Ezra 4
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Now when a the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel,
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they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him b since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."
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But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel said to them, c "You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as d King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us."
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Then e the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building,
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and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of f Darius king of Persia.
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In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
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In the days of g Artaxerxes also, 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.
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Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion:
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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 Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites,
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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 the River - k and so forth.
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(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:
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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.
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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.
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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,
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me.
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And I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it.
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There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have o ruled over all the region p beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.
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Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.
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Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?
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Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease.
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Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
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Cross References
Ezra 4:7 - 9
In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language.
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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.
2 Kings 19:37
Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.
Ezra 4:10
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 the River - and so forth.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 2:20
So I answered them, and said to them, "The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.
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Cross References
Ezra 1:1 - 4
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying.
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Cross References
Ezra 3:3
Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings.
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Cross References
Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a written answer was returned concerning this matter.
Ezra 6:1
Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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Cross References
1 Kings 4:21
So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
1 Chronicles 18:3
And David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates.
Psalms 72:8
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.
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Cross References
Genesis 15:18
On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates -
Joshua 1:4
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.