Ezra 4

Opposition to the Rebuilding

1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel, 2they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said to them, “Let us build with you, for like you we seek your God, and to him we have been sacrificing since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.” 3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house for our God. We ourselves will build it for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” 4Then the people of the land set about weakening the hands of the people of Judah and frightening them off from building. 5They hired counsellors against them to frustrate their plan, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia and on into the reign of Darius king of Persia. 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 his associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The text of the letter was written in Aramaic script and drawn up in the Aramaic tongue.

The Letter of Rehum and Shimshai

8Rehum the royal commissioner and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as follows: 9Writing at that time were Rehum the royal commissioner, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates — the judges, the envoys, the Tarpelites, the Persians, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the Susanites, the Dehavites, the Elamites, 10and the rest of the peoples whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Beyond the River. And now: 11This is a copy of the letter they sent him: “To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the men of Beyond the River. And now: 12Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived in Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked 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 its walls are finished, they will pay no tribute, tax or toll, and in the end the revenue of the kings will suffer. 14Now, because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to watch the king be dishonoured, we are sending word to inform the king, 15so that a search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. In that book of records you will find and learn that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that sedition has been stirred up inside it from ancient times. That is why this city was laid waste. 16We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will be left with no holding in Beyond the River.”

The King’s Answer and the Work Halted

17The king sent this answer: “To Rehum the royal commissioner, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and elsewhere in Beyond the River: greetings. And now: 18The letter you sent us has been read out and translated before me. 19I gave the order, and a search was made, and it was found that this city has risen against kings from ancient times, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. 20Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and held sway over all Beyond the River, and tribute, tax and toll were paid to them. 21Now issue an order that these men are to stop, and that this city is not to be rebuilt until an order is given by me. 22Take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should the harm grow, to the loss of the kings?” 23As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they hurried to the Jews in Jerusalem and by force of arms compelled them to stop. 24So the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a halt, and it stayed at a halt until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.