Opposition to Rebuilding the City

At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus,[a](A) the people who were already in the land[b](B) wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem. During the time of King Artaxerxes of Persia,[c](C) Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic(D) and translated.[d][e]

Rehum the chief deputy and Shimshai the scribe(E) wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes concerning Jerusalem as follows:

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:6 = Xerxes; he reigned 486–465 b.c.
  2. Ezra 4:6 Lit people of the land
  3. Ezra 4:7 Artaxerxes reigned 465–425 b.c.
  4. Ezra 4:7 Lit translated. Aramaic:
  5. Ezra 4:7 Ezr 4:8–6:18 is written in Aram.

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,[a](A) they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.(B)

And in the days of Artaxerxes(C) 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(D) language.[b][c]

Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:6 Hebrew Ahasuerus
  2. Ezra 4:7 Or written in Aramaic and translated
  3. Ezra 4:7 The text of 4:8–6:18 is in Aramaic.