¹⁷ Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River:

Peace.

¹⁸ The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it. ²⁰ There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. ²¹ Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree is made by me. ²² Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

²³ Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms. ²⁴ Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.