Ezra 4:6-17

6Now in the reignH4438 of 12AhasuerusH325, in the beginningH8462 of his reignH4438, they wroteH3789 an accusationH7855 againstH5921 the inhabitantsH3427 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

7And in the daysH3117 of 3ArtaxerxesH783, BishlamH1312, MithredathH4990, TabeelH2870 and the restH7605 of his colleaguesH3674 wroteH3789 to ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539; and the 4textH3791 of the letterH5406 was writtenH3789 in AramaicH762 and translatedH8638 5from AramaicH762. 86RehumH7348 the commanderH1169H2942 and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 wroteH3790 a letterH104 againstH5922 JerusalemH3390 to KingH4430 ArtaxerxesH783, as followsH3660-- 9thenH116 wrote RehumH7348 the commanderH1169H2942 and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 and 7the restH7606 of their colleaguesH3675, the judgesH1784 and 8the lesserH671 governorsH671, the officialsH2967, the secretariesH670, the menH756 of ErechH756, the BabyloniansH896, the menH7801 of SusaH7801, that is, the ElamitesH5962, 10and the restH7606 of the nationsH524 whichH1768 the greatH7229 and honorableH3358 9OsnapparH620 deportedH1541 and settledH3488 in the cityH7149 of SamariaH8115, and in the restH7606 of the regionH5675 beyondH5675 the 10RiverH5103. 11NowH3706 11thisH1836 is the copyH6573 of the letterH104 whichH1768 they sentH7972 to him:

“To KingH4430 ArtaxerxesH783: Your servantsH5649, the menH606 in the regionH5675 beyondH5675 the RiverH5103, and nowH3706 12let it be knownH3046 to the kingH4430 that the JewsH3062 whoH1768 cameH5559 up from you have comeH858 to us at JerusalemH3390; they are rebuildingH1124 12the rebelliousH4779 and evilH873 cityH7149 and 13are finishingH3635 the wallsH7792 and repairingH2338 the foundationsH787. 13NowH3705 let it be knownH3046 to the kingH4430, that ifH2006 that cityH7149 is rebuiltH1124 and the wallsH7792 are finishedH3635, 14they will not payH5415 tributeH4061, customH1093 or tollH1983, and it will damageH5142 the revenueH674 of the kingsH4430. 14NowH3705 becauseH3606H6903H1768 we 15are in the serviceH4415 of the palaceH1965, and it is not fittingH749 for us to seeH2370 the king’sH4430 dishonorH6173, thereforeH5922H1836 we have sentH7972 and informedH3046 the kingH4430, 15soH1768 that a searchH1240 may be madeH5648 in the recordH1799 booksH5609 of your fathersH2. And you will discoverH7912 in the recordH1799 booksH5609 and learnH3046 that that cityH7149 is a rebelliousH4779 cityH7149 and damagingH5142 to kingsH4430 and provincesH4083, and that they have incitedH5648 revoltH849 withinH1459 it in pastH5957 daysH3118; thereforeH5922H1836 that cityH7149 was laidH2718 wasteH2718. 16We informH3046 the kingH4430 that ifH2006 that cityH7149 is rebuiltH1124 and the wallsH7792 finishedH3635, as a resultH6903 you will haveH383 noH3809 possessionH2508 in the province beyondH5675 the RiverH5103.”

17Then the kingH4430 sentH7972 an answerH6600 to RehumH7348 the commanderH1169H2942, to ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and to the restH7606 of their colleaguesH3675 whoH1768 liveH3488 in SamariaH8115 and in the restH7606 of the provinces beyondH5675 the RiverH5103: “PeaceH8001. And nowH3706