This document is about Artaxerxes (Ezra_4). For other homonyms, please refer to the Artaxerxes document. He is the king who appears in Ezra 4 and stopped the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem. His actual reign lasted only 7 months.
Ezra 4:7Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows,Ezra 4:8then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,Ezra 4:9and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote.Ezra 4:10This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, From your servants the men beyond the River.Ezra 4:11Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.Ezra 4:12Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.Ezra 4:13Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,Ezra 4:14that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.Ezra 4:15We inform the king that, if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.Ezra 4:16Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace.Ezra 4:17The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.Ezra 4:18I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.Ezra 4:19There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.Ezra 4:20Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree is made by me.Ezra 4:21Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?Ezra 4:22Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms.Ezra 4:23Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.