15_EZR_04_01 now when the adversaries of Judah And Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel ;
15_EZR_04_02 Then they came to Zerubbabel , And to the chief of the fathers , And said unto them , let us build with you : for we seek your God , as ye [ do ] ; And we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur , which brought us up hither .
15_EZR_04_03 but Zerubbabel , And Jeshua , And the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel , said unto them , ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God ; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel , as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us .
15_EZR_04_04 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah , And troubled them in building ,
15_EZR_04_05 And hired counsellors against them , to frustrate their purpose , all the days of Cyrus king of Persia , even until the reign of Darius king of Persia .
15_EZR_04_06 And in the reign of Ahasuerus , in the beginning of his reign , wrote they [ unto him ] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah And Jerusalem .
15_EZR_04_07 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam , Mithredath , Tabeel , And the rest of their companions , unto Artaxerxes king of Persia ; And the writing of the letter [ was ] written in the Syrian tongue , And interpreted in the Syrian tongue .
15_EZR_04_08 Rehum the chancellor And Shimshai the scribe wrote A letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort :
15_EZR_04_09 Then [ wrote ] Rehum the chancellor , And Shimshai the scribe , And the rest of their companions ; the Dinaites , the Apharsathchites , the Tarpelites , the Apharsites , the Archevites , the Babylonians , the Susanchites , the Dehavites , [ And ] the Elamites ,
15_EZR_04_10 And the rest of the nations whom the great And noble Asnapper brought over , And set in the cities of Samaria , And the rest [ that are ] on this side the river , And at such A time .
15_EZR_04_11 this [ Is ] the copy of the letter that they sent unto him , [ even ] unto Artaxerxes the king ; thy servants the men on this side the river , And at such A time .
15_EZR_04_12 be it known unto the king , that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem , building the rebellious And the bad city , And have set up the walls [ thereof ] , And joined the foundations .
15_EZR_04_13 be it known now unto the king , that , if this city be builded , And the walls set up [ again , Then ] will they not pay toll , tribute , And custom , And [ So ] thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings .
15_EZR_04_14 now because we have maintenance from [ the king's ] palace , And it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour , therefore have we sent And certified the king ;
15_EZR_04_15 that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers : So shalt thou find in the book of the records , And know that this city [ Is ] A rebellious city , And hurtful unto kings And provinces , And that they have moved sedition within the same of old time : for which cause was this city destroyed .
15_EZR_04_16 we certify the king that , if this city be builded [ again ] , And the walls thereof set up , by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river .
15_EZR_04_17 [ Then ] sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor , And [ to ] Shimshai the scribe , And [ to ] the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria , And [ unto ] the rest beyond the river , peace , And at such A time .
15_EZR_04_18 the letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me .
15_EZR_04_19 And I commanded , And search hath been made , And it Is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings , And [ that ] rebellion And sedition have been made therein .
15_EZR_04_20 there have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem , which have ruled over all [ countries ] beyond the river ; And toll , tribute , And custom , was paid unto them .
15_EZR_04_21 give ye now commandment to cause These men to cease , And that this city be not builded , until [ another ] commandment shall be given from me .
15_EZR_04_22 take heed now that ye fail not to do this : why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings ?
15_EZR_04_23 now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter [ was ] read before Rehum , And Shimshai the scribe , And their companions , they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews , And made them to cease by force And power .
15_EZR_04_24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which [ Is ] at Jerusalem . So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia .