# Ezra 4

> Lumin Translation

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/4

Translated from Hebrew and Greek with AI, then checked for clarity and fidelity.

1. When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the exile were building the temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel,
2. They approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do, and we ourselves sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."
3. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of Israel's family heads said to them, "It is not for you and us to build a house for our God, but we ourselves together will build for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us."
4. Then the people of the land slackened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them, terrifying them from building.
5. And they hired advisers against them to thwart their plans all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6. In Ahasuerus's reign, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against those dwelling in Judah and Jerusalem.
7. In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the writing of the letter was composed in Aramaic and interpreted in Aramaic.
8. Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote one letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this manner.
9. Then Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe, with the rest of their companions—the Dinaites, Apharsathchites, Tarpelites, Apharsites, Archevites, Babylonians, Susanchites, Dehavites, and Elamites.
10. and the rest of the nations whom chief and honored Asnapper deported and settled there in the cities of Samaria, and the rest beyond the River, and so forth.
11. This is the copy of the letter they sent to King Artaxerxes: your servants, the men beyond the River, and so forth.
12. Let the king know that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived in Jerusalem, the rebellious, evil, and wicked city; they are building the walls and have finished the walls, joining the foundations.
13. Now let the king know that if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not give toll, tribute, or custom, and the revenue of kings will be damaged.
14. Now because we have maintenance from the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king's dishonor, we have sent and made known to the king about this.
15. that search be made in the book of your fathers' records, so you find in the book of records and know that this city is rebellious and damaging to kings and provinces, and that they have practiced sedition within it from days of old, for which this city was destroyed.
16. We make known to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no portion beyond the river.
17. The king sent a reply to Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria and the rest beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
18. The letter that you sent us has been read clearly before me.
19. I decreed, they searched and found that this city from days of antiquity has rebelled against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been done in it.
20. Mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and all the region beyond the River, and toll, tribute, and custom were paid to them.
21. Now issue a decree to make these men cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree is made from me.
22. Be careful not to become negligent in carrying this out: why should harm grow to the injury of kings?
23. As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they rushed to Jerusalem against the Jews and forced them to stop with might and force.
24. Then work on God's house in Jerusalem ceased, and it halted until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

## Nearby chapters

[Ezra 3](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/3.md)
[Ezra 5](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/5.md)

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