6 Now in the reign of Ahasuerus , in the beginning of his reign , they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem . 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes , Bishlam , Mithredath , Tabeel and the rest of his colleagues wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia ; and the text of the letter was written in Aramaic and translated from Aramaic . 8 Rehum the commander e and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes , as follows - 9 then wrote Rehum the commander e and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues , the judges and the lesser governors , the officials , the secretaries , the men of Erech , the Babylonians , the men of Susa , that is, the Elamites , 10 and the rest of the nations which the great and honorable Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria , and in the rest of the region beyond the River . Now 11 this is the copy of the letter which they sent to him: "T o King Artaxerxes : Your servants , the men in the region beyond the River , and now 12 let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem ; they are rebuilding the rebellious and evil city and are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations . 13 "Now let it be known to the king , that if that city is rebuilt and the walls are finished , they will not pay tribute , custom or toll , and it will damage the revenue of the kings . 14 "Now because e e we are in the service of the palace , and it is not fitting for us to see the king's dishonor , therefore e we have sent and informed the king , 15 so that a search may be made in the record books of your fathers . And you will discover in the record books and learn that that city is a rebellious city and damaging to kings and provinces , and that they have incited revolt within it in past days ; therefore e that city was laid waste . 16 "We inform the king that if that city is rebuilt and the walls finished , as a result you will have no possession in the province beyond the River ."

17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the commander e , to Shimshai the scribe , and to the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and in the rest of the provinces beyond the River : "Peace . And now 18 the document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me. 19 "A decree has been issued by me, and a search has been made and it has been discovered that that city has risen up against the kings in past days , that rebellion and revolt have been perpetrated in it, 20 that mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem , governing all the provinces beyond the River , and that tribute , custom and toll were paid to them. 21 "So, now issue a decree to make these men stop work, that this city may not be rebuilt until a decree is issued by me. 22 "Beware of being negligent in carrying out this matter; why should damage increase to the detriment of the kings ?" 23 Then as soon e as the copy of King Artaxerxes' document was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues , they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force of arms .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 4:6-23

Commentary on Ezra 4:6-24

(Read Ezra 4:6-24)

It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king suffered himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes see and hear with other men's eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them, which are often done falsely. But God's judgment is just; he sees things as they are.