¹⁷The king sent word to Reum Beelteem and Samsai the scribe, and to the rest that were in their council, inhabitants of Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, sending greeting and peace.

¹⁸The accusation, which you have sent to us, hath been plainly read before me,

¹⁹And I commanded: and search hath been made, and it is found, that this city of old time hath rebelled against kings, and seditions and wars have been raised therein.

²⁰For there have been powerful kings in Jerusalem, who have had dominion over all the country that is beyond the river: and have received tribute, and toll and revenues.

²¹Now therefore hear the sentence: Hinder those men, that this city be not built, till further orders be given by me.

²²See that you be not negligent in executing this, lest by little and little the evil grow to the hurt of the kings.

²³Now the copy of the edict of king Artaxerxes was read before Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counsellors: and they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and hindered them with arm and power.

²⁴Then the work of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was interrupted, and ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

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