Ezra 4
Open in the reader1When the enemies of Praised and Son-of-the-Right-Hand heard that the exiles were building a temple for He-Who-Is, the God of Strives-with-God,
2they approached Sown-in-Confusion and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esarhaddon of Successful, who brought us here.”
3But Sown-in-Confusion, He-Who-Is-Saves, and the other heads of the families of Strives-with-God replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for He-Who-Is, the God of Strives-with-God, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”
4Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Praised and make them afraid to build.
5They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Praised and Foundation-of-Peace.
7And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, In-Peace, Mithredath, Good-of-God, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.
8Compassionate the commander and Sunny the scribe wrote the letter against Foundation-of-Peace to King Artaxerxes as follows:
9From Compassionate the commander, Sunny the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Confusion, the Elamites of Susa,
10and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Asnappar deported and settled in the cities of Watch-Tower and elsewhere west of the Rushing.
11(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Rushing:
12Let it be known to the king that the Praised-One who came from you to us have returned to Foundation-of-Peace and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.
13Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
14Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king
15that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
16We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Rushing.
17Then the king sent this reply: To Compassionate the commander, Sunny the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Watch-Tower and elsewhere in the region west of the Rushing: Greetings.
18The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.
19I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.
20And mighty kings have ruled over Foundation-of-Peace and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Rushing; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
21Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
22See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
23When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Compassionate, Sunny the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Praised-One in Foundation-of-Peace and forcibly stopped them.
24Thus the construction of the house of God in Foundation-of-Peace ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.