Ezra 4:9 - Prayer Tents



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Ezra 4
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A Plot to Hinder the Work

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,H6862H3063H1144H8085H1121H1473H1129H1964H3068H430H3478
2they 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."H5066H2216H7218H1H559H1129H1875H430H2076H3117H634H4428H804H5927
3But 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."H2216H3442H7605H7218H1H3478H559H1129H1004H430H3162H1129H3068H430H3478H4428H3566H4428H6539H6680

The Plot Succeeds—for a While

4After this, the non-Israelite inhabitants of the land undermined the people of Judah, harassing them in their construction workH5971H776H7503H3027H5971H3063H926H1089H1129
5by bribing their consultants in order to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia until Darius became king.H7936H3289H6565H6098H3117H3566H4428H6539H4438H1867H4428H6539
6At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they lodged a formal accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.H4438H325H8462H4438H3789H7855H3427H3063H3389
7While 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:H3117H783H3789H1312H4990H2870H7605H3674H783H4428H6539H3791H5406H3789H762H8638H762
8Governor Rehum and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:H7348H1169H2942H8124H5613H3790H2298H104H5922H3390H783H4430H3660
9From 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)H116H7348H1169H2942H8124H5613H7606H3675H1784H671H2967H670H756H896H7801H1723H5962
10and 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.H7606H524H1768H7229H3358H620H1541H3488H1994H7149H8115H7606H5675H5103H3706
11This is the text of the letter they sent. To: King Artaxerxes From: Your servants, the men of the province beyond the Euphrates River.H1836H6573H104H1768H7972H5922H783H4430H5649H606H5675H5103H3706
12May 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.H1934H3046H4430H3062H1768H5559H4481H3890H5922H858H3390H1124H4779H873H7149H3635H3635H7792H2338H787
13May 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.H3046H1934H3705H4430H2006H1791H7149H1124H7792H3635H3809H5415H4061H1093H1983H5142H674H4430
14Now, 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,H3705H6903H3606H1768H4415H4416H1965H3809H749H2370H4430H6173H5922H1836H7972H3046H4430
15urging 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.H1240H5609H1799H2H7912H5609H1799H3046H1791H7149H4779H7149H5142H4430H4083H5648H849H1459H4481H5957H3118H5922H1836H1791H7149H2718
16We 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.H586H3046H4430H2006H1791H7149H1124H7792H3635H1836H6903H383H3809H2508H5675H5103

The Response of Ahasuerus

17The king replied: To: Governor Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues living in Samaria, and the remainder living beyond the Euphrates River. Greetings:H7972H4430H6600H5922H7348H1169H2942H8124H5613H7606H3675H3488H8115H7606H5675H5103H8001H3706
18The memorandum you sent to us has been read and carefully considered.H5407H7972H5922H6568H7123H6925
19Pursuant 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.H4481H7761H2942H1240H7912H1791H7149H4481H5957H3118H5376H5922H4430H4776H849H5648
20Powerful kings have reigned over Jerusalem, including ruling over all lands beyond the Euphrates River. Furthermore, taxes, tribute, and tolls have been paid to them.4H1934H8624H4430H5922H3390H7990H3606H5675H5103H4061H1093H1983H3052
21Accordingly, 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.4H7761H3705H2942H989H479H1400H989H1791H7149H3809H1124H5705H2941H7761H4481
22Be diligent and take precautions so that you do not neglect your responsibility in this matter. Why should the kingdom sustain any more damage -H1934H2095H7960H5922H5648H1836H4101H2257H7680H5142H4430

Reconstruction Ceases

23As 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.H116H4481H1768H6573H4430H783H5407H7123H6925H7348H8124H5613H3675H236H924H3390H5922H3062H1994H989H153H2429
24As 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


International Standard Version. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version®. Copyright © 1996-forever by The ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission. More details.
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