In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and removed Israel to Assyria, and made them live in Halah, and in Habor, by the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
Now, therefore, if it is good to the king, let there be a search made in the king’s treasure house which is there at Babylon, whether if was given from there a decree from Cyrus the king to build this house of God which is at Jerusalem. And let the will of the king concerning this be sent to us.