Ezra 4:17-23

17Then the kingH4430 sentH7972 this replyH6600:

ToH5922 RehumH7348 the commanderH1169H2942, ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and the restH7606 of your associatesH3675H1768 livingH3488 in SamariaH8115 and elsewhereH7606 in the region westH5675 of the EuphratesH5103:

GreetingsH8001H3706.

18The letterH5407H1768 you sentH7972 usH5922 has been translatedH6568 and readH7123 in my presenceH6925. 19I issuedH4481H7761 a decreeH2942, and a search was conductedH1240. It was discoveredH7912 thatH1768 thisH1791H4481 cityH7149 has revoltedH5376 againstH5922 kingsH4430 from ancientH5957 timesH3118, engaging in rebellionH4776 and seditionH849H5648. 20And mightyH8624H1934 kingsH4430 have ruled overH5922 JerusalemH3390 and exercised authorityH7990 over the wholeH3606 region westH5675 of the EuphratesH5103; and tributeH4061, dutyH1093, and tollH1983 were paidH3052 to them.

21Now, thereforeH3705, issueH7761 an orderH2942 for theseH479 menH1400 to stopH989, so that thisH1791 cityH7149 will notH3809 be rebuiltH1124 untilH5705 IH4481 so orderH2942H7761. 22See that youH2095H1934 do not neglectH7960H5648H5922 this matterH1836. WhyH4101 allow this threatH2257 to increaseH7680 and the royalH4430 interests to sufferH5142?

23WhenH116H4481H1768 the textH6573 of the letterH5407 from KingH4430 ArtaxerxesH783 was readH7123 toH6925 RehumH7348, ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and their associatesH3675, they wentH236 immediatelyH924 toH5922 the JewsH3062 in JerusalemH3390 and forciblyH153H2429 stoppedH989 themH1994.