Since the work on the temple is in progress, we didn’t think we should overlook such an act but should call it to the attention of our master the king so that if it concerns you, a search may be made in the records of your ancestors.
In the time of King Artaxerxes of the Persians, Bishlam, Mithridates, Tabeel, Rehum, Beltethmus, the scribe Shimshai, and the rest of their associates, living in Samaria and other places, wrote him the following letter, against those who were living in Judea and Jerusalem:
“To King Artaxerxes our lord, your servants the recorder Rehum and the scribe Shimshai and the other members of their council, and the judges in Coelesyria and Phoenicia:
But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Bishlam, Mithridates, Tab′eel, Rehum, Beltethmus, Shim′shai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, living in Samar′ia and other places, wrote him the following letter, against those who were living in Judea and Jerusalem:
Forsooth in the time of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, there wrote to him, of these that dwelled in Judea and in Jerusalem, Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and Rathymus, Beeltethmus, and Semellius, the scribe, and others dwelling in Samaria, and in other places, they wrote this subject letter to king Artaxerxes. [Forsooth in the time of Artaxerxes, king of Persians, written to him, of these that dwelt in Judea and in Jerusalem, Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and Rathymus, Beeltethmus, and Semellius, scribe, and others dwelling in Samaria, and in other places, the underset letter to king Artaxerxes.]