Ezra 4:2-10

2they approachedH5066H413 ZerubbabelH2216H413 and the headsH7218 of the familiesH1, sayingH559, “Let us buildH1129 with youH5973 becauseH3588, like you, we seekH1875 your GodH430H587 and have been sacrificingH2076 to Him sinceH3808 the timeH3117 of KingH4428 Esar-haddonH634 of AssyriaH804, who broughtH5927 usH853 hereH6311.”

3But ZerubbabelH2216, JeshuaH3442, and the otherH7605 headsH7218 of the familiesH1 of IsraelH3478 repliedH559, “You have noH3808 part with us in buildingH1129 a houseH1004 for our GodH430, sinceH3588 weH587 aloneH3162 must buildH1129 it for the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, asH834 CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539 has commanded usH6680.”

4ThenH1961 the peopleH5971 of the landH776 set out to discourageH7503H3027 the peopleH5971 of JudahH3063 and make them afraidH1089 to buildH1129. 5They hiredH7936 counselorsH3289 against themH5921 to frustrateH6565 their plansH6098 throughoutH3605 the reignH3117 of CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539 and down toH5704 the reignH4438 of DariusH1867 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539.

6At the beginningH8462H4438 of the reignH4438 of XerxesH325,1 an accusationH7855 was lodgedH3789 againstH5921 the peopleH3427 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

7And in the daysH3117 of ArtaxerxesH783 king of PersiaH6539, BishlamH1312, MithredathH4990, TabeelH2870, and the rest ofH7605 his associatesH3674 wroteH3789 a letter toH5921 ArtaxerxesH4428H783. It was writtenH3789 in AramaicH762 and then translatedH8638.2

8RehumH7348 the commanderH1169H2942 and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 wroteH3790 the letterH104 againstH5922 JerusalemH3390 to KingH4430 ArtaxerxesH783 as followsH3660:

9

From RehumH7348 the commanderH1169H2942, ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and the restH7606 of their associatesH3675—the judgesH1784 and officialsH671 over TripolisH2967, PersiaH670, ErechH756 and BabylonH896, the ElamitesH5962 of SusaH7801, 10and the restH7606 of the peoplesH524 whomH1768 the greatH7229 and honorableH3358 AshurbanipalH6203 deportedH1541 and settledH3488H1994 in the citiesH7149 ofH1768 SamariaH8115 and elsewhereH7606 westH5675 of the EuphratesH5103H3706.4