Ezra:4

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* Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel Yisra #el #; * Then they came to Zerubbabel , and to the chief of the fathers , and said unto them , Let us build with you : for we seek your God , as ye do ; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon #Ecar-Chaddown # king of Assur , which brought us up hither . * But Zerubbabel , and Jeshua , and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel Yisra #el #, said unto them , Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God ; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel Yisra #el #, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us . * Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah , and troubled (8675 ) 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 unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem . * And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam , Mithredath , Tabeel tab @#el #, 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 . * Rehum the chancellor #H2942and Shimshai the scribe wrote k @ a letter against Jerusalem Y @ruwshalem (Chald )# to Artaxerxes the king in this sort : * Then wrote Rehum the chancellor #H2942 t @#em #, and Shimshai the scribe , and the rest of their companions ; the Dinaites , the Apharsathchites #Apharc @kay #, the Tarpelites , the Apharsites #Aphar @cay #, the Archevites #Ark @vay #, the Babylonians , the Susanchites , the Dehavites , and the Elamites , * And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over g @, and set y @ in the cities of Samaria , and the rest that are on this side the river , and at such a time k @#eneth #. * This is the copy of the letter that they sent sh @ unto him , even unto Artaxerxes the king ; Thy servants the men on this side the river , and at such a time k @#eneth #. * Be it known y @ unto the king , that the Jews which came up c @ from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem Y @ruwshalem (Chald )#, building b @ the rebellious and the bad city , and have set up k @ (8675 ) k @ the walls thereof , and joined the foundations . * Be it known y @ now unto the king , that , if this city be builded b @, and the walls set up k @ again , then will they not pay n @ toll , tribute , and custom , and so thou shalt endamage n @ the revenue of the kings . * Now because q @bel # we have maintenance m @ from the kings palace , and it was not meet for us to see the kings dishonour , therefore #H1836have we sent sh @ and certified y @ the king ; * That search b @ may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers : so shalt thou find sh @ in the book of the records , and know y @ that this city is a rebellious city , and hurtful n @ unto kings and provinces , and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time : for which cause was this city destroyed . * We certify y @ the king that , if this city be builded b @ again , and the walls thereof set up k @, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river . * Then sent sh @ the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor #H2942 t @#em #, and to Shimshai the scribe , and to the rest of their companions that dwell y @ in Samaria , and unto the rest beyond the river , Peace , and at such a time k @#eneth #. * The letter which ye sent sh @ unto us hath been plainly p @ read q @ before me . * And I commanded t @#em #, and search b @ hath been made , and it is found sh @ that this city of old time hath made insurrection n @ against kings , and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein . * There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem Y @ruwshalem (Chald )#, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river ; and toll , tribute , and custom , was paid y @ unto them . * Give ye now commandment to cause # these men to cease b @, and that this city be not builded b @, until another commandment ta #am #shall be given from me . * Take heed z @ now that ye fail not to do #H5648this : why should damage grow s @ to the hurt n @ of the kings ? * Now when min # the copy of king Artaxerxes letter was read q @ before Rehum , and Shimshai the scribe , and their companions , they went up in haste to Jerusalem Y @ruwshalem (Chald )# unto the Jews Y @huwda #iy #, and made them to cease b @ by force and power . * Then ceased b @ the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem Y @ruwshalem (Chald )#. So it ceased b @ unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia .

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