them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do ; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, who brought us up here.
3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel, said to them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5 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.
6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote to him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. [1]
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian language, and interpreted in the Syrian language. [2] [3]
8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: [4]
9 Then 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, [5]
10 And 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 of the river, and now. [6]
11 this is the copy of the letter that they sent to him, even to Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side of the river, and now.
12 let it be known to the king, that the Jews who came from thee to us are come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the evil city, and have set up the walls, and joined the foundations. [7] [8]
13 Be it known now to the king, that, if this city shall be built, and the walls set up again, then they will not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt diminish the revenue of the kings. [9] [10]
14 Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not good for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and informed the king; [11]
15 That 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 to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same from of old: for which cause was this city destroyed. [12] [13]
16 We inform the king that, if this city shall be built again, and the walls set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side of the river.
17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, Peace, and now. [14]
18 the letter which ye sent to us hath been plainly read before me.
19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city from of old hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. [15] [16]
20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid to them.
21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until another commandment shall be given from me. [17]
22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the harm of the kings?
23 Now 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 to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. [18]
24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
CHAP. 5.
1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even to them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
4 Then said we to them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? [19]
5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter .
6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side of the river, sent to Darius the king:
7 They sent a letter to him, in which
- ↑ Ahasuerus: Heb. Ahashverosh
- ↑ Bishlam: or, in peace
- ↑ companions: Heb. societies
- ↑ scribe: or, secretary
- ↑ companions: Chaldee, societies
- ↑ at such...: Chaldee, Cheeneth
- ↑ set up: or, finished
- ↑ joined: Chaldee, sewed together
- ↑ pay: Chaldee, give
- ↑ revenue: or, strength
- ↑ we have...: Chaldee, we are salted with the salt of the palace
- ↑ moved: Chaldee, made
- ↑ within...: Chaldee, in the midst thereof
- ↑ companions: Chaldee, societies
- ↑ I commanded: Chaldee, by me a decree is set
- ↑ made insurrection: Chaldee, lifted up itself
- ↑ Give...: Chaldee, Make a decree
- ↑ by force...: Chaldee, by arm and power
- ↑ make: Chaldee, build
