Ezra 4:21-23

New International Reader's Version

²¹ So give an order to those men. Make them stop their work. Then the city won’t be rebuilt until I give the order. ²² Pay careful attention to this matter. Why should we let this danger grow? That would not be in our best interests.

²³ The copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary. It was also read to their friends. Right away they went to the Jews in Jerusalem. They forced them to stop their work.