Now when the adversaries{H6862} of Judah{H3063} and Benjamin{H1144} heard{H8085} that the children{H1121} of the captivity{H1473} were building{H1129} a temple{H1964} unto Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of Israel;{H3478}

then they drew{H5066} near to Zerubbabel,{H2216} and to the heads{H7218} of fathers'{H1} [houses], and said{H559} unto them, Let us build{H1129} with you; for we seek{H1875} your God,{H430} as ye do; and we sacrifice{H2076} unto him since the days{H3117} of Esar-haddon{H634} king{H4428} of Assyria,{H804} who brought us up hither.{H5927}

But Zerubbabel,{H2216} and Jeshua,{H3442} and the rest{H7605} of the heads{H7218} of fathers'{H1} [houses] of Israel,{H3478} said{H559} unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building{H1129} a house{H1004} unto our God;{H430} but we ourselves together{H3162} will build{H1129} unto Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of Israel,{H3478} as king{H4428} Cyrus{H3566} the king{H4428} of Persia{H6539} hath commanded{H6680} us.

Then the people{H5971} of the land{H776} weakened{H7503} the hands{H3027} of the people{H5971} of Judah,{H3063} and troubled{H926} them in building,{H1129}

and hired{H7936} counsellors{H3289} against them, to frustrate{H6565} their purpose,{H6098} all the days{H3117} of Cyrus{H3566} king{H4428} of Persia,{H6539} even until the reign{H4438} of Darius{H1867} king{H4428} of Persia.{H6539}

And in the reign{H4438} of Ahasuerus,{H325} in the beginning{H8462} of his reign,{H4438} wrote{H3789} they an accusation{H7855} against the inhabitants{H3427} of Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem.{H3389}

And in the days{H3117} of Artaxerxes{H783} wrote{H3789} Bishlam,{H1312} Mithredath,{H4990} Tabeel,{H2870} and the rest{H7605} of his companions,{H3674} unto Artaxerxes{H783} king{H4428} of Persia;{H6539} and the writing{H3791} of the letter{H5406} was written{H3789} in the Syrian [character],{H762} and set forth{H8638} in the Syrian [tongue].{H762}

Rehum{H7348} the chancellor{H1169} and Shimshai{H8124} the scribe{H5613} wrote{H3790} a{H2298} letter{H104} against{H5922} Jerusalem{H3390} to Artaxerxes{H783} the king{H4430} in this sort:{H3660}

then{H116} [wrote] Rehum{H7348} the chancellor,{H1169} and Shimshai{H8124} the scribe,{H5613} and the rest{H7606} of their companions,{H3675} the Dinaites,{H1784} and the Apharsathchites,{H671} the Tarpelites,{H2967} the Apharsites,{H670} the Archevites,{H756} the Babylonians,{H896} the Shushanchites,{H7801} the Dehaites,{H1723} the Elamites,{H5962}

and the rest{H7606} of the nations{H524} whom{H1768} the great{H7229} and noble{H3358} Osnappar{H620} brought over,{H1541} and set{H3488} in the city{H7149} of Samaria,{H8115} and in the rest{H7606} [of the country] beyond{H5675} the River,{H5103} and so forth.{H3706}

This{H1836} is the copy{H6573} of the letter{H104} that{H1768} they sent{H7972} unto{H5922} Artaxerxes{H783} the king:{H4430} Thy servants{H5649} the men{H606} beyond{H5675} the River,{H5103} and so forth.{H3706}

Be it{H1934} known{H3046} unto the king,{H4430} that the Jews{H3062} that{H1768} came up{H5559} from{H4481} thee{H3890} are come{H858} to us{H5922} unto Jerusalem;{H3390} they are building{H1124} the rebellious{H4779} and the bad{H873} city,{H7149} and have finished{H3635} the walls,{H7792} and repaired{H2338} the foundations.{H787}

Be it known{H3046} now{H3705} unto the king,{H4430} that, if{H2006} this{H1791} city{H7149} be builded,{H1124} and the walls{H7792} finished,{H3635} they will not{H3809} pay{H5415} tribute,{H1093} custom,{H1983} or toll,{H4061} and in the end it will be hurtful{H5142} unto{H674} the kings.{H4430}

Now{H3705} because{H6903} we eat{H1768} the salt{H4415} of the palace,{H1965} and it is not{H3809} meet{H749} for us to see{H2370} the king's{H4430} dishonor,{H6173} therefore{H5922} have we sent{H7972} and certified{H3046} the king;{H4430}

that search{H1240} may be made in the book{H5609} of the records{H1799} of thy fathers:{H2} so shalt thou find{H7912} in the book{H5609} of the records,{H1799} and know{H3046} that this{H1791} city{H7149} is a rebellious{H4779} city,{H7149} and hurtful{H5142} unto kings{H4430} and provinces,{H4083} and that they have moved{H5648} sedition{H849} within the same{H1459} of{H4481} old{H5957} time;{H3118} for{H5922} which{H1836} cause was this{H1791} city{H7149} laid waste.{H2718}

We{H586} certify{H3046} the king{H4430} that, if{H2006} this{H1791} city{H7149} be builded,{H1124} and the walls{H7792} finished,{H3635} by this{H1836} means{H6903} thou shalt have{H383} no{H3809} portion{H2508} beyond{H5675} the River.{H5103}

[ Then] sent{H7972} the king{H4430} an answer{H6600} unto{H5922} Rehum{H7348} the chancellor,{H1169} and to{H5922} Shimshai{H8124} the scribe,{H5613} and to the rest{H7606} of their companions{H3675} that dwell{H3488} in Samaria,{H8115} and in the rest{H7606} [of the country] beyond{H5675} the River:{H5103} Peace,{H8001} and so forth.

The letter{H5407} which ye sent{H7972} unto us{H5922} hath been plainly{H6568} read{H7123} before{H6925} me.

And I{H4481} decreed,{H7761} and search{H1240} hath been made, and it is found{H7912} that this{H1791} city{H7149} of{H4481} old{H5957} time{H3118} hath made insurrection{H5376} against{H5922} kings,{H4430} and that rebellion{H4776} and sedition{H849} have been made{H5648} therein.

There have been{H1934} mighty{H8624} kings{H4430} also over{H5922} Jerusalem,{H3390} who have ruled{H7990} over all{H3606} [the country] beyond{H5675} the River;{H5103} and tribute,{H1093} custom,{H1983} and toll,{H4061} was paid{H3052} unto them.

Make{H7761} ye now{H3705} a decree{H2942} to cause{H989} these{H479} men{H1400} to cease,{H989} and that this{H1791} city{H7149} be not{H3809} builded,{H1124} until{H5705} a decree{H2941} shall be made{H7761} by me.{H4481}

And take heed{H1934} that ye be{H5922} not slack{H7960} herein:{H1836} why{H4101} should damage{H2257} grow{H7680} to the hurt{H5142} of the kings?{H4430}

Then when{H4481} the copy{H6573} of king{H4430} Artaxerxes'{H783} letter{H5407} was read{H7123} before{H6925} Rehum,{H7348} and Shimshai{H8124} the scribe,{H5613} and their companions,{H3675} they went in haste{H924} to{H5922} Jerusalem{H3390} unto{H5922} the Jews,{H3062} and made them{H1994} to{H5922} cease{H989} by force{H153} and power.{H2429}

Then{H116} ceased{H989} the work{H5673} of the house{H1005} of God{H426} which is at Jerusalem;{H3390} and it ceased{H1934} until{H5705} the second{H8648} year{H8140} of the reign{H4437} of Darius{H1868} king{H4430} of Persia.{H6540}