Ezra 4:6-8

New International Version

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]

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