18. the letter that you sent to us has been translated and read before me.
19. And I issued a decree, and they searched and found that this city from ancient days revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition has been made in it.
20. Mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem, governing all the province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, duty, and tax has been given.
21. So now, issue forth a decree that these men stop and this city not be built, until a decree is issued from me.
22. And be careful not to be negligent on this matter. Why should damage grow to hurt kings?”
23. Then when a copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates they returned in a hurry to Jerusalem against the Jews and they stopped them by force and power.
24. Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped, and was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.