Ezra 4:15

Easy To Read Version

King Artaxerxes, we suggest that you search the writings of the kings that ruled before you. You will see in those writings that Jerusalem always rebelled against other kings. It has caused much trouble for other kings and nations. Many rebellions have started in this city since ancient times! That is why Jerusalem was destroyed!

Cross References

2 Kings 24:20

The Lord became so angry at Jerusalem and Judah that he threw them away.

2 Kings 25:4

Nebuchadnezzar’s army finally broke through the city wall. That night King Zedekiah and all his soldiers ran away. They used the {secret} gate that went through the double walls. It was by the king’s garden. The enemy soldiers were all around the city, but Zedekiah and his men escaped on the road to the desert.

Ezra 4:12

King Artaxerxes, we wish to inform you that the Jews you sent away from you have come here. Those Jews are now trying to build that city again. Jerusalem is a bad city. The people in that city have always rebelled against other kings. Now those Jews are fixing the foundations and building the walls. {\cf2\super [21]}

Ezra 4:14

We have a responsibility to the king. We don’t want to see those things happen. So we are sending this letter to inform the king.

Ezra 4:16

King Artaxerxes, we wish to inform you that if this city and its walls are built again, you will lose control of the area west of the Euphrates River.

Nehemiah 2:19

But Sanballat from Horon, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard that we were building again. They made fun of us in a very ugly way. They said, “What are you doing? Are you turning against the king?”

Nehemiah 6:6

This is what that letter said: “There is a rumor going around. People are talking about it everywhere. And, by the way, Geshem says it is true. People are saying that you and the Jews are planning to turn against the king. That is why you are building the wall of Jerusalem. People are also saying that you will be the new king of the Jews.

Esther 2:23

Then the report was checked out. It was learned that Mordecai’s report was true. The two guards that had planned to kill the king were hanged on a post. All these things were written down in a book of the king’s histories in front of the king.