Ezra 4

Opposition to Rebuilding

1When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the exile were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of ancestral houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar-Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.” 3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of ancestral houses of Israel said to them, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God. We ourselves together will build for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, king of Persia, commanded us.” 4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and frightened them from building. 5They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Accusations under Later Persian Kings

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 their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The text of the document was written in Aramaic and translated in Aramaic. 8Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows. 9Then Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges, officials, administrators, Persians, people of Erech, Babylonians, people of Susa, that is, Elamites, 10and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River—and so forth.

The Letter to Artaxerxes

11This is a copy of the letter that they sent to him:

“To King Artaxerxes: Your servants, the people Beyond the River. And now: 12Let it be known to the king that the Judeans who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding the rebellious and evil 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 the walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, tax, or toll, and in the end it will cause loss to the kings. 14Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to see the king dishonored, therefore we have sent and made this known to the king, 15so that a search may be made in the book of the records of your ancestors. You will find in the book of records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that rebellion has been stirred up within it from ancient days. For this reason this city was destroyed. 16We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will have no possession in the province Beyond the River.”

Artaxerxes Orders the Work Stopped

17The king sent an answer:

“To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and elsewhere in the province Beyond the River:

Peace. And now: 18The document that you sent to us has been read clearly before me. 19By my command a search was made, and it was found that this city has risen against kings from ancient days and that rebellion and revolt have been made in it. 20Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and governed all the province Beyond the River, and tribute, tax, and toll were paid to them. 21Now issue a command to make these men stop, so that this city is not rebuilt until a command is issued by me. 22Be careful not to neglect this. Why should damage increase to the injury of the kings?”

The Work on the Temple Stops

23Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ document was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went quickly to Jerusalem to the Judeans and made them stop by force and power. 24Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped and remained stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.