1 In the ✡ 2 Chr.xxxvi. 22, 23; Ezra i. 1, &c. first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Master by the mouth of Jeremy might be accomplished, 2 the Master stirred up the spirit of Cyrus 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 Master of Israel, the Most High Master, has made me king of the whole world, 4 and commanded me to build him a house at Yeruwshalaim that is in Judaea. 5 If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, * Another reading is, Let his Master be &c. let the Master, even his Master, be with him, and let him go up to Yeruwshalaim that is in Judaea, and build the house of the Master of Israel: he is the Master that dwells in Yeruwshalaim. 6 Of such therefore as dwell in various places , let them that are in his own place help each one with gold, and with silver, 7 with gifts, with horses also and cattle, beside the other things which have been added by vow for the temple of the Master which is in Yeruwshalaim.

8 Then the chief of the families of Yehudah and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose spirit the Master had stirred to go up, to build the house for the Master which is in Yeruwshalaim. 9 And they that lived round about them helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many gifts that were vowed of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto. 10 King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels of the Master, which Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Yeruwshalaim, 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 Mithradates his treasurer, 12 and by him they were delivered to † Another reading is, Simanassar. Sanabassar the governor of Judaea. 13 And this was the number of them: A thousand golden cups, a thousand cups of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. 14 So all the vessels of gold and of silver were brought up, even five thousand four hundred threescore and nine, 15 and were carried back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Yeruwshalaim.

16 ✡ Ezra iv. 7. But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and ‡ Rehum, Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and § Shimshai. Samellius the scribe, with the others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against them that lived in Judaea and Yeruwshalaim the letter following: 17 To king Artaxerxes our Master, Your servants, Rathumus the ** Or, recorder storywriter, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 18 Be it now known to our lord the king, that the Jews that are come up from you to us, being come to Yeruwshalaim, do build that rebellious and wicked city, and do repair the marketplaces and the walls of it, and do lay the foundation of a temple. 19 Now if this city be builded and the walls thereof be finished, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but will even stand up against kings. 20 And forasmuch 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, search may be made 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 of old time; for the which cause even this city was laid waste. 24 Wherefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up anew, you shall from henceforth have no passage into Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 25 Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and lived in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, after this manner: 26 I have read the epistle which you⌃ have sent to me: therefore I commanded to make search, and it has been found that that city of old time has made insurrection against kings; 27 and the men were given to rebellion and war therein: and that mighty kings and fierce were in Yeruwshalaim, who reigned and exacted tribute in Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 28 Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be nothing done contrary to this order; 29 and that those wicked doings proceed no further to the annoyance of kings. 30 Then king Artaxerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste to Yeruwshalaim with horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Yeruwshalaim ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.