Ezra 4:6-16
Christian Standard Bible
Opposition to Rebuilding the City
6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus,(A) the people who were already in the land(B) wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 During the time of King Artaxerxes of Persia,(C) Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic(D) and translated.[a]
8 Rehum the chief deputy and Shimshai the scribe(E) wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes concerning Jerusalem as follows:
9 From Rehum[b] the chief deputy, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues—the judges and magistrates[c] from Tripolis, Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa(F) (that is, the people of Elam),[d] 10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and illustrious Ashurbanipal[e] deported and settled in the cities of Samaria(G) and the region west of the Euphrates River.(H)
11 This is the text of the letter they sent to him:
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the region west of the Euphrates River:
12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished,(I) they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax,(J) and the royal revenue[f] will suffer. 14 Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king,[g] and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king 15 that a search should be made in your predecessors’ record books.(K) In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.
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Ezra 4:6-16
Common English Bible
Writing to King Artaxerxes
6 In the rule of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his rule, they composed an indictment against those who lived in Judah and Jerusalem. 7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their associates wrote to Persia’s King Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.[a] 8 Rehum the royal deputy and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
9 From Rehum the royal deputy and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues, the judges, the administrators, the officials, the Persians, the people of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites), 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and famous Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River.
(11 This is a copy of the letter they sent to him.)
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the people of the province Beyond the River. 12 May it be known to the king that the Jews who left you and came to us have arrived in Jerusalem. They are rebuilding the rebellious and wicked city; they are completing the walls and repairing the foundations. 13 May it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls completed, they will not pay tribute or tax or dues, and the royal revenue will be reduced.
14 Since we receive our salary from the palace,[b] and since it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, we now send this letter[c] and inform the king 15 so that you may search the records of your ancestors. You will discover in the records that this is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that it has been in revolt over a long period of time. As a result, this city was laid waste. 16 We tell the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.
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