In the days of (A)Artaxerxes also, [a]Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in (B)Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language. [b]Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion:

[c]From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions—representatives of (C)the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia and Erech and Babylon and [d]Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites, 10 (D)and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond [e]the River—(E)and[f] so forth.

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

To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, [g]and so forth:

12 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 (F)rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its (G)walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay (H)tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished. 14 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, 15 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.

16 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:7 Or in peace
  2. Ezra 4:8 The original language of Ezra 4:8 through 6:18 is Aramaic.
  3. Ezra 4:9 Lit. Then
  4. Ezra 4:9 Or Susa
  5. Ezra 4:10 The Euphrates
  6. Ezra 4:10 Lit. and now
  7. Ezra 4:11 Lit. and now

And in the days of Artaxerxes(A) 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(B) language.[a][b]

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

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

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

To King Artaxerxes,

From your servants in Trans-Euphrates:

12 The 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.(H)

13 Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty(I) will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer.[c] 14 Now 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, 15 so that a search may be made in the archives(J) 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.(K) 16 We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:7 Or written in Aramaic and translated
  2. Ezra 4:7 The text of 4:8–6:18 is in Aramaic.
  3. Ezra 4:13 The meaning of the Aramaic for this clause is uncertain.