21. Give ye now ta'am (command) to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until another ta'am shall be given from me.
22. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this; lamah (why) should damage grow to the hurt of the Melech?
23. Now when the copy of letter of Melech Artachshasta was read before Rechum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Yerushalayim unto the Yehudim, and made them to cease by force and compulsion.
24. Then ceased the work of the Beis HaElohim which is at Yerushalayim. So it ceased unto the second year [i.e., 520 B.C.E.] of the reign of Daryavesh (Darius) Melech Paras (Persia).