nkjv Ezra:4:12-24 SEEK
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Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem ,
and are building the rebellious and evil city ,
and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations .
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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 .
*
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 ,
*
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 .
*
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 .
*
The king sent an answer :
To Rehum the commander ,
to Shimshai the scribe ,
to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria ,
and to the remainder beyond the River :
Peace ,
and so forth .
*
The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me .
*
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 .
*
There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem ,
who have ruled over all the region beyond the River ;
and tax ,
tribute ,
and custom were paid to them .
*
Now give the command to make these men cease ,
that this city may not be built until the command is given by me .
*
Take heed now that you do not fail to do this .
Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings ?
*
Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes '
letter was read before Rehum ,
Shimshai the scribe ,
and their companions ,
they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews ,
and by force of arms made them cease .
*
Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased ,
and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia .