Ezra 4:5-7

New International Version

⁵ They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

⁶ At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,^[a](A) they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.^(B)

⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes^(C) king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic^(D) language.^[b][c]