that
search may be made
in
the book of the records of your fathers . . .
so
shall you 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 built again,
and
the walls thereof set up,
by
this means you shall 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 you sent unto us
has
been plainly read before me. 19
And
I commanded,
and
search has been made,
and
it is found that this city of old time
has
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
you now commandment to cause these men to cease,
and
that this city be not built,
until
another commandment shall be given from me. 22
Take heed now that you 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 'Elohiym/Godhead which is at Jerusalem.
So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
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