1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel ; 2Then 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 Esar-haddon king of Assur , which brought us up hither . 3But Zerubbabel , and Jeshua , and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel , said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an 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. 4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah , and troubled them in building , 5And 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 .
The Letter to King Artaxerxes
6And in the reign of Ahasuerus , in the beginning of his reign , wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem . 7And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam , Mithredath , Tabeel , 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 . 8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort : 9Then wrote Rehum the chancellor , and Shimshai the scribe , and the rest of their companions ; the Dinaites , the Apharsathchites , the Tarpelites , the Apharsites , the Archevites , the Babylonians , the Susanchites , the Dehavites , and the Elamites , 10And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over , and set in the cities of Samaria , and the rest that are on this side the river , and at such a time .
The Impact of Opposition
11This 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 . 12Be 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 . 13Be 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 . 14Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace , and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour , therefore have we sent and certified the king ; 15That search 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 . 16We 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 . 17Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor , and to Shimshai 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 . 18The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. 19And 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. 20There 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. 21Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease , and that this city be not builded , until another commandment shall be given from me . 22Take heed now that ye fail not to do this : why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings ? 23Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum , and Shimshai the scribe , and their companions , they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews , and made them to cease by force and power . 24Then 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 .