The Letter to King Artaxerxes

Ezra 4

⁷ In the days of _g Artaxerxes also, ₁ Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in _h Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language. ⁸ ₂ Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion: ⁹ ₃ From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions - representatives of _i the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia and Erech and Babylon and ₄ Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites, ¹⁰ _j and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond ₅ the River ₆ - _k and ₇ so forth. ¹¹ (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him)
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, ₈ and so forth: ¹² Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the _l rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its _m walls and repairing the foundations. ¹³ Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay _n tax, tribute, or custom, and the king's treasury will be diminished. ¹⁴ Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king's dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king, ¹⁵ that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed. ¹⁶ We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.

1. Cross References
   Ezra 7:1
   Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah.
   Ezra 7:7
   Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
   Ezra 7:21
   And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently.
   
2. Cross References
   2 Kings 18:26
   Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.
   
3. Cross References
   2 Kings 17:30
   The men of Babylon made Succoth Be-noth', the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima.
   2 Kings 17:31
   And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
   
4. Cross References
   2 Kings 17:24
   Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.
   Ezra 4:1
   Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel.
   
5. Cross References
   Ezra 4:11
   (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him) To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth:
   Ezra 4:17
   The king sent an answer: To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
   Ezra 7:12
   Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth.
   
6. Cross References
   2 Chronicles 36:13
   And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel.
   
7. Cross References
   Ezra 5:3
   At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and ShetharBoz'nai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: "Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?
   Ezra 5:9
   Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: "Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?
   
8. Cross References
   Ezra 4:20
   There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.
   Ezra 7:24
   Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God.