21
Consequently, I ordered a search to be made. It was discovered that this city has indeed rallied against kings in the past, that the people in it revolted frequently and started wars,
19
The king wrote back to the recorder Rehum, Beltethmus, the scribe Shimshai, and their associates living in Samaria, Syria, and Phoenicia, as follows:
21
Consequently, I ordered a search to be made. It was discovered that this city has indeed rallied against kings in the past, that the people in it revolted frequently and started wars,
22
and that powerful and cruel kings have ruled in Jerusalem and exacted taxes from Coele-Syria and Phoenicia.
23
Therefore, I issued orders to prevent these people from rebuilding the city