A satrap of the Persian Empire, he was one of those who submitted a petition to prevent and oppose the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel.
Ezra 4:7In the days of Artaxerxes), Bishlam, Mithredath), Tabel), and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes) king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.Ezra 4:8Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes) as follows:Ezra 4:9From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the Dinaites), the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, the Elamites),Ezra 4:10and the rest of the peoples whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the region beyond the River—and now.