17
"To Your Majesty Emperor Artaxerxes from your servants, the official correspondent Rehum, the secretary Shimshai, the other members of the council, and the judges of Greater Syria and Phoenicia.
18
"We want Your Majesty to know that the Jews who came here from your other territories have settled in Jerusalem and are rebuilding that evil and rebellious city. They are restoring the marketplaces, repairing the walls, and laying the foundations for a Temple.
19
If this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the people will stop paying taxes and will even rebel against royal authority.
20
Since work on the Temple has already begun, we consider it appropriate not to overlook such an important matter
21
but to bring it to the attention of Your Majesty. Then, if it seems proper to you, a search may be made in the records your ancestors kept.
22
You will find information about these matters in the historical records, and you will discover that this city has always been rebellious and given trouble to other cities and kings.
23
The Jews have used it from ancient times as a base for rebellions and wars. That is why the city was destroyed.
24
We therefore declare to you that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, Your Majesty will no longer be able to enter Greater Syria and Phoenicia."
25
The emperor sent the following answer to the official correspondent Rehum, Beltethmus, the secretary Shimshai, and their associates who lived in Samaria, Syria, and Phoenicia:
26
"After reading the letter which you sent me, I gave orders for an investigation to be made, and it has indeed been found that from ancient times Jerusalem has revolted against royal authority,
27
and its people have been involved in insurrections and wars. Powerful and cruel kings have reigned there and have ruled over Greater Syria and Phoenicia, from which they collected taxes.