Opposition to Rebuilding Jerusalem

But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Bishlam, Mithridates, Tab′eel, Rehum, Beltethmus, Shim′shai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, living in Samar′ia and other places, wrote him the following letter, against those who were living in Judea and Jerusalem:

Then the king, in reply to Rehum the recorder and Beltethmus and Shim′shai the scribe and the others associated with them and living in Samar′ia and Syria and Phoenic′ia, wrote as follows:

The following are those who came up from Telmelah and Telharsha, under the leadership of Cherub, Addan, and Immer,

Of the priests the following had assumed the priesthood but were not found registered: the sons of Habai′ah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Jaddus who had married Agia, one of the daughters of Barzil′lai, and was called by his name.

The Temple Is Dedicated

Then Sisinnes the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenic′ia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, following the orders of King Darius,

The King’s Mandate

The following is a copy of the written commission from Artaxerxes the king which was delivered to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Lord: