The offer refused
Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple to the Lord God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of families and said, Let us build with you. We seek your God as you do, and we have sacrificed to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, who brought us up here. But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of families of Israel said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God. We will build it ourselves to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, ordered us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in the building. And they hired counsellors against them to frustrate their plans, all through the days of Cyrus king of Persia and right on into the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Now when the ones against Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building the temple to the Lord God of Israel, then they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the fathers and said to them: Let us build with you. Because we look for your God the way you do, and we've sacrificed to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here. But Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel said to them: You've got nothing to do with us in building a house to our God. But we ourselves together will build to the Lord God of Israel, the way King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has ordered us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them to bring their plan to nothing, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, right to the rule of Darius king of Persia.
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple to the Lord God of Israel,
Now when the ones against Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building the temple to the Lord God of Israel,
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of families and said, Let us build with you. We seek your God as you do, and we have sacrificed to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, who brought us up here.
then they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the fathers and said to them: Let us build with you. Because we look for your God the way you do, and we've sacrificed to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.
Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of families of Israel said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God. We will build it ourselves to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, ordered us.
But Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel said to them: You've got nothing to do with us in building a house to our God. But we ourselves together will build to the Lord God of Israel, the way King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has ordered us.
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in the building.
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in building,
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
And they hired counsellors against them to frustrate their plans, all through the days of Cyrus king of Persia and right on into the reign of Darius king of Persia.
and hired counsellors against them to bring their plan to nothing, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, right to the rule of Darius king of Persia.
And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
The letter to the king
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, at the start of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in the Syrian tongue and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, as follows. Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates: the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites and the Elamites — and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over and settled in the cities of Samaria, and the rest who are beyond the River, and at such a time. This is a copy of the letter they sent him: To Artaxerxes the king, from your servants, the men beyond the River, and at such a time. Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived at Jerusalem, and are rebuilding that rebellious and troublemaking city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. Be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they won't pay tribute, tax or toll, and the royal revenue will suffer for it. Now because our maintenance comes from the king's palace, and it isn't right for us to watch the king dishonoured, we have sent word to inform the king, so a search can be made in the records of your fathers. In those records you will find that this is a rebellious city, damaging to kings and provinces, and that they have stirred up trouble in it from the earliest times. That is why this city was destroyed. We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will be left with nothing beyond the River. Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and beyond the River: Peace, and at such a time. The letter you sent us has been plainly read before me. And I gave the order, and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of rising against kings, and that rebellion and revolt have been stirred up in it. There have been powerful kings over Jerusalem too, ruling over the whole province beyond the River, and tribute, tax and toll were paid to them. So give the order to make these men stop. This city is not to be rebuilt until I give the word. And see that you don't fail in this. Why should the damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Now as soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read out to Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went up in a hurry to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped them by force. So the work on the house of God at Jerusalem came to a stop. And it stayed stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
And in the rule of Ahasuerus, at the start of his rule, they wrote a charge against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in Aramaic and set out in Aramaic. Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king like this: Then Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their companions — the judges and the officials and the officers, the men of Persia, of Uruk, of Babylon, of Susa, that's the Elamites, and the rest of the nations that the great and noble Ashurbanipal brought over and set in the towns of Samaria, and the rest that are beyond the River, and so on. This is the copy of the letter they sent him, to Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men beyond the River, and so on. Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and bad town, and have set up the walls and joined the foundations. Let it be known to the king now that if this town is built and the walls set up again, then they won't pay tribute or tax or toll, and you'll damage the king's revenue. Now because we're paid from the palace, and it isn't right for us to see the king's shame, so we've sent and let the king know, so a search can be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you'll find in the book of the records and know that this town is a rebellious town, and does harm to kings and provinces, and that they've stirred up rebellion in it in the old days. That's why this town was wrecked. We let the king know that if this town is built again and its walls set up, then you won't have any part beyond the River. Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the commander and to Shimshai the scribe and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the River: Peace, and so on. The letter you sent us has been plainly read in front of me. And I ordered it, and a search has been made. And it's found that this town has got up against kings in the old days, and that rebellion and revolt have been made in it. There've been mighty kings over Jerusalem too, who've ruled over everything beyond the River. And tribute and tax and toll were paid to them. Give an order now to make these men stop, so this town isn't built till another order is given by me. Watch out now that you don't fail to do this. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read in front of Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their companions, they hurried to Jerusalem to the Jews and made them stop by force and power. Then the work of the house of God at Jerusalem stopped. And it stopped till the second year of the rule of Darius king of Persia.
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, at the start of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
And in the rule of Ahasuerus, at the start of his rule, they wrote a charge against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in the Syrian tongue and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in Aramaic and set out in Aramaic.
And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, as follows.
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king like this:
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates: the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites and the Elamites —
Then Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their companions — the judges and the officials and the officers, the men of Persia, of Uruk, of Babylon, of Susa, that's the Elamites,
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over and settled in the cities of Samaria, and the rest who are beyond the River, and at such a time.
and the rest of the nations that the great and noble Ashurbanipal brought over and set in the towns of Samaria, and the rest that are beyond the River, and so on.
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
This is a copy of the letter they sent him: To Artaxerxes the king, from your servants, the men beyond the River, and at such a time.
This is the copy of the letter they sent him, to Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men beyond the River, and so on.
This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived at Jerusalem, and are rebuilding that rebellious and troublemaking city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and bad town, and have set up the walls and joined the foundations.
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
Be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they won't pay tribute, tax or toll, and the royal revenue will suffer for it.
Let it be known to the king now that if this town is built and the walls set up again, then they won't pay tribute or tax or toll, and you'll damage the king's revenue.
Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
Now because our maintenance comes from the king's palace, and it isn't right for us to watch the king dishonoured, we have sent word to inform the king,
Now because we're paid from the palace, and it isn't right for us to see the king's shame, so we've sent and let the king know,
Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
so a search can be made in the records of your fathers. In those records you will find that this is a rebellious city, damaging to kings and provinces, and that they have stirred up trouble in it from the earliest times. That is why this city was destroyed.
so a search can be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you'll find in the book of the records and know that this town is a rebellious town, and does harm to kings and provinces, and that they've stirred up rebellion in it in the old days. That's why this town was wrecked.
That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will be left with nothing beyond the River.
We let the king know that if this town is built again and its walls set up, then you won't have any part beyond the River.
We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and beyond the River: Peace, and at such a time.
Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the commander and to Shimshai the scribe and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the River: Peace, and so on.
Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
The letter you sent us has been plainly read before me.
The letter you sent us has been plainly read in front of me.
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
And I gave the order, and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of rising against kings, and that rebellion and revolt have been stirred up in it.
And I ordered it, and a search has been made. And it's found that this town has got up against kings in the old days, and that rebellion and revolt have been made in it.
And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
There have been powerful kings over Jerusalem too, ruling over the whole province beyond the River, and tribute, tax and toll were paid to them.
There've been mighty kings over Jerusalem too, who've ruled over everything beyond the River. And tribute and tax and toll were paid to them.
There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
So give the order to make these men stop. This city is not to be rebuilt until I give the word.
Give an order now to make these men stop, so this town isn't built till another order is given by me.
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
And see that you don't fail in this. Why should the damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
Watch out now that you don't fail to do this. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
Now as soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read out to Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went up in a hurry to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped them by force.
Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read in front of Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their companions, they hurried to Jerusalem to the Jews and made them stop by force and power.
Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
So the work on the house of God at Jerusalem came to a stop. And it stayed stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Then the work of the house of God at Jerusalem stopped. And it stopped till the second year of the rule of Darius king of Persia.
Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.