Ezra 4

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

2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the ancestral houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God just as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”

3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the ancestral houses of Israel said to them, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God. We alone will build it for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”

4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.

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

6In the reign of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

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

8Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows.

9Then Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the scribe wrote, together with the rest of their associates—the judges, the envoys, the officials, the Persians, the people of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa, that is, the Elamites,

10and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, and so on.

11This is a copy of the letter they sent him: “To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River. And now:

12Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.

13Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal revenue will suffer.

14Now since we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not right for us to watch the king be dishonored, we are sending to inform the king,

15so that a search may be made in the record books of your predecessors. In the record books you will find and learn that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that people have stirred up revolt in it from long ago. That is why this city was laid waste.

16We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will then have no possession left in the province Beyond the River.”

17The king sent this reply: “To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River: Greetings. And now:

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

19I issued a decree, and a search was made, and it was found that this city has risen up against kings from long ago, and that rebellion and revolt have been carried on in it.

20Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and governed the whole province Beyond the River, and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.

21Now issue a decree to make these men stop, so that this city is not rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.

22Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why should the damage grow and harm the kings?”

23As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they hurried to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped them by force and power.

24Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped, and it remained stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.