Shimshai was a scribe of the Persian Empire and 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), Tabeel) 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 commanding officer and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes) as follows:Ezra 4:9Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates—the Dinaites), the Apharsathkites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Arkevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites and the Elamites)Ezra 4:10and the rest of the peoples whom the great and illustrious Osnappar had deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates. This is a copy of the letter they sent him:
Ultimately, due to their obstruction, the rebuilding of the temple was halted until the time of King Darius.
Ezra 4:23As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes) was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went immediately to Jerusalem