13
And this was the number of them: a thousand golden cups and a thousand of silver, censers of silver twenty-nine, vials of gold thirty and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels.
14
So all the vessels of gold and of silver which were carried away were five thousand four hundred threescore and nine.
15
These were brought back by Sheshbazzar, together with those of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem.
16
But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Bishlam, and Mithredath, and Tabeel, and Rehum, and Beeltethmus, and Shimshai the secretary, with others who were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him against those who dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following:
17
To King Artaxerxes our lord, thy servants Rehum the recorder, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges who are in Coelesyria and Phoenicia:
18
Be it now known to the lord the king that the Jews who have come up from you to us, having come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the marketplaces and repair the walls of it and lay the foundation of the temple.
19
Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.
20
And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,
21
but to speak unto our lord the king with the intent that, if it be thy pleasure, it may be sought out in the books of thy fathers.
22
And thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shalt understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities,
23
and that the Jews were rebellious and raised always wars therein, for which cause even this city was made desolate.