“To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and other parts of Trans-Euphrates: Greetings!⁴⁶^4:18The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence. ^4:19So I gave orders,⁴⁷ and it was determined⁴⁸ that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in⁴⁹ rebellion and revolt. ^4:20Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates⁵⁰ and who were the beneficiaries of⁵¹ tribute, custom, and toll. ^4:21Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct.⁵²^4:22Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that kings sustain damage?”

^4:23Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem⁵³ and stopped them with threat of armed force.⁵⁴

^4:24So the work on the temple of God in Jerusalem came to a halt. It remained halted until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.⁵⁵

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Footnotes

46 Aram “peace.”
47 Aram “from me was placed a decree.”
48 Aram “and they searched and found.”
49 Aram “are being done.”
50 The statement that prior Jewish kings ruled over the entire Trans-Euphrates is an overstatement. Not even in the days of David and Solomon did the kingdom of Israel extend its borders to such an extent.
51 Aram “were being given to them.”
52 Aram “until a command is issued from me.”
53 Aram “to Jerusalem against the Jews.”
54 Aram “by force and power,” a hendiadys.
55 Darius I Hystaspes ruled Persia 522–486 b.c.