let it be knownto the kingthat the Jewswhocameup from you have cometo us at Jerusalem;they are rebuildingthe rebelliousand evilcityand are finishingthe wallsand repairingthe foundations.
"You say(but [they are] onlyemptywords),'[I have] counseland strengthfor the war.'Nowon whomdo you rely,that you have rebelledagainst me?
In his daysNebuchadnezzarkingof Babyloncameup, and Jehoiakimbecamehis servant[for] threeyears;then he turnedand rebelledagainst him.
He alsorebelledagainst KingNebuchadnezzarwhohad made him swear[allegiance] by God.But he stiffenedhis neckand hardenedhis heartagainstturningto the LORDGodof Israel.
thisis the copyof the letterwhichthey sentto him: "To KingArtaxerxes:Your servants,the menin the regionbeyondthe River,and now
sothat a searchmay be madein the recordbooksof your fathers.And you will discoverin the recordbooksand learnthat that cityis a rebelliouscityand damagingto kingsand provinces,and that they have incitedrevoltwithinit in pastdays;thereforethat citywas laidwaste.
"A decreehas been issuedby me, and a searchhas been madeand it has been discoveredthat that cityhas risenup againstthe kingsin pastdays,that rebellionand revolthave been perpetratedin it,
At that timeTattenai,the governorof [the province] beyondthe River,and Shethar-bozenaiand their colleaguescameto them and spoketo them thus,"Whoissuedyou a decreeto rebuildthistempleand to finishthisstructure?"
"Thenwe askedthoseeldersand saidto them thus,'Whoissuedyou a decreeto rebuildthistempleand to finishthisstructure?'
They saidto me, "The remnanttherein the provincewhosurvivedthe captivityare in greatdistressand reproach,and the wallof Jerusalemis brokendownand its gatesare burnedwith fire."
In it was written,"It is reportedamong the nations,and Gashmusays,that you and the Jewsare planningto rebel;thereforeyou are rebuildingthe wall.And you are to be their king,according to thesereports.
Then Hamansaidto KingAhasuerus,"Thereis a certainpeoplescatteredand dispersedamongthe peoplesin allthe provincesof your kingdom;their lawsare differentfrom [those] of all[other] peopleand they do not observethe king'slaws,so it is not in the king'sinterestto let them remain.
For throughthe angerof the LORD[this] cameabout in Jerusalemand JudahuntilHe castthem out from His presence.And Zedekiahrebelledagainst the kingof Babylon.
For thisreasonat that timecertainChaldeanscameforwardand broughtchargesagainstthe Jews.
"So you are to knowand discern[that] from the issuingof a decreeto restoreand rebuildJerusalemuntilMessiahthe Prince[there will be] sevenweeksand sixty-twoweeks;it will be builtagain,with plazaand moat,even in timesof distress.
"O Jerusalem,Jerusalem,[the city] that killsthe prophetsand stonesthosesentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,justas a hen[gathers] her broodunderher wings,and you wouldnot [have it]!
"For we have foundthismana real pestand a fellow who stirsup dissensionamong allthe Jewsthroughoutthe world,and a ringleaderof the sectof the Nazarenes.
abstainfrom everyformof evil.
