Ezra 4
4When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the descendants of the Babylonian captivity had built their temple to the Lord, the God of Israel,H6862H3063H1144H8085H1121H1473H1129H1964H3068H430H34782they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families with this message: "Let's build along with you, because, like you, we seek your God, as do you, and we've been making sacrifices to him since the reign of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who brought us here."H5066H2216H7218H1H559H1129H1875H430H2076H3117H634H4428H804H59273But Zerubabbel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel replied, "You have no part in our plans for building a temple to our God, because we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, in accordance with the decree issued by King Cyrus, king of Persia."H2216H3442H7605H7218H1H3478H559H1129H1004H430H3162H1129H3068H430H3478H4428H3566H4428H6539H66804After this, the non-Israelite inhabitants of the land undermined the people of Judah, harassing them in their construction workH5971H776H7503H3027H5971H3063H926H1089H11295by bribing their consultants in order to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia until Darius became king.H7936H3289H6565H6098H3117H3566H4428H6539H4438H1867H4428H65396At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they lodged a formal accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.H4438H325H8462H4438H3789H7855H3427H3063H33897While Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their co-conspirators wrote in the Aramaic language and script to King Artaxerxes of Persia. Aramaic:H3117H783H3789H1312H4990H2870H7605H3674H783H4428H6539H3791H5406H3789H762H8638H7628Governor Rehum and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:H7348H1169H2942H8124H5613H3790H2298H104H5922H3390H783H4430H36609From Governor Rehum Shimshai the scribe The rest of their colleagues - Judges, envoys, officials, Persians, the people of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa(that is, the Elamites)H116H7348H1169H2942H8124H5613H7606H3675H1784H671H2967H670H756H896H7801H1723H596210and many other nations whom the great and honorable Osnappar deported and resettled in Samaria and in the rest of the province beyond the Euphrates River.H7606H524H1768H7229H3358H620H1541H3488H1994H7149H8115H7606H5675H5103H370611This is the text of the letter they sent. To: King Artaxerxes From: Your servants, the men of the province beyond the Euphrates River.H1836H6573H104H1768H7972H5922H783H4430H5649H606H5675H5103H370612May the king be advised that the Jews who came from you to us have reached Jerusalem and are rebuilding a rebellious and wicked city, having completed its walls and repaired its foundations.H1934H3046H4430H3062H1768H5559H4481H3890H5922H858H3390H1124H4779H873H7149H3635H3635H7792H2338H78713May the king be further advised that if this city is rebuilt and its walls erected, its citizens will refuse to pay tributes, taxes, and tariffs, thereby restricting royal revenues.H3046H1934H3705H4430H2006H1791H7149H1124H7792H3635H3809H5415H4061H1093H1983H5142H674H443014Now, because we are royal employees and are committed to preserving the reputation of the king, we have written to the king and have declared its contents to be true,H3705H6903H3606H1768H4415H4416H1965H3809H749H2370H4430H6173H5922H1836H7972H3046H443015urging that a search may be made in the official registers of your predecessors. You will discover in the registers that this city is a rebellious city, that it is damaging to both kings and provinces, that it has been moved to sedition from time immemorial, and that because of this it was destroyed.H1240H5609H1799H2H7912H5609H1799H3046H1791H7149H4779H7149H5142H4430H4083H5648H849H1459H4481H5957H3118H5922H1836H1791H7149H271816We certify to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will lose your land holdings in the province beyond the Euphrates River.H586H3046H4430H2006H1791H7149H1124H7792H3635H1836H6903H383H3809H2508H5675H510317The king replied: To: Governor Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues living in Samaria, and the remainder living beyond the Euphrates River. Greetings:H7972H4430H6600H5922H7348H1169H2942H8124H5613H7606H3675H3488H8115H7606H5675H5103H8001H370618The memorandum you sent to us has been read and carefully considered.H5407H7972H5922H6568H7123H692519Pursuant to my edict, an investigation has been undertaken. It is noted that this city has fomented rebellion against kings from time immemorial, and that rebellion and sedition has occurred in it.H4481H7761H2942H1240H7912H1791H7149H4481H5957H3118H5376H5922H4430H4776H849H564820Powerful kings have reigned over Jerusalem, including ruling over all lands beyond the Euphrates River. Furthermore, taxes, tribute, and tolls have been paid to them.4H1934H8624H4430H5922H3390H7990H3606H5675H5103H4061H1093H1983H305221Accordingly, issue an order to force these men to cease their work so that this city is not rebuilt until you receive further notice from me.4H7761H3705H2942H989H479H1400H989H1791H7149H3809H1124H5705H2941H7761H448122Be diligent and take precautions so that you do not neglect your responsibility in this matter. Why should the kingdom sustain any more damage -H1934H2095H7960H5922H5648H1836H4101H2257H7680H5142H443023As soon as a copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, to Shimshai the scribe, and to their colleagues, they traveled quickly to Jerusalem and compelled the Jews to cease by force of arms.H116H4481H1768H6573H4430H783H5407H7123H6925H7348H8124H5613H3675H236H924H3390H5922H3062H1994H989H153H242924As a result, work on the temple of God in Jerusalem ceased and did not begin again until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.H116H989H5673H1005H426H3390H1934H989H5705H8648H8140H4437H1868H4430H6540
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