Ezra 4:5-7

Expanded Bible

⁵ Their enemies ·hired others [bribed officials] to ·delay [frustrate] the building plans ·during [throughout] the time Cyrus was king of Persia. And it continued to the time Darius was king of Persia [^C522–486 bc].

More Problems for the Builders

⁶ When ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus; ^Cruled 486–465 bc; Esth. 1:1] first became king, those enemies ·wrote [filed; lodged] a ·letter [^Laccusation] against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

⁷ When Artaxerxes [^Cruled about 465–425 B.C.] became king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and those with them wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in the Aramaic language and translated.