Ezra Chapter 4
So when the haters from Judah and Benjamin peeped that the captives were grinding on the temple for the Lord God of Israel, they were mad sus.
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; {the children...: Heb. the sons of the transportation}
They rolled up on Zerubbabel and the crew, saying, "Let’s get in on this; we vibe with your God too and have been sacrificing since the days of Esar-haddon, no cap."
Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye {do}; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the homies were like, "Nah fam, you can’t chill with us on this; we’re building for the Lord God of Israel, just like King Cyrus wanted us to do, fr."
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
Then the locals were throwing shade, making it tough for Judah to do their thing.
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
They got some haters to mess with their hustle all the way through Cyrus’ reign, even until Darius took the throne.
And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
During Ahasuerus’ reign, they slid him some drama about Judah and Jerusalem.
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they {unto him} an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. {Ahasuerus: Heb. Ahashverosh}
In Artaxerxes’ era, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their squad shot a letter to Artaxerxes, king of Persia, written in Syrian slang.
And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter {was} written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. {Bishlam: or, in peace} {companions: Heb. societies}
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe sent a wild letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes.
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: {scribe: or, secretary}
Then Rehum, Shimshai, and their crew, along with the Dinaites and Babylonians, got together to spill the tea.
Then {wrote} Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, {and} the Elamites, {companions: Chaldee, societies}
The other nations Asnappar brought over were just chilling in Samaria and on this side of the river.
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest {that are} on this side the river, and at such a time. {at such...: Chaldee, Cheeneth}
Here’s the tea from the letter they sent to Artaxerxes: "Your servants hanging here at this time."
This {is} the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, {even} unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
Just so you’re aware, the Jews who rolled up from you are in Jerusalem building the rebellious city and fixing those walls.
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls {thereof}, and joined the foundations. {set up: or, finished} {joined: Chaldee, sewed together}
Heads up, if they finish building this city and its walls, they won’t be paying taxes, and that’ll mess with your coins, no cap.
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. {pay: Chaldee, give} {revenue: or, strength}
We’ve got the king’s palace backing us up, and we can’t let the king look sus, so we had to let him know.
Now because we have maintenance from {the king's} palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; {we have...: Chaldee, we are salted with the salt of the palace}
They should check your ancestors' records; they’ll see this city is known for being rebellious and a total headache for kings.
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. {moved: Chaldee, made} {within...: Chaldee, in the midst thereof}
We’re telling the king that if this city gets built again, you won’t get any slice of the pie on this side of the river.
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.
The king shot a reply to Rehum, Shimshai, and their crew in Samaria, saying "Peace, and at this time."
{Then} sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and {to} Shimshai the scribe, and {to} the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and {unto} the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. {companions: Chaldee, societies}
Your letter was read loud and clear, no cap.
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
I ordered a search, and yep, this city has been a rebel against kings, causing all sorts of drama.
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. {I commanded: Chaldee, by me a decree is set} {made insurrection: Chaldee, lifted up itself}
There were some big bosses ruling over Jerusalem who had control over lands beyond the river and were collecting taxes.
There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all {countries} beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
Now, tell them to chill and halt building the city until I say otherwise.
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. {Give...: Chaldee, Make a decree}
Make sure you handle this, or it’ll only stir up more problems for the kings.
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
When Rehum and Shimshai caught wind of the king’s letter, they rushed to Jerusalem and forced the Jews to stop building.
Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter {was} read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. {by force...: Chaldee, by arm and power}
So the grind on the house of God in Jerusalem paused until the second year of Darius’ reign.
Then ceased the work of the house of God which {is} at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.