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Ezra / Hostile Letters and the Suspension of Rebuilding
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Hostile Letters and the Suspension of Rebuilding

Ezra 4:6-24

4
Chapter 4
6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote accusations against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the letter was written in Aramaic script and translated into Aramaic. 8 Rehum the master of discernment and Shimshai the scribe wrote a new letter from Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as before. 9 Then Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their fellow officials—the judges, Persians, Tarpelites, Persians, Arkeans, Babylonians, Susanchites—who are the Eternal Ones. 10 and the remnant of the peoples whom Asenappar the great and honorable had settled in the city of Samaria and the rest beyond the River—and now. 11 This is a copy of the letter they sent to him, to King Artaxerxes: "Your servants, the men beyond the River—and now. 12 Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. 13 Now let the king know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, no tribute, tax, or duty will be paid, and the royal revenue will be harmed at that time. 14 Now, because the builders of the temple are building it, and because of the king's dishonor, it is not proper for us to overlook this. We are sending a message to inform the king. 15 that he will search in the book of the memoranda of your fathers and you will find in the book of the memoranda and you will know that this city is a city of rebellion and one damaging kings and provinces and rebels have been sending work in its midst from days of forever; on account of this your city is to be destroyed. 16 We are informing the king that if this city of yours is rebuilt and its walls completed, then a portion beyond the River will no longer belong to you. 17 The king sent this memorandum to Rehum the master of the decree, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates dwelling in Samaria and elsewhere beyond the River: "Peace, and now 18 The letter that you sent to us has been read clearly before me. 19 And from me a decree was issued, and they investigated and found that your city has rebelled against kings from days of eternity, and rebellion and provincial governorship have been served in it. 20 Mighty kings ruled over Jerusalem and governed all the region beyond the River, and tribute, tax, and duty were paid to them. 21 Now issue a decree to stop these men from coming to you in your city; it shall not be built until a decree is issued by me. 22 And they were warning to serve over Dannah, lest harm go astray to the damaging of kings. 23 Then, when the chancellor and the scribe of Artaxerxes the king had read this before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues, they went in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews and made them cease by force and army. 24 Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.