19. Now if this city be builded and the walls thereof be finished, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but will even stand up against kings.
20. And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,
21. but to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be your pleasure, search may be made in the books of your fathers:
22. and you shall find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shall understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities:
23. and that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein of old time; for the which cause even this city was laid waste.
24. Wherefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up anew, you shall from henceforth have no passage into Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
25. Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and lived in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, after this manner:
26. I have read the epistle which you⌃ have sent to me: therefore I commanded to make search, and it has been found that that city of old time has made insurrection against kings;