4:1
The Bureaucratic Siege and the Infiltration of the Cuthean Matrix
Now when the adversaries of Yahudah and Binyamiyn heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Alahiym of Yashar'al;
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Azra 4
Azra chapter 4 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.
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Then they came to Zarubbabal, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, "Let us build with you: for we seek your Alahiym, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto Him since the days of Atzar-Chaddon king of Ashshur, which brought us up hither."
4:3
The Rejection of the Uncalibrated
But Zarubbabal, and Yahushua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Yashar'al, said unto them, "Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our Alahiym; but we ourselves together will build unto 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Alahiym of Yashar'al, as king Koresh the king of Persia hath commanded us."
4:4
The Strategy of Frustration
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Yahudah, and troubled them in building,
4:5
And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Koresh king of Persia, even until the reign of Daryawesh king of Persia.
4:6
The Accusation under Achashwarosh
And in the reign of Achashwarosh, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Yahudah and Yarushalayim.
4:7
The Letter to Artachshashta
And in the days of Artachshashta wrote Bashlam, Mathradath, Tabaal, and the rest of their companions, unto Artachshashta king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
4:8
Rachum the chancellor and Shamshay the scribe wrote a letter against Yarushalayim to Artachshashta the king in this sort:
4:9
The Coalition of the Adversarial Tribes
Then wrote Rachum the chancellor, and Shamshay the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Arekyahu, the Babalim, the Shushanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
4:10
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asanapar brought over, and set in the cities of Shomeron, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
4:11
The Transcript of the Malicious Report
This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artachshashta the king: "Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time."
4:12
"Be it known unto the king, that the Yahudim which came up from thee to us are come unto Yarushalayim, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations."
4:13
"Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings."
4:14
"Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king;"
4:15
"That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed."
4:16
"We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river."
4:17
The Decree of the Persian Scepter
Then sent the king an answer unto Rachum the chancellor, and to Shamshay the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Shomeron, and unto the rest beyond the river, "Peace, and at such a time."
4:18
"The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me."
4:19
"And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein."
4:20
"There have been mighty kings also over Yarushalayim, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them."
4:21
"Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me."
4:22
"Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?"
4:23
The Physical Enforcement and the Portal Shutdown
Now when the copy of king Artachshashta's letter was read before Rachum, and Shamshay the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Yarushalayim unto the Yahudim, and made them to cease by force and power.
4:24
The Duration of the Blackout
Then ceased the work of the house of Alahiym which is at Yarushalayim. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Daryawesh king of Persia.