1 The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 They approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the ancestral houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel's ancestral houses answered them, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God. We ourselves together will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” 4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and frightened them away from building. 5 They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the days of Cyrus king of Persia and until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic script and set out in Aramaic.

8 Rehum the chief official and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in these terms: 9 Then Rehum the chief official, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the Dinaites, Apharsathchites, Tarpelites, Apharsites, people of Erech, Babylonians, and people of Susa, that is, the Elamites, 10 and the other peoples whom the great and honored Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria and the rest of Beyond the River. And now: 11 This is a copy of the letter they sent to King Artaxerxes: “Your servants, the men of Beyond the River. And now:

12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived in Jerusalem. They are rebuilding the rebellious and wicked city, completing its walls and repairing its foundations. 13 Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, they will not pay tribute, tax, or toll, and the royal revenues will suffer. 14 Since we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to see the king dishonored, we have sent word to inform the king, 15 so that a search may be made in the record book of your fathers. In the record book you will find and learn that this city is rebellious and harmful to kings and provinces, and that sedition has been stirred up in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will have no possession in Beyond the River.”

17 The king sent this reply: “To Rehum the chief official, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and the rest of Beyond the River: Peace. And now:

18 The letter you sent us has been read clearly before me. 19 I issued an order, and a search was made. It was found that this city has risen against kings since ancient times and that rebellion and sedition have taken place in it. 20 Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and governed all of Beyond the River, and tribute, tax, and toll were paid to them. 21 Now issue an order to make these men stop, and let this city not be rebuilt until an order is issued by me. 22 Be careful not to neglect this. Why should harm increase to the detriment of the kings?”

23 As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they hurried to Jerusalem to the Jews and made them stop by force and power.

24 Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased and remained suspended until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.