Chapter 4
Adversaries Hinder the Work
1
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles… were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
𐤑𐤓𐤉 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤄 𐤅𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤌𐤍 𐤅𐤉𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅 𐤊𐤉 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤂𐤅𐤋𐤄 𐤁𐤅𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤉𐤊𐤋 𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋
צָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ כִּֽי־ בְנֵ֤י הַגּוֹלָה֙ בּוֹנִ֣ים הֵיכָ֔ל לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ṣā·rê yə·hū·ḏāh ū·ḇin·yā·min way·yiš·mə·‘ū kî- ḇə·nê hag·gō·w·lāh bō·w·nîm hê·ḵāl Yah·weh ’ĕ·lō·hê yiś·rā·’êl — WLC · 1
2
they approached… Zerubbabel… and the heads of the families, saying…, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God… and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
𐤅𐤉𐤂𐤔𐤅 𐤀𐤋 𐤆𐤓𐤁𐤁𐤋 𐤅𐤀𐤋 𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤁𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤅 𐤋𐤄𐤌 𐤍𐤁𐤍𐤄 𐤏𐤌𐤊𐤌 𐤊𐤉 𐤊𐤊𐤌 𐤍𐤃𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤋𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤊𐤌 𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤆𐤁𐤇𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤌𐤉𐤌𐤉 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤎𐤓 𐤇𐤃𐤍 𐤀𐤔𐤅𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤏𐤋𐤄 𐤀𐤕𐤍𐤅 𐤐𐤄
וַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ אֶל־ זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְאֶל־ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָֽאָב֗וֹת וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נִבְנֶ֣ה עִמָּכֶ֔ם כִּ֣י כָכֶ֔ם נִדְר֖וֹשׁ לֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם אֲנַ֣חְנוּ זֹבְחִ֗ים וְלֹא מִימֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֵסַ֤ר חַדֹּן֙ אַשּׁ֔וּר הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ פֹּֽה׃ way·yig·gə·šū ’el- zə·rub·bā·ḇel wə·’el- rā·šê hā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ way·yō·mə·rū lā·hem niḇ·neh ‘im·mā·ḵem kî ḵā·ḵem niḏ·rō·wōš lê·lō·hê·ḵem ’ă·naḥ·nū zō·ḇə·ḥîm wə·lō mî·mê me·leḵ ’ê·sar ḥad·dōn ’aš·šūr ham·ma·‘ă·leh ’ō·ṯā·nū pōh — WLC · 2
3
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied -, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”
𐤆𐤓𐤁𐤁𐤋 𐤅𐤉𐤔𐤅𐤏 𐤅𐤔𐤀𐤓 𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤁𐤅𐤕 𐤋𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤋𐤄𐤌 𐤋𐤀 𐤋𐤊𐤌 𐤅𐤋𐤍𐤅 𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤋𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤊𐤉 𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤉𐤇𐤃 𐤍𐤁𐤍𐤄 𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤊𐤅𐤓𐤔 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤐𐤓𐤎 𐤑𐤅𐤍𐤅
זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְיֵשׁ֗וּעַ וּשְׁאָ֨ר רָאשֵׁ֤י הָֽאָבוֹת֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּאמֶר֩ לָהֶ֨ם לֹֽא־ לָ֣כֶם וָלָ֔נוּ לִבְנ֥וֹת בַּ֖יִת לֵאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ כִּי֩ אֲנַ֨חְנוּ יַ֜חַד נִבְנֶ֗ה לַֽיהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־ פָּרָֽס׃ צִוָּ֔נוּ zə·rub·bā·ḇel wə·yê·šū·a‘ ū·šə·’ār rā·šê hā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ lə·yiś·rā·’êl way·yō·mer lā·hem lō- lā·ḵem wā·lā·nū liḇ·nō·wṯ ba·yiṯ lê·lō·hê·nū kî ’ă·naḥ·nū ya·ḥaḏ niḇ·neh Yah·weh ’ĕ·lō·hê yiś·rā·’êl ka·’ă·šer ham·me·leḵ kō·w·reš me·leḵ- pā·rās ṣiw·wā·nū — WLC · 3
4
Then the people of the land set out to discourage… the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.
𐤅𐤉𐤄𐤉 𐤏𐤌 𐤄𐤀𐤓𐤑 𐤌𐤓𐤐𐤉𐤌 𐤉𐤃𐤉 𐤏𐤌 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤄 𐤅𐤌𐤁𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤅𐤕𐤌 𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤕
וַיְהִי֙ עַם־ הָאָ֔רֶץ מְרַפִּ֖ים יְדֵ֣י עַם־ יְהוּדָ֑ה וּמְבַלַהִים אוֹתָ֖ם לִבְנֽוֹת׃ way·hî ‘am- hā·’ā·reṣ mə·rap·pîm yə·ḏê ‘am- yə·hū·ḏāh ū·mə·ḇa·la·hīm ’ō·w·ṯām liḇ·nō·wṯ — WLC · 4
5
They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
𐤅𐤎𐤊𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤉𐤅𐤏𐤑𐤉𐤌 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤋𐤄𐤐𐤓 𐤏𐤑𐤕𐤌 𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤌𐤉 𐤊𐤅𐤓𐤔 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤐𐤓𐤎 𐤅𐤏𐤃 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤃𐤓𐤉𐤅𐤔 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤐𐤓𐤎
וְסֹכְרִ֧ים יוֹעֲצִ֖ים עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם לְהָפֵ֣ר עֲצָתָ֑ם כָּל־ יְמֵ֗י כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס וְעַד־ מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־ פָּרָֽס׃ wə·sō·ḵə·rîm yō·w·‘ă·ṣîm ‘ă·lê·hem lə·hā·p̄êr ‘ă·ṣā·ṯām kāl- yə·mê kō·w·reš me·leḵ pā·ras wə·‘aḏ- mal·ḵūṯ dā·rə·yā·weš me·leḵ- pā·rās — WLC · 5
Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes
6
At the beginning… of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
𐤁𐤕𐤇𐤋𐤕 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕𐤅 𐤅𐤁𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤔𐤈𐤍𐤄 𐤊𐤕𐤁𐤅 𐤏𐤋 𐤉𐤔𐤁𐤉 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤄 𐤅𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤎
בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת מַלְכוּת֑וֹ וּבְמַלְכוּת֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ שִׂטְנָ֔ה כָּתְב֣וּ עַל־ יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס biṯ·ḥil·laṯ mal·ḵū·ṯōw ū·ḇə·mal·ḵūṯ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš śiṭ·nāh kā·ṯə·ḇū ‘al- yō·šə·ḇê yə·hū·ḏāh wî·rū·šā·lim — WLC · 6
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And in the days of Artaxerxes [king] of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote [a letter] to vvv Artaxerxes. [It] was written in Aramaic and then translated -.
𐤅𐤁𐤉𐤌𐤉 𐤀𐤓𐤕𐤇𐤔𐤔𐤕𐤀 𐤐𐤓𐤎 𐤁𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤌𐤕𐤓𐤃𐤕 𐤈𐤁𐤀𐤋 𐤅𐤔𐤀𐤓 𐤊𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤅 𐤊𐤕𐤁 𐤏𐤋 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤓𐤕𐤇𐤔𐤔𐤕𐤀 𐤅𐤊𐤕𐤁 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤕𐤅𐤍 𐤊𐤕𐤅𐤁 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤕 𐤅𐤌𐤕𐤓𐤂𐤌 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤕𐤐
וּבִימֵ֣י אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא פָּרָ֑ס בִּשְׁלָ֜ם מִתְרְדָ֤ת טָֽבְאֵל֙ וּשְׁאָ֣ר כְּנָוֹתוֹ כָּתַ֨ב עַל־ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּא וּכְתָב֙ הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ן כָּת֥וּב אֲרָמִ֖ית וּמְתֻרְגָּ֥ם אֲרָמִֽית׃פ ū·ḇî·mê ’ar·taḥ·šaś·tā pā·rās biš·lām miṯ·rə·ḏāṯ ṭā·ḇə·’êl ū·šə·’ār kə·nå̄·wō·ṯō kā·ṯaḇ ‘al- me·leḵ ʾar·taḥ·šaś·tå̄ ū·ḵə·ṯāḇ han·niš·tə·wān kā·ṯūḇ ’ă·rā·mîṯ ū·mə·ṯur·gām ’ă·rā·mîṯ — WLC · 7
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Rehum the commander… and Shimshai the scribe wrote [the] letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
𐤓𐤇𐤅𐤌 𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤈𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤔𐤉 𐤎𐤐𐤓𐤀 𐤊𐤕𐤁𐤅 𐤇𐤃𐤄 𐤀𐤂𐤓𐤄 𐤏𐤋 𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀 𐤋𐤀𐤓𐤕𐤇𐤔𐤔𐤕𐤀 𐤊𐤍𐤌𐤀
רְח֣וּם בְּעֵל־ טְעֵ֗ם וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ סָֽפְרָ֔א כְּתַ֛בוּ חֲדָ֖ה אִגְּרָ֥ה עַל־ יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם מַלְכָּ֖א לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא כְּנֵֽמָא׃ rə·ḥūm bə·‘êl- ṭə·‘êm wə·šim·šay sā·p̄ə·rā kə·ṯa·ḇū ḥă·ḏāh ’ig·gə·rāh ‘al- yə·rū·šə·lem mal·kā lə·’ar·taḥ·šaśt kə·nê·mā — WLC · 8
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- From Rehum the commander…, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates— the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa
𐤀𐤃𐤉𐤍 𐤓𐤇𐤅𐤌 𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤈𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤔𐤉 𐤎𐤐𐤓𐤀 𐤅𐤔𐤀𐤓 𐤊𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤄𐤅𐤍 𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤀 𐤅𐤀𐤐𐤓𐤎𐤕𐤊𐤉𐤀 𐤈𐤓𐤐𐤋𐤉𐤀 𐤀𐤐𐤓𐤎𐤉𐤀 𐤀𐤓𐤊𐤅𐤉 𐤁𐤁𐤋𐤉𐤀 𐤏𐤋𐤌𐤉𐤀 𐤔𐤅𐤔𐤍𐤊𐤉𐤀 𐤃𐤄𐤅𐤀
אֱדַ֜יִן רְח֣וּם בְּעֵל־ טְעֵ֗ם וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָ֖ר כְּנָוָתְה֑וֹן דִּ֠ינָיֵא וַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵ֞א טַרְפְּלָיֵ֣א אֲפָֽרְסָיֵ֗א אַרְכְּוָי בָבְלָיֵא֙ עֵלְמָיֵֽא׃ שֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵ֔א דִּהוּא ’ĕ·ḏa·yin rə·ḥūm bə·‘êl- ṭə·‘êm wə·šim·šay sā·p̄ə·rā ū·šə·’ār kə·nā·wā·ṯə·hō·wn dî·nā·yê wa·’ă·p̄ar·saṯ·ḵā·yê ṭar·pə·lā·yê ’ă·p̄ā·rə·sā·yê ʾar·kə·wå̄y ḇā·ḇə·lā·yê ‘ê·lə·mā·yê šū·šan·ḵā·yê di·hū — WLC · 9
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and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled… in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates…
𐤅𐤔𐤀𐤓 𐤀𐤌𐤉𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤓𐤁𐤀 𐤅𐤉𐤒𐤉𐤓𐤀 𐤀𐤎𐤍𐤐𐤓 𐤄𐤂𐤋𐤉 𐤅𐤄𐤅𐤕𐤁 𐤄𐤌𐤅 𐤁𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤄 𐤃𐤉 𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤍 𐤅𐤔𐤀𐤓 𐤏𐤁𐤓 𐤍𐤄𐤓𐤄 𐤅𐤊𐤏𐤍𐤕
וּשְׁאָ֣ר אֻמַּיָּ֗א דִּ֤י רַבָּ֣א וְיַקִּירָ֔א אָסְנַפַּר֙ הַגְלִי֙ וְהוֹתֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּקִרְיָ֖ה דִּ֣י שָׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֥ר עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ ū·šə·’ār ’um·may·yā dî rab·bā wə·yaq·qî·rā ’ā·sə·nap·par haḡ·lî wə·hō·w·ṯêḇ him·mōw bə·qir·yāh dî šā·mə·rā·yin ū·šə·’ār ‘ă·ḇar- na·hă·rāh ū·ḵə·‘e·neṯ — WLC · 10
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(This is the text of the letter… they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates…:
𐤃𐤍𐤄 𐤐𐤓𐤔𐤂𐤍 𐤀𐤂𐤓𐤕𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤔𐤋𐤇𐤅 𐤏𐤋𐤅𐤄𐤉 𐤏𐤋 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀 𐤀𐤓𐤕𐤇𐤔𐤔𐤕𐤀 𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤊 𐤀𐤍𐤔 𐤏𐤁𐤓 𐤍𐤄𐤓𐤄 𐤅𐤊𐤏𐤍𐤕𐤐
דְּנָה֙ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִגַּרְתָּ֔א דִּ֚י שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֔וֹהִי עַל־ מַלְכָּ֑א אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא עַבְדָ֛יךְ אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃פ də·nāh par·še·ḡen ’ig·gar·tā dî šə·la·ḥū ‘ă·lō·w·hî ‘al- mal·kā ’ar·taḥ·šaśt ʿaḇ·ḏå̄yḵ ’ĕ·nāš ‘ă·ḇar- na·hă·rāh ū·ḵə·‘e·neṯ — WLC · 11
12
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring [its] walls and repairing its foundations.
𐤋𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤉𐤃𐤉𐤏 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤉𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤎𐤋𐤒𐤅 𐤌𐤍 𐤋𐤅𐤕𐤊 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤍𐤀 𐤀𐤕𐤅 𐤋𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤍 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤕𐤀 𐤅𐤁𐤀𐤉𐤔𐤕𐤀 𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤕𐤀 𐤀𐤔𐤊𐤋𐤋𐤅 𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤉 𐤉𐤇𐤉𐤈𐤅 𐤅𐤀𐤔𐤉𐤀
לֶהֱוֵ֣א יְדִ֙יעַ֙ לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֣י יְהוּדָיֵ֗א דִּ֤י סְלִ֙קוּ֙ מִן־ לְוָתָ֔ךְ עֲלֶ֥ינָא אֲת֖וֹ לִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בָּנַ֔יִן מָֽרָדְתָּ֤א וּבִֽאישְׁתָּא֙ קִרְיְתָ֨א אֲשַׁכְלְלוּ וְשׁוּרַיָּ יַחִֽיטוּ׃ וְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖א le·hĕ·wê yə·ḏî·a‘ lə·mal·kā dî yə·hū·ḏā·yê dî sə·li·qū min- lə·wā·ṯāḵ ‘ă·le·nā ’ă·ṯōw lî·rū·šə·lem bā·na·yin mā·rā·ḏə·tā ū·ḇi·yō·šə·tå̄ qir·yə·ṯā ʾă·šaḵ·lə·lū wə·šū·ray·yå̄ ya·ḥî·ṭū wə·’uš·šay·yā — WLC · 12
13
Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
𐤊𐤏𐤍 𐤋𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤉𐤃𐤉𐤏 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤄𐤍 𐤃𐤊 𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤕𐤀 𐤕𐤕𐤁𐤍𐤀 𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤉𐤄 𐤉𐤔𐤕𐤊𐤋𐤋𐤅𐤍 𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤍𐤕𐤍𐤅𐤍 𐤌𐤍𐤃𐤄 𐤁𐤋𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤋𐤊 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤀𐤐𐤕𐤌 𐤕𐤄𐤍𐤆𐤒
כְּעַ֗ן לֶהֱוֵ֣א יְדִ֙יעַ֙ לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן דָךְ֙ קִרְיְתָ֥א תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן לָ֣א יִנְתְּנ֔וּן מִנְדָּֽה־ בְל֤וֹ וַהֲלָךְ֙ מַלְכִ֖ים וְאַפְּתֹ֥ם תְּהַנְזִֽק׃ kə·‘an le·hĕ·wê yə·ḏî·a‘ lə·mal·kā dî hên ḏāḵ qir·yə·ṯā tiṯ·bə·nê wə·šū·ray·yāh yiš·taḵ·lə·lūn lā yin·tə·nūn min·dāh- ḇə·lōw wa·hă·lāḵ mal·ḵîm wə·’ap·pə·ṯōm tə·han·ziq — WLC · 13
14
Now because we are in the service of the palace vvv and it is not fitting for us to allow… the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king
𐤊𐤏𐤍 𐤊𐤋 𐤒𐤁𐤋 𐤃𐤉 𐤌𐤋𐤇 𐤌𐤋𐤇𐤍𐤀 𐤄𐤉𐤊𐤋𐤀 𐤋𐤀 𐤀𐤓𐤉𐤊 𐤋𐤍𐤀 𐤋𐤌𐤇𐤆𐤀 𐤏𐤋 𐤃𐤍𐤄 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀 𐤅𐤏𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤔𐤋𐤇𐤍𐤀 𐤅𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤏𐤍𐤀 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀
כְּעַ֗ן כָּל־ קֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־ מְלַ֤ח מְלַ֔חְנָא הֵֽיכְלָא֙ לָ֥א אֲֽרִֽיךְ לַ֖נָא לְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑א עַ֨ל־ דְּנָ֔ה מַלְכָּ֔א וְעַרְוַ֣ת שְׁלַ֖חְנָא וְהוֹדַ֥עְנָא לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ kə·‘an kāl- qo·ḇêl dî- mə·laḥ mə·laḥ·nā hê·ḵə·lā lā ’ărîḵ- la·nā lə·me·ḥĕ·zê ‘al- də·nāh mal·kā wə·‘ar·waṯ šə·laḥ·nā wə·hō·w·ḏa‘·nā lə·mal·kā — WLC · 14
15
that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. [In these] books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city… was destroyed.
𐤃𐤉 𐤉𐤁𐤒𐤓 𐤃𐤊𐤓𐤍𐤉𐤀 𐤁𐤎𐤐𐤓 𐤃𐤉 𐤀𐤁𐤄𐤕𐤊 𐤃𐤊𐤓𐤍𐤉𐤀 𐤁𐤎𐤐𐤓 𐤅𐤕𐤄𐤔𐤊𐤇 𐤅𐤕𐤍𐤃𐤏 𐤃𐤉 𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤕𐤀 𐤃𐤊 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤀 𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤀 𐤅𐤌𐤄𐤍𐤆𐤒𐤕 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤍 𐤅𐤌𐤃𐤍𐤍 𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤍 𐤅𐤀𐤔𐤕𐤃𐤅𐤓 𐤁𐤂𐤅𐤄 𐤌𐤍 𐤏𐤋𐤌𐤀 𐤉𐤅𐤌𐤕 𐤏𐤋 𐤃𐤍𐤄 𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤕𐤀 𐤃𐤊 𐤄𐤇𐤓𐤁𐤕
דִּ֡י יְבַקַּר֩ דָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜א בִּֽסְפַר־ דִּ֣י אֲבָהָתָ֗ךְ דָּכְרָנַיָּא֮ בִּסְפַ֣ר וּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּח וְתִנְדַּע֒ דִּי֩ קִרְיְתָ֨א דָ֜ךְ מָֽרָדָ֗א קִרְיָ֣א וּֽמְהַנְזְקַ֤ת מַלְכִין֙ וּמְדִנָ֔ן עָבְדִ֣ין וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ בְּגַוַּ֔הּ מִן־ עָלְמָ֑א יוֹמָ֖ת עַ֨ל־ דְּנָ֔ה קִרְיְתָ֥א דָ֖ךְ הָֽחָרְבַֽת׃ dî yə·ḇaq·qar dā·ḵə·rā·nay·yā bis·p̄ar- dî ’ă·ḇā·hā·ṯāḵ dā·ḵə·rā·nay·yā bis·p̄ar ū·ṯə·haš·kaḥ wə·ṯin·da‘ dî qir·yə·ṯā ḏāḵ mā·rā·ḏā qir·yā ū·mə·han·zə·qaṯ mal·ḵîn ū·mə·ḏi·nān ‘ā·ḇə·ḏîn wə·’eš·tad·dūr bə·ḡaw·wah min- ‘ā·lə·mā yō·w·māṯ ‘al- də·nāh qir·yə·ṯā ḏāḵ hā·ḥā·rə·ḇaṯ — WLC · 15
16
We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored,… you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.
𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤄 𐤌𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤏𐤉𐤍 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤄𐤍 𐤃𐤊 𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤕𐤀 𐤕𐤕𐤁𐤍𐤀 𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤉𐤄 𐤉𐤔𐤕𐤊𐤋𐤋𐤅𐤍 𐤋𐤒𐤁𐤋 𐤃𐤍𐤄 𐤀𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤀 𐤋𐤊𐤐 𐤇𐤋𐤒 𐤁𐤏𐤁𐤓 𐤍𐤄𐤓𐤀
אֲנַ֙חְנָה֙ מְהוֹדְעִ֤ין לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן דָךְ֙ קִרְיְתָ֥א תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן לָקֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֔ה אִיתַ֖י לָ֥א לָֽךְ׃פ חֲלָק֙ בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔א ’ă·naḥ·nāh mə·hō·wḏ·‘în lə·mal·kā dî hên ḏāḵ qir·yə·ṯā tiṯ·bə·nê wə·šū·ray·yāh yiš·taḵ·lə·lūn lā·qo·ḇêl də·nāh ’î·ṯay lā lāḵ ḥă·lāq ba·‘ă·ḇar na·hă·rā — WLC · 16
The Decree of Artaxerxes
17
[Then] the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander…, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates… living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings…
𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀 𐤔𐤋𐤇 𐤐𐤕𐤂𐤌𐤀 𐤏𐤋 𐤓𐤇𐤅𐤌 𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤈𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤔𐤉 𐤎𐤐𐤓𐤀 𐤅𐤔𐤀𐤓 𐤊𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤄𐤅𐤍 𐤃𐤉 𐤉𐤕𐤁𐤉𐤍 𐤁𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤍 𐤅𐤔𐤀𐤓 𐤏𐤁𐤓 𐤍𐤄𐤓𐤄 𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤅𐤊𐤏𐤕𐤎
מַלְכָּ֗א שְׁלַ֣ח פִּתְגָמָ֞א עַל־ רְח֤וּם בְּעֵל־ טְעֵם֙ וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָר֙ כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן דִּ֥י יָתְבִ֖ין בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁלָ֖ם וּכְעֶֽת׃ס mal·kā šə·laḥ piṯ·ḡā·mā ‘al- rə·ḥūm bə·‘êl- ṭə·‘êm wə·šim·šay sā·p̄ə·rā ū·šə·’ār kə·nā·wā·ṯə·hō·wn dî yā·ṯə·ḇîn bə·šā·mə·rā·yin ū·šə·’ār ‘ă·ḇar- na·hă·rāh šə·lām ū·ḵə·‘eṯ — WLC · 17
18
The letter… you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.
𐤍𐤔𐤕𐤅𐤍𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤔𐤋𐤇𐤕𐤅𐤍 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤍𐤀 𐤌𐤐𐤓𐤔 𐤒𐤓𐤉 𐤒𐤃𐤌𐤉
נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕א דִּ֥י שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן עֲלֶ֑ינָא מְפָרַ֥שׁ קֱרִ֖י קָדָמָֽי׃ niš·tə·wā·nā dî šə·laḥ·tūn ‘ă·le·nā mə·p̄ā·raš qĕ·rî qā·ḏā·māy — WLC · 18
19
vvv I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this… city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition…
𐤅𐤌𐤍𐤉 𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤈𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤁𐤒𐤓𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤔𐤊𐤇𐤅 𐤃𐤉 𐤃𐤊 𐤌𐤍 𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤕𐤀 𐤌𐤕𐤍𐤔𐤀𐤄 𐤏𐤋 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤍 𐤏𐤋𐤌𐤀 𐤉𐤅𐤌𐤕 𐤅𐤌𐤓𐤃 𐤅𐤀𐤔𐤕𐤃𐤅𐤓 𐤌𐤕𐤏𐤁𐤃 𐤁𐤄
וּמִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ וּבַקַּ֣רוּ וְהַשְׁכַּ֔חוּ דִּ֚י דָ֔ךְ מִן־ קִרְיְתָ֣א מִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑ה עַל־ מַלְכִ֖ין עָֽלְמָ֔א יוֹמָת֙ וּמְרַ֥ד וְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר מִתְעֲבֶד־ בַּֽהּ׃ ū·min·nî śîm ṭə·‘êm ū·ḇaq·qa·rū wə·haš·ka·ḥū dî ḏāḵ min- qir·yə·ṯā miṯ·naś·śə·’āh ‘al- mal·ḵîn ‘ā·lə·mā yō·w·māṯ ū·mə·raḏ wə·’eš·tad·dūr miṯ·‘ă·ḇeḏ- bah — WLC · 19
20
And mighty… kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
𐤕𐤒𐤉𐤐𐤉𐤍 𐤄𐤅𐤅 𐤅𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤍 𐤏𐤋 𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤉𐤈𐤉𐤍 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤏𐤁𐤓 𐤍𐤄𐤓𐤄 𐤅𐤌𐤃𐤄 𐤁𐤋𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤋𐤊 𐤌𐤕𐤉𐤄𐤁 𐤋𐤄𐤅𐤍
תַּקִּיפִ֗ין הֲווֹ֙ וּמַלְכִ֣ין עַל־ יְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה וּמִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַהֲלָ֖ךְ מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְהֽוֹן׃ taq·qî·p̄în hă·wōw ū·mal·ḵîn ‘al- yə·rū·šə·lem wə·šal·lî·ṭîn bə·ḵōl ‘ă·ḇar na·hă·rāh ū·mid·dāh ḇə·lōw wa·hă·lāḵ miṯ·yə·hêḇ lə·hō·wn — WLC · 20
21
Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order…
𐤊𐤏𐤍 𐤔𐤉𐤌𐤅 𐤈𐤏𐤌 𐤀𐤋𐤊 𐤂𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤀 𐤋𐤁𐤈𐤋𐤀 𐤃𐤊 𐤅𐤒𐤓𐤉𐤕𐤀 𐤋𐤀 𐤕𐤕𐤁𐤍𐤀 𐤏𐤃 𐤌𐤍𐤉 𐤈𐤏𐤌𐤀 𐤉𐤕𐤔𐤌
כְּעַן֙ שִׂ֣ימוּ טְּעֵ֔ם אִלֵּ֑ךְ גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א לְבַטָּלָ֖א דָךְ֙ וְקִרְיְתָ֥א לָ֣א תִתְבְּנֵ֔א עַד־ מִנִּ֖י טַעְמָ֥א יִתְּשָֽׂם׃ kə·‘an śî·mū ṭə·‘êm ’il·lêḵ guḇ·ray·yā lə·ḇaṭ·ṭā·lā ḏāḵ wə·qir·yə·ṯā lā ṯiṯ·bə·nê ‘aḏ- min·nî ṭa‘·mā yit·tə·śām — WLC · 21
22
See that you… do not neglect… this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
𐤅𐤆𐤄𐤉𐤓𐤉𐤍 𐤄𐤅𐤅 𐤔𐤋𐤅 𐤋𐤌𐤏𐤁𐤃 𐤏𐤋 𐤃𐤍𐤄 𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤇𐤁𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤔𐤂𐤀 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤍𐤎 𐤋𐤄𐤍𐤆𐤒𐤕
וּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־ דְּנָ֑ה לְמָה֙ חֲבָלָ֔א יִשְׂגֵּ֣א מַלְכִֽין׃ס לְהַנְזָקַ֖ת ū·zə·hî·rîn hĕ·wōw šā·lū lə·me‘·baḏ ‘al- də·nāh lə·māh ḥă·ḇā·lā yiś·gê mal·ḵîn lə·han·zā·qaṯ — WLC · 22
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When… the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly… stopped them.
𐤀𐤃𐤉𐤍 𐤌𐤍 𐤃𐤉 𐤐𐤓𐤔𐤂𐤍 𐤍𐤔𐤕𐤅𐤍𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤀 𐤀𐤓𐤕𐤇𐤔𐤔𐤕𐤀 𐤒𐤓𐤉 𐤒𐤃𐤌 𐤓𐤇𐤅𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤔𐤉 𐤎𐤐𐤓𐤀 𐤅𐤊𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤄𐤅𐤍 𐤀𐤆𐤋𐤅 𐤁𐤁𐤄𐤉𐤋𐤅 𐤏𐤋 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤉𐤀 𐤋𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤁𐤀𐤃𐤓𐤏 𐤅𐤇𐤉𐤋𐤎 𐤅𐤁𐤈𐤋𐤅 𐤄𐤌𐤅
אֱדַ֗יִן מִן־ דִּ֞י פַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶן נִשְׁתְּוָנָא֙ דִּ֚י מַלְכָּ֔א אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּא קֱרִ֧י קֳדָם־ רְח֛וּם וְשִׁמְשַׁ֥י סָפְרָ֖א וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן אֲזַ֨לוּ בִבְהִיל֤וּ עַל־ יְה֣וּדָיֵ֔א לִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ בְּאֶדְרָ֥ע וְחָֽיִל׃ס וּבַטִּ֥לוּ הִמּ֖וֹ ’ĕ·ḏa·yin min- dî par·še·ḡen niš·tə·wā·nā dî mal·kā ʾar·taḥ·šaś·tå̄ qĕ·rî qo·ḏām- rə·ḥūm wə·šim·šay sā·p̄ə·rā ū·ḵə·nā·wā·ṯə·hō·wn ’ă·za·lū ḇiḇ·hî·lū ‘al- yə·hū·ḏā·yê lî·rū·šə·lem bə·’eḏ·rā‘ wə·ḥā·yil ū·ḇaṭ·ṭi·lū him·mōw — WLC · 23
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Thus the construction of the house of God… in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
𐤁𐤀𐤃𐤉𐤍 𐤏𐤁𐤉𐤃𐤕 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤀 𐤃𐤉 𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤁𐤈𐤋𐤕 𐤅𐤄𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤈𐤋𐤀 𐤏𐤃 𐤕𐤓𐤕𐤉𐤍 𐤔𐤍𐤕 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤃𐤓𐤉𐤅𐤔 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤐𐤓𐤎𐤐
בֵּאדַ֗יִן עֲבִידַ֣ת בֵּית־ אֱלָהָ֔א דִּ֖י בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּטֵלַת֙ וַהֲוָת֙ בָּֽטְלָ֔א עַ֚ד תַּרְתֵּ֔ין שְׁנַ֣ת לְמַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־ פָּרָֽס׃פ bê·ḏa·yin ‘ă·ḇî·ḏaṯ bêṯ- ’ĕ·lā·hā dî bî·rū·šə·lem bə·ṭê·laṯ wa·hă·wāṯ bā·ṭə·lā ‘aḏ tar·tên šə·naṯ lə·mal·ḵūṯ dā·rə·yā·weš me·leḵ- pā·rās — WLC · 24