Àzrah (Ezra) — 4
Resistance to Rebuilding the Temple
1 Now when the adversaries of Yahudah and Banyamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL,
2 they came to Zarubbabal and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Asarhaddun king of Assyria, who brought us here.”
3 But Zarubbabal and Yashua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Yashar'AL said to them, “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH; but we alone will build to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Yahudah. They troubled them in building,
5 And hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Rebuilding of Yahushalam Opposed
6 In the reign of Ahasuarus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Yahudah and Yahushalam.
7 In the days of Artaxarxas also, Bishlam, Mithradath, Tabal, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxarxas king of Persia; and the letter was written in Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language.
8 Rahum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Yahushalam to King Artaxarxas in this fashion:
9 From Rahum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, representatives of the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpalites, the people of Persia and Arach and Babylun and Shushan, the Dahavites, the Alamites,
10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Usnappar took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond the River and so forth.
11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him.) To King Artaxarxas from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth:
12 Let it be known to the king that the Yahudym who came up from you have come to us at Yahushalam, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations.
13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished.
14 Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king,
15 That search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed.
16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.
17 The king sent an answer: To Rahum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Shalum, and so forth.
18 The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me.
19 And I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it.
20 There have also been mighty kings over Yahushalam, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.
21 Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.
22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?
23 Now when the copy of King Artaxarxas’ letter was read before Rahum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Yahushalam against the Yahudym, and by force of arms made them cease.
24 Thus the work of the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH which is at Yahushalam ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.