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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
Shimshai 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 Artaxerxes’ letter
was
read before Rehum, and Shimshai 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 Darius king of Persia.
CHAPTER 5
Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews
that
were
in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel,
even
unto them.
2
Then rose up
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of
God which
is
at Jerusalem: and with them
were
the prophets of God helping them.
3
At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar- boznai,
and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and
to make up this wall?
4
Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men
that make this building?
5
But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could
not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter
concerning this
matter.
6
The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar- boznai, and his
companions the Apharsachites, which
were
on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
7
They
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KJV Bible