Ezra:4:7-16
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And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam ,
Mithredath ,
Tabeel ,
and the rest of their companions ,
unto Artaxerxes king of Persia ;
and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue ,
and interpreted in the Syrian tongue .
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Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort :
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Then wrote Rehum the chancellor ,
and Shimshai the scribe ,
and the rest of their companions ;
the Dinaites ,
the Apharsathchites ,
the Tarpelites ,
the Apharsites ,
the Archevites ,
the Babylonians ,
the Susanchites ,
the Dehavites ,
and the Elamites ,
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And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over ,
and set in the cities of Samaria ,
and the rest that are on this side the river ,
and at such a time .
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This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him ,
even unto Artaxerxes the king ;
Thy servants the men on this side the river ,
and at such a time .
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Be it known unto the king ,
that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem ,
building the rebellious and the bad city ,
and have set up the walls thereof ,
and joined the foundations .
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Be it known now unto the king ,
that ,
if this city be builded ,
and the walls set up again ,
then will they not pay toll ,
tribute ,
and custom ,
and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings .
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Now because we have maintenance from the king '
s palace ,
and it was not meet for us to see the king '
s dishonour ,
therefore have we sent and certified the king ;
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That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers :
so shalt thou find in the book of the records ,
and know that this city is a rebellious city ,
and hurtful unto kings and provinces ,
and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time :
for which cause was this city destroyed .
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We certify the king that ,
if this city be builded again ,
and the walls thereof set up ,
by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river .