Ezra:4:6-16

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* And in the reign of Ahasuerus , in the beginning of his reign , they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem . * And in the days of Artaxerxes , Bishlam , Mithredath , Tabeel , and the rest of his companions , wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia . And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian [character ], and set forth in the Syrian [tongu * Rehum the chancellor , and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this way . * Then [wrote ] Rehum the chancellor , and Shimshai the scribe , and the rest of their companions , the Dinaites , and the Apharsathchites , the Tarpelites , the Apharsites , the Archevites , the Babylonians , the Shushanchites , the Dehaites , * and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over , and set in the city of Samaria , and in the rest beyond the River , and so forth . * This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king : Thy servants the men beyond the River , and so forth . * Be it known to the king , that the Jews who came up from thee have come to us to Jerusalem . They are building the rebellious and the evil city , and have finished the walls , and repaired the foundations . * Be it known now to the king , that , if this city be built , and the walls finished , they will not pay tribute , custom , or toll , and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings . * Now because we eat the salt of the palace , and it is not fitting for us to see the king 's dishonor , therefore we have sent and certified to the king , * that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers . So thou shall find in the book of the records , and know that this city is a rebellious city , and hurtful to kings and provinces . And that they have made sedition wi * We certify to the king that , if this city be built , and the walls finished , by this means thou shall have no portion beyond the River .

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