Ezra 4:12-14

International Children’s Bible

¹² King Artaxerxes, you remember the Jews who came to us from you. You should know they have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that evil city that refuses to obey. They are fixing the walls and repairing the foundations of the buildings.

¹³ Now, King Artaxerxes, you should know what could happen. If Jerusalem is built and its walls are fixed, Jerusalem will pay no taxes of any kind. Then the amount of money your government collects will be less. ¹⁴ Since we must be loyal to the government, we don’t want to see the king dishonored. So we are writing to let the king know.