Ezra:4

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* Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple to the LORD God of Israel ; * Then they came to Zerubbabel , and to the chief of the fathers , and said to them , Let us build with you : for we seek your God , as you do ; and we do sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur , which brought us up here . * But Zerubbabel , and Jeshua , and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel , said to them , You have nothing to do with us to build an house to our God ; but we ourselves together will build to the LORD God of Israel , as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us . * Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah , and troubled them in building , * And hired counsellors against them , to frustrate their purpose , all the days of Cyrus king of Persia , even until the reign of Darius king of Persia . * And in the reign of Ahasuerus , in the beginning of his reign , wrote they to him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem . * And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam , Mithredath , Tabeel , and the rest of their companions , to Artaxerxes king of Persia ; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue , and interpreted in the Syrian tongue . * Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort : * 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 , * And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over , and set in the cities of Samaria , and the rest that are on this side the river , and at such a time . * This is the copy of the letter that they sent to him , even to Artaxerxes the king ; Your servants the men on this side the river , and at such a time . * Be it known to the king , that the Jews which came up from you to us are come to Jerusalem , building the rebellious and the bad city , and have set up the walls thereof , and joined the foundations . * Be it known now to the king , that , if this city be built , and the walls set up again , then will they not pay toll , tribute , and custom , and so you shall damage the revenue of the kings . * Now because we have maintenance from the king ' palace , and it was not meet for us to see the king ' dishonor , therefore have we sent and certified the king ; * That search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers : so shall you 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 moved sedition within the same of old time : for which cause was this city destroyed . * We certify the king that , if this city be built again , and the walls thereof set up , by this means you shall have no portion on this side the river . * Then sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor , and to Shimshai the scribe , and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria , and to the rest beyond the river , Peace , and at such a time . * The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me . * And I commanded , and search has been made , and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings , and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein . * There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem , which have ruled over all countries beyond the river ; and toll , tribute , and custom , was paid to them . * Give you now commandment to cause these men to cease , and that this city be not built , until another commandment shall be given from me . * Take heed now that you fail not to do this : why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings ? * Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes 'letter was read before Rehum , and Shimshai the scribe , and their companions , they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews , and made them to cease by force and power . * Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem . So it ceased to the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia .

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