1Esd 2
1
In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord might be
accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of Jeremy;
2
The Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made proclamation
through all his kingdom, and also by writing,
3
Saying, Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the most high Lord,
has made me king of the whole world,
4
And commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.
5
If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his Lord,
be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house
of the Lord of Israel: for he is the Lord that dwells in Jerusalem.
6
Whoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are
his neighbours, with gold, and with silver,
7
With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set forth
by vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem.
8
Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the
priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind the Lord had moved to go up,
and to build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem,
9
And they that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all things with silver and
gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great number whose
minds were stirred up thereto.
10
King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which Nabuchodonosor had carried away
from Jerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols.
11
Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to Mithridates
his treasurer:
12
And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea.
13
And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver,
censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand four
hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels.
14
So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand
four hundred threescore and nine.
15
These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon
to Jerusalem.
16
But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius,
and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with others that were
in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against
them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following;
17
To king Artaxerxes our lord, Your servants, Rathumus the storywriter, and Semellius
the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Celosyria and
Phenice.
18
Be it now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from you to us, being
come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the marketplaces, and
repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the temple.
19
Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse
to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.
20
And seeing that as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it
meet not to neglect such a matter,
21
But to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be your pleasure it may
be sought out in the books of your fathers:
22
And you shall find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and
shall understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities:
23
And that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the which cause
even this city was made desolate.
24
Wherefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city be built again,
and the walls thereof set up anew, you shall from henceforth have no passage into
Celosyria and Phenice.
25
Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius
the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria
and Phenice, after this manner;
26
I have read the epistle which you have sent to me: therefore I commanded to make diligent
search, and it has been found that that city was from the beginning practising against
kings;
27
And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that mighty kings and fierce
were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.
28
Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed
to be taken that there be no more done in it;
29
And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings,
30
Then king Artaxerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and
the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste toward Jerusalem with
a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the
builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year
of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.