17. “To His Majesty Emperor Artaxerxes from your servants, the official correspondent Rehum, the secretary Shimshai, the other members of the council, and the judges of Greater Syria and Phoenicia.
18. “We want Your Majesty to know that the Jews who came here from your other territories have settled in Jerusalem and are rebuilding that evil and rebellious city. They are restoring the market places, repairing the walls, and laying the foundations for a temple.
19. If this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the people will stop paying taxes and will even rebel against royal authority.
20. Since work on the temple has already begun, we consider it appropriate not to overlook such an important matter
21. but to bring it to the attention of Your Majesty. Then, if it seems proper to you, a search may be made in the records your ancestors kept.
22. You will find information about these matters in the historical records, and you will discover that this city has always been rebellious and given trouble to other cities and kings.