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,
29
and that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings."
30
Then, King Artaxerxes' letters being read, Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and the rest who were in commission with them, moving in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.