15. If you look up the official records of your ancestors, you will find that Jerusalem has constantly rebelled and has led others to rebel against kings and provinces. That's why the city was destroyed in the first place.
16. If Jerusalem is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will no longer have control over Western Province.
17. King Artaxerxes answered:Greetings to Governor Rehum, Secretary Shimshai, and to your advisers in Samaria and other parts of Western Province.
18. After your letter was translated and read to me,
19. I had the old records checked. It is true that for years Jerusalem has rebelled and caused trouble for other kings and nations.
20. And powerful kings have ruled Western Province from Jerusalem and have collected all kinds of taxes.
21. I want you to command the people to stop rebuilding the city until I give further notice.
22. Do this straight away, so that no harm will come to the kingdom.
23. As soon as this letter was read, Governor Rehum, Secretary Shimshai, and their advisers went to Jerusalem and forced everyone to stop rebuilding the city.
24. The Jews were forced to stop work on the temple and were not able to do any more building until the year after Darius became king of Persia.