Ezra 4:11

11 This is the copy of the letter they sent to him: To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the people west of the Euphrates:

Ezra 4:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 4:11

This is the copy of the letter they sent unto him, even
unto Artaxerxes the king
Which Ezra brought with him from Babylon, and is contained in the five following verses:

thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time;
this was the inscription of the letter, or the beginning of it.

Ezra 4:11 In-Context

9 At that time, Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe were with the others of their group--the people from Denya, Partakka, Tarpel, Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa, (that is, those of Elam),

10 and the rest of the people whom the great and noble Assurbanipal deported. (Assurbanipal settled them in the cities of Samaria and the rest of the lands west of the Euphrates River.)

11 This is the copy of the letter they sent to him: To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the people west of the Euphrates:

12 Your Majesty, you should know that the Jews who came to us from you are now in Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are close to finishing the walls. The foundations are already in place.

13 You should also know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, the Jews will no longer pay taxes, fees, and tolls. Ultimately, this will hurt the king's income.