21
but to speak to our lord the king, in order that, if it seems good to you, search may be made in the records of your fathers.
22
You will find in the chronicles what has been written about them, and will learn that this city was rebellious, troubling both kings and other cities,
23
and that the Jews were rebels and kept setting up blockades in it from of old. That is why this city was laid waste.
24
Therefore we now make known to you, O lord and king, that if this city is built and its walls finished, you will no longer have access to Coelesyria and Phoenicia."
25
Then the king, in reply to Rehum the recorder and Beltethmus and Shimshai the scribe and the others associated with them and living in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, wrote as follows:
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.