Holy Bible
(King James Version)
Ezra:
Chapter 4
1. NOW
when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of
the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
2. Then they came to Ze-rub-ba-bel, and to the chief of the fathers, and
said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do;
and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of E-sar-had-don king of
Assur, which brought us up hither.
3. But Ze-rub-ba-bel, and Jesh-u-a, and the rest of the chief of the
fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to
build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto
the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded
us.
4. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of
Judah, and troubled them in building,
5. And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all
the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Da-ri-us king
of Persia.
6. And in the reign of A-has-u-e-rus, in the beginning of his reign,
wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and
Jerusalem.
7. And in the days of Ar-ta-xerx-es wrote Bishlam, Mith-re-dath,
Tab-eel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of
Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue,
and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
8. Rehum the chancellor and Shim-shai the scribe wrote a letter against
Jerusalem to Ar-ta-xerx-es the king in this sort:
9. Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shim-shai the scribe, and the
rest of their companions; the Di-na-ites, the A-phar-sath-chites, the
Tar-pe-lites, the A-phar-sites, the Ar-che-vites, the Babylonians, the
Su-san-chites, the De-ha-vites, and the Elamites.
10. And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper
brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on
this side the river, and at such a time.
11. This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto
Ar-ta-xerx-es the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and
at such a time.
12. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to
us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city,
and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
13. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and
the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and
custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
14. Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was
not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and
certified the king;
15. That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers:
so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city
is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that
they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause
was this city destroyed.
16. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the
walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this
side the river.
17. Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shim-shai
the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria,
and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
18. The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
19. And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that
this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings and that
rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
20. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled
over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was
paid unto them.
21. Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this
city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
22. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to
the hurt of the kings?
23. Now when the copy of king Ar-ta-xerx-es' letter was read before
Rehum, and Shim-shai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in
haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and
power.
24. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem.
So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Da-ri-us king of
Persia.
June 12 Daily reading schedule.. go to chapter 5
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