Chapter 4 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children
of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel, then they came to
Zerubbabel and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build
with you, for we seek your God as ye do, and we do sacrifice unto him, since the
days of Esarhaddon king of Azur, which brought us up hither.
But Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel said
unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God,
but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the
king of Persia hath commanded us.
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled
them in building, and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose
all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of
Persia.
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign,
wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
And in the days of Artaxerxes, wrote Bishlam, Mithridath, Tabeal,
and the rest of their companions unto Artaxerxes king of Persia.
And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in
the Syrian tongue.
Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshi the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem
to Artaxerxes the king, in this sort.
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshi the scribe, and the rest of
their companions, the Dinaites, the Arphastathkites, the Tarpalites,
the Arphasites, the Archivites, the Babylonians, the Susankites,
the Dehavites, and the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great
and noble Arsnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria,
and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the
king.
Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us,
are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set
up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
Be it known now unto the king, that if this city be builded, and the
walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom.
And so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us
to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king,
that such may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers.
So shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a
rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved
sedition within the same of old time.
For which cause was this city destroyed?
We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set
up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
Then sent the king an answer unto Rehom the chancellor, and to Shimshi the scribe,
and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond
the river.
Peace.
And at such a time, the letter which he sent unto us, hath been plainly read
before me.
And I commanded, And search hath been made, and it is found that this city of
old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition
have been made therein.
There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all
countries beyond the river, and toll, tribute, and custom was paid unto them.
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not
builded until another commandment shall be given from me.
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this.
Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehom, and Shimshi
the scribe and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto
the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
Then ceased the work of the house of God, which is at Jerusalem.
So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia.