Ezra 4:21-23

New English Translation

²¹ Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct.^{[a] 22} Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that the king sustains damage?”

²³ Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem^[b] and stopped them with threat of armed force.^[c]