Immerse: Chronicles Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 120
108
IMMERSE
•
CHRONICLES
4:13–5:3
already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls. And the king
should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it
will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay
their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.
“Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king
dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information. We
suggest that a search be made in your ancestors’ records, where you
will discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past. In fact, it
was destroyed because of its long and troublesome history of revolt
against the kings and countries who controlled it. We declare to the
king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the province
west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you.”
Then King Artaxerxes sent this reply:
“To Rehum the governor, Shimshai the court secretary, and their
colleagues living in Samaria and throughout the province west of the
Euphrates River. Greetings.
“The letter you sent has been translated and read to me. I ordered a
search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been
a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. In fact, rebellion and
revolt are normal there! Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem
and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving
tribute, customs, and tolls. Therefore, issue orders to have these men
stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express
command. Be diligent, and don’t neglect this matter, for we must not
permit the situation to harm the king’s interests.”
When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai,
and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of
strength, they forced the Jews to stop building.
So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of
Persia.
At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied
to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the
God of Israel who was over them. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua
son of Jehozadak responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God
in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.
But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River,
ImmerseChronicles_NLT.indd 108
6/21/2017 10:01:36 AM
