Opposition to the Rebuilding
1
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building
a temple for the LORD, th God of Israel,
2
they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said,
"Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God an have been sacrificing
to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."
3
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel
answered, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our God.
We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus,
the king of Persia, commanded us."
4
Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah
and make them afraid to go on building.
5
They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans
during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign
of Darius king of Persia.
Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes
6
At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation
against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7
And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel
and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes.
The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.
8
Rehum the commanding officer and Shinshai the secretary wrote a letter
against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:
9
Rehum the commanding officer and Shinshai the secretary, together with
the rest of their associates - the judges and officials over the men from
Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
10
and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported
and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.
11
(This is a copy of the letter they sent him.)
To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men of Trans-Euphrates:
12
The king should know that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone
to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city.
They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.
13
Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored,
no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and the royal revenues will suffer.
14
Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us
to see the king dishonored, we are sendung this message to inform the king.
15
so that a search may be made in the archives of your predessors.
In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city,
troublesome to kings and provinces, a place of rebellion from ancient times.
That is why this city was destroyed.
16
We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored,
you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.
17
The king sent this reply: To Rehum the commanding officer,
Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria
and eleswhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings.
18
The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence.
19
I issued an order and a search was made and it was found that this city
has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion
and sedition.
20
Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates,
and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them.
21
Now issue an order to these men to stop work,
so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
22
Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow,
to the detriment of the royal interests?
23
As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum
and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately
to the Jews in in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.
24
Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill
until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
