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(This is the text of the letter they sent him.) "To Artach'shashta the king from his servants the people beyond the River:
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"Let the king know that the Judeans who left you to come to us in Yerushalayim are building this rebellious and wicked city. They have finished the walls and are now digging the foundations.
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So let the king know that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, they will refuse to pay tribute, tax or toll; and this will reduce the royal revenue.
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Now, because we eat the king's salt, and it is not right for us to see the king dishonored, we therefore are sending to inform the king,
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so that a search can be made in the archives of your ancestors; in these archives you will find and ascertain that this city is indeed a rebellious city, the bane of kings and provinces, and that sedition has been fostered there since ancient times - which is why this city was destroyed.
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We submit to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, you will soon lose possession of all territories beyond the River."
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The king sent this answer: "To Rechum the district governor, Shimshai the secretary, their other colleagues living in Shomron, and the rest beyond the River: "Shalom!
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"The letter you sent us has now been translated for me.
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I ordered a search made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings, that rebellion and sedition have been fostered there;
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also that there have been powerful kings over Yerushalayim who ruled all the territory beyond the River; and tribute, taxes and tolls were paid to them.
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"So now, order that these men stop work and that this city not be rebuilt until I order it.