Add parallel Print Page Options

These enemies even wrote letters to the king of Persia trying to stop the Jews. They wrote a letter the year that Xerxes[a] became the king of Persia.

Enemies Against Rebuilding Jerusalem

Later, when Artaxerxes became the new king of Persia, some of these men wrote another letter complaining about the Jews. The men who wrote the letter were Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the other people in their group. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.[b]

[c] Then Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against the people of Jerusalem. They wrote the letter to Artaxerxes the king. This is what they wrote:

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:6 Xerxes King of Persia about 485–465 B.C.
  2. Ezra 4:7 The letter … translated Or “The letter was written in the local language, but with Aramaic characters, and then translated into Aramaic.” This would mean the scribe used the “modern” Aramaic alphabet rather than the older alphabet that was still being used in Judah.
  3. Ezra 4:8 Here, the original language changes from Hebrew to Aramaic.

Bible Gateway Recommends

PDT Flexcover Bible, Case of 24
PDT Flexcover Bible, Case of 24
Retail: $215.76
Our Price: $166.21
Save: $49.55 (23%)
ERV Duotone Bible, Black/Grey
ERV Duotone Bible, Black/Grey
Retail: $18.99
Our Price: $10.86
Save: $8.13 (43%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
Swahili New Testament Easy to Read Version (ERV) case of 40
Swahili New Testament Easy to Read Version (ERV) case of 40
Retail: $200.00
Our Price: $159.22
Save: $40.78 (20%)
PDT Children's Softcover Bible, Case of 20
PDT Children's Softcover Bible, Case of 20
Retail: $219.80
Our Price: $161.31
Save: $58.49 (27%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars
Holy Bible Easy to Read Version (ERV) English Green/Tan (Duotone)
Holy Bible Easy to Read Version (ERV) English Green/Tan (Duotone)
Retail: $18.99
Our Price: $10.86
Save: $8.13 (43%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
Kannada Bible with References
Kannada Bible with References
Retail: $23.99
Our Price: $21.49
Save: $2.50 (10%)