In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Ashur took Shomron, and carried Yisra'el away to Ashur, and placed them in Chalach, and on the Chavor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Madai.
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Bavel, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Koresh the king to build this house of God at Yerushalayim; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.