Ezra 4:6-23
At the begining of the reign of Xerxes the emperor, the enemies of the people living in Judah and Jerusalem brought written charges against them.
Again, in the reign of Artaxexers, emperor of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their associates wrote a letter to the emperor. The letter was written in Aramaic and was to be translated when read.
Also Rehum, the governor, and Shimshai, secretary of the province, from their associates, the judges and from all the other officials, who are men originally from Erech of Elam, together with the other people’s whom the great and powerful Ashurbanipal moved from their homes and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in the province of West Euphrates.
This is the text of the letter:
To Emperor Artaxerxes from his servants, the men of West Euphrates.
“We want Your Majesty to know that the Jews who came here from your other territories have settled in Jerusalem and are rebuilding that evil and rebellious city. They will soon finish them. Your Majesty, if this city is rebuilt and it’s walls are completed , the people will stop paying taxes, and your royal revenues will decrease. Now because we are under obligation to your Majesty, we do not want to see this happen, and so we suggest that you will discover that this city has always been rebellious and that from ancient times it has given trouble to kings and to rulers of provinces. It’s people have always been hard to govern. This is why the city was destroyed.
We therefore are convinced that if the city is rebuild and it’s walls are completed, Your Majesty will no longer be able to control the province of West Euphrates.
The emperor sent this answer:
“To Rehum, the governor, to Shimshai, secretary of the province, and to their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of West Euphrates greetings.
“The letter which you sent has been translated and read to me. I gave orders for an investigation to be made, and it has indeed been found that from ancient times Jerusalem has revolted against royal authority and that it has been full of rebels and troublemakers. Powerful kings have reigned there and have ruled over the entire province of West Euphrates, collecting taxes and revenue. Therefore you are to issue orders that those men are to stop rebuilding the city until I give further commands. Do this at once, so that no more harm may be done to my interests.
As soon as this letter from Artax erxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai, and their associates, they buried to Jerusalem and forced the Jews to stop rebuilding the city
May the LORD bless his word, Amen
English