1 When the adversaries {tsarei: hostile opponents} of Judah and Benjamin learned that the people of the exile were building the temple for the LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, Covenant Protector}.
2 They drew near to Zerubbabel and the heads of the ancestral families and said, “Allow us to build alongside you, for we, like you, seek your God {Eloheikhem, object of worship}, and we have offered sacrifices {zovchim: ritual offerings} to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”
3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the remaining heads of the ancestral houses of Israel said to them, “You have no share with us in building a house for our God; instead, we ourselves will build it for the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Restorer}, the God of Israel, just as Cyrus {Koresh: Persian ruler}, king of Persia, commanded us.”
4 Then the people of the land wore down {merapim: discouraged perseverance} the hands of the people of Judah and alarmed them, so as to hinder their building {livnot: construction effort}.
5 They even paid counselors {vesokhrim: paid agents} to oppose them, in order to break their resolve and overturn their counsel throughout the days of Cyrus, king of Persia {melekh-Paras: Persian sovereign}, and continuing until the reign of Darius, king of Persia.
6 At the outset of the reign of Ahasuerus {Achashverosh: Persian monarch}, they drafted an accusation {sitnah: formal legal charge} against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 In the time of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote to Artaxerxes, king of Persia; the letter—the petition {hanishtevan: formal request}—was written in Aramaic {aramit: Imperial diplomacy language} and translated.
8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter {iggera: official missive} against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes {malka: Persian royal title}, and it was set out in this manner.
9 This was written by Rehum the commander {be-el-te-em: provincial commander} and Shimshai the scribe, together with the rest of their associates {ke-navatehon: administrative aides}—the judges, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susa-ites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites.
10 Also included were the rest of the peoples whom Asnappar {asnappar: Assyrian ruler} the great and noble deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the region Beyond the River; and now {uke'enet: letter transition}.
11 This is the copy {parshegen: official transcript} of the letter they sent to Artaxerxes the king: “Your servants, the men beyond the River; and now {uke'enet: epistolary closure}.”
12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who went up from you to us have arrived at Jerusalem, and they are rebuilding the rebellious {maradta: defiant stance} and wicked city, completing its walls and restoring its foundations {ushayya: underground footings}.
13 Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, tribute {mindah: royal tribute}, custom {belo: required levy}, and toll {halakh: travel duty} will no longer be paid, and in the end it will harm the kings {malkhin: ruling authority}.
14 Now, because we have eaten the salt {melakh: binding loyalty pledge} of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to look on while the king’s {malka: royal authority} honor is shamed, therefore we have sent to inform him.
15 Let a search be made in the book of records of your fathers, and you will find{hashkach: discover with certainty} in those records that this city is rebellious and brings harm to kings and provinces{medinan: administrative districts}, and that sedition has been practiced there from ancient days; for this reason this city was destroyed.
16 We make it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, then because of this you will have no portion {ḥālaq: territorial share} in the lands beyond the River {nahrā: Euphrates boundary}.
17 The king sent a reply {pitgama: official edict} to Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria and in the region beyond the River: Peace {shlam: epistolary greeting}, and now.
18 The letter that you sent to us has been read {keri: public proclamation} before me and made clear {mefarash: made intelligible}.
19 From me an order {teʿam: official mandate} went out, and they searched and found that this city, from ancient days, has risen up against kings; and that rebellion and revolt {eshtaddūr: organized uprising} have been carried out in it.
20 Mighty kings once ruled over Jerusalem, and their authority extended over the whole region beyond the River; and tribute, custom {belo: required levy}, and toll {halakh: travel duty} were paid to them.
21 Now decree that these men {gubraya: royal officers} desist, and do not allow this city {qiryeta: administrative center} to be rebuilt until I give the command.
22 Be on your guard {zehirin: vigilant watchfulness} and do not be negligent in this matter, so that harm does not grow to the detriment of the kings {malkhin: royal authority}.
23 When the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum {rehum: provincial official} and Shimshai the scribe with their associates, they went quickly to Jerusalem against the Jews and forced the Jews to cease work by strength {chayil: military might}.
24 So the work on the house of God {elaha: divine title} in Jerusalem came to a halt, and it remained suspended {batla: ongoing cessation} until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.