Rehum and Shimshai’s accusation, shown as a letter not as established fact

8Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:

9Then Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges, the officials, the Tarpelites, the Persians, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the men of Susa (that is, the Elamites)—

10and the rest of the peoples whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of Beyond the River—and now:

11This is a copy of the letter that they sent to King Artaxerxes: “Your servants, the men of Beyond the River, and now—”

12Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding the rebellious and wicked city, finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.

13Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, they will not pay tribute, tax, or toll, and in the end it will damage the revenue of the kings.

14Because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,

15so that a search may be made in the book of records of your fathers, and you may find in the book of records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that sedition has been made within it from ancient days; for this reason this city was laid waste.

16We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, then because of this you will have no possession in the province Beyond the River.