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.
24
Therefore now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Coelesyria and Phoenicia."
25
Then the king wrote back again to Rehum the recorder, to Beeltethmus, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest who were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, in this manner:
26
"I have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me. Therefore I commanded to make diligent search, and it hath been found that that city was from the beginning plotting against kings,
27
and the men therein were given to rebellion and war; and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tribute in Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
28
Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be no more done in it,