hear the sentence: Hinder those men, that this city
be not built, till further orders be given by me.

4:22. See that you be not negligent in executing this, lest by little
and little the evil grow to the hurt of the kings.

4:23. Now the copy of the edict of king Artaxerxes was read before Reum
Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counsellors: and they went up
in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and hindered them with arm and power.

4:24. Then the work of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was
interrupted, and ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius king
of the Persians.

1 Esdras Chapter 5

By the exhortation of Aggeus, and Zacharias, the people proceed in
building the temple. Which their enemies strive in vain to hinder.

5:1. Now Aggeus the prophet, and Zacharias the son of Addo, prophesied
to the Jews that were in Judea and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of
Israel.

5:2. Then rose up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue the son of
Josedec, and began to build the temple of God in Jerusalem, and with
them were the prophets of God helping them.

5:3. And at the same time came to them Thathanai, who was governor
beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and their counsellors: and said thus
to them: Who hath given you counsel to build this house, and to repair
the walls thereof?

5:4. In answer to which we gave them the names of the men who were the
promoters of that building.

5:5. But the eye of their God was upon the ancients of the Jews, and
they could not hinder them. And it was agreed that the matter should be
referred to Darius, and then they should give satisfaction concerning
that accusation.

5:6. The copy of the letter that Thathanai governor of the country
beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and his counsellors the
Arphasachites, who dwelt beyond the river, sent to Darius the king.

5:7. The letter which they sent him, was written thus: To Darius the
king all peace.

5:8. Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judea, to
the house of the great God, which they are building with unpolished
stones, and timber is laid in the walls: and this work is carried on
diligently and advanceth in their hands.

5:9. And we asked those ancients, and said to them thus: Who hath given
you authority to build this house, and to repair these walls?

5:10. We asked also of them their names, that we might give thee notice:
and we have written the names of the men that are the