Ezra 4:6-16

New International Version

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

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

⁷And 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]

⁸Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

⁹Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates^(E)—the judges, officials and administrators over the people from Persia, Uruk^(F) and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,^(G) ¹⁰and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal^(H) deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.^(I)

¹¹(This is a copy of the letter they sent him.)

To King Artaxerxes,

From your servants in Trans-Euphrates:

¹²The king should know that the people who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.^(J)

¹³Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty^(K) will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer.^[d] ¹⁴Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, ¹⁵so that a search may be made in the archives^(L) of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed.^(M) ¹⁶We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.