7
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.
8
Rehum, the chancellor, and Shimshai, the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes, the king, in this sort:
9
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,
10
and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar
(Sennacherib) brought over and set in the cities of Samaria and the rest
that are on the other side of the river, and of Cheenet.
11
This
is the copy of the letter that they sent: Unto Artaxerxes, the king: Thy servants, the men of the other side of the river, and of Cheenet.
12
Be it known unto the king that the Jews who came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have founded the walls
thereof and joined the foundations.
13
Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city is rebuilt, and the walls founded, they will not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so the revenue of the kings shall be reduced.
14
Now because we are salted with the salt of the palace, and it is not just unto us to see the king’s dishonour; therefore, we have sent to make this known unto the king,
15
that search may be made in the book of the records of our 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 from old time they form rebellions in the midst of her, for which cause this city was destroyed.
16
We notify the king that if this city is built
again, and its walls founded, the portion on the other side of the river shall no longer be yours.
17
The king sent this answer unto Rehum, the chancellor, and
to Shimshai, the scribe, and
to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria and to the rest of those of the other side of the river and to Cheenet.