Adversaries Hinder the Work 1 ULT Now the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the exile were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel. BSB BSB: When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
2 ULT So they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the fathers and they said to them,“Let us build with you, for, like you, we seek your God and to him we have been sacrificing since the days of Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, the one who caused us to come up here.” BSB BSB: they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
3 ULT But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel said to them,“It is not for you and for us to build a house for our God, but we ourselves together will build for Yahweh, the God of Israel, just as the king Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us.” BSB BSB: But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”
4 ULT And it happened that the people of the land were making the hands of the people of Judah weak, and making them afraid to build, BSB BSB: Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.
5 ULT and hiring counselors against them to frustrate their plans all the days of Cyrus, the king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius, the king of Persia. BSB BSB: They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes 6 ULT Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against those who dwelled in Judah and Jerusalem. BSB BSB: At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 ULT And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, and the script of the letter was written in Aramaic and was interpreted in Aramaic. BSB BSB: And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.
8 ULT Rehum, a lord of decree, and Shimshai the scribe wrote one letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows: BSB BSB: Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
9 ULT Then Rehum, a lord of decree, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the judges and the rulers, the officials, the Persians, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the Susaites(that is, the Elamites), BSB BSB: From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
10 ULT and the rest of the nations whom Ashurbanipal the great and the noble caused to be exiled and caused them to dwell in the cities of Samaria, and the rest of Beyond- the- River. And now: BSB BSB: and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.
11 ULT (This is a copy of the letter that they sent to him.)“To Artaxerxes the king; your servants, men of Beyond- the- River; and now: BSB BSB: (This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:
12 ULT let it be known to the king that the Jews who went up from near you have come to us at Jerusalem. Rebuilding the rebellious and evil city, they are completing the walls and repairing the foundations. BSB BSB: Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.
13 ULT Now let it be known to the king that if that city is built and the walls are completed, they will not give tax, tribute, or custom, and the revenue of the kings will suffer harm. BSB BSB: Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
14 ULT Now, because we have eaten the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the nakedness of the king, on account of this we have sent and made known to the king, BSB BSB: Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king
15 ULT so that he may search in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will discover in the book of the records and learn that that city is a rebellious city and one that has caused harm to kings and provinces, and they have made revolt in its midst since the ancient days. On account of this, that city was destroyed. BSB BSB: that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
16 ULT We are making known to the king that if that city is built and the walls are completed, because of this there will be no share for you in Beyond- the- River.” BSB BSB: We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.
The Decree of Artaxerxes 17 ULT The king sent the answer:“To Rehum, a lord of decree, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and the rest of Beyond the River: Peace. And now: BSB BSB: Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
18 ULT The letter that you sent to us has been carefully read aloud before me. BSB BSB: The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.
19 ULT So from me was set a decree, and they searched and discovered that that city since the ancient days has risen up against kings and rebellion and revolt have been made in it. BSB BSB: I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.
20 ULT And mighty kings were over Jerusalem, even rulers over all of Beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them. BSB BSB: And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
21 ULT Now, set a decree to stop these men, so that city may not be rebuilt until the decree is set from me. BSB BSB: Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
22 ULT And be careful of negligence of action concerning this. Why should the damage increase to the harm of the kings?” BSB BSB: See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
23 ULT Then from when the copy of the letter of Artaxerxes the king was read aloud before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in a hurry to Jerusalem against the Jews, and they stopped them by an arm and strength. BSB BSB: When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
24 ULT At that time the work of the house of God which is in Jerusalem stopped, and it was stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, the king of Persia. BSB BSB: Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.