8. Then the heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, and everyone else whose heart the Lord had moved, got ready to go and rebuild the Lord's Temple in Jerusalem.
9. Their neighbours helped them with everything, giving them silver, gold, horses, and pack animals. Many of their neighbours were also led to give a large number of other things, in fulfilment of vows.
10. Cyrus gave them back the sacred utensils that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had put in the temple of his idols.
11. He brought them out and handed them over to Mithredath, chief of the royal treasury,
12. who delivered them to Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah.
14. In all there were 5,469 gold and silver bowls and other utensils,
15. and Sheshbazzar took these with him when he and the other exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.
16. In the reign of Emperor Artaxerxes of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, Rehum, Beltethmus, Shimshai the secretary of the province, and their associates who lived in Samaria and elsewhere wrote the following letter of protest against the Jews who were living in Judah and Jerusalem:
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.