Chapter 4

1When the adversaries of Yehuda and Binyamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to God of Yisrael,

vai-yish-M'U tza-RAY y'-hu-DAH u-vin-ya-MEEN, kee b'-NAY ha-go-LAH bo-NEEM hay-KHAL la-a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL

אוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ צָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן כִּֽי־בְנֵ֤י הַגּוֹלָה֙ בּוֹנִ֣ים הֵיכָ֔ל לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

2they approached Zerubavel and the chiefs of the clans and said to them, “Let us build with you, since we too worship your God, having offered sacrifices to Him since the time of King Esarhaddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

vai-yi-g'-SHU el ze-ru-BA-vel v'-el ra-SHAY ha-a-VOT va-YO-meru la-HEM, niv-NEH i-ma-KHEM, ki ka-KHEM nid-ROSH lay-lo-HE-khem (v'-LO) [v'-LO] a-naKH-nu zo-v'-KHIM mi-MAY e-SAR cha-DON me-LEKH a-SHUR ha-ma-a-LEH o-TA-nu POH

בוַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ אֶל־זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְאֶל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הָֽאָב֗וֹת וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נִבְנֶ֣ה עִמָּכֶ֔ם כִּ֣י כָכֶ֔ם נִדְר֖וֹשׁ לֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם (ולא) [וְל֣וֹ ׀] אֲנַ֣חְנוּ זֹבְחִ֗ים מִימֵי֙ אֵסַ֤ר חַדֹּן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ פֹּֽה׃

3Zerubavel, Yeshua, and the rest of the chiefs of the clans of Yisrael answered them, “It is not for you and us to build a House to our God, but we alone will build it to God of Yisrael, in accord with the charge that the king, King Cyrus of Persia, laid upon us.”

vai-YO-mer LA-HEM ze-ru-BA-VEL v'-ye-SHU-a u-sh'-AR ra-SHAY ha-a-VOt l'-yis-ra-AYL lo-la-KHEM va-LA-nu l'-v'-NOT ba-YIT l'-e-lo-HE-nu, ki a-NAKH-nu YA-khad ni-VE-ne l-a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-yis-ra-AYL ka-a-SHER tzi-VA-nu ha-ME-lekh ko-RESH me-lekh pa-RAS

גוַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ לָהֶ֨ם זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְיֵשׁ֗וּעַ וּשְׁאָ֨ר רָאשֵׁ֤י הָֽאָבוֹת֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹֽא־לָכֶ֣ם וָלָ֔נוּ לִבְנ֥וֹת בַּ֖יִת לֵאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ כִּי֩ אֲנַ֨חְנוּ יַ֜חַד נִבְנֶ֗ה לַֽיהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔נוּ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס׃

4Thereupon the people of the land undermined the resolve of the people of Yehuda, and made them afraid to build.

vai-HI, am ha-A-retz m'-ra-PEEM y'-DAY am y'-hu-DAH (u-m'-va-la-HEEM) [u-m'-va-ha-LEEM] o-TAM liv-NOT

דוַיְהִי֙ עַם־הָאָ֔רֶץ מְרַפִּ֖ים יְדֵ֣י עַם־יְהוּדָ֑ה (ומבלהים) [וּֽמְבַהֲלִ֥ים] אוֹתָ֖ם לִבְנֽוֹת׃

5They bribed ministers in order to thwart their plans all the years of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.

v'-so-K'-reem a-LE-hem yo-a-TZIM l'-ha-FAYR a-tza-TAM, kol y'-MAY ko-RESH me-LEKH pa-RAS v'-ad mal-KHUT dar-YA-vesh me-LEKH pa-RAS

הוְסֹכְרִ֧ים עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹעֲצִ֖ים לְהָפֵ֣ר עֲצָתָ֑ם כׇּל־יְמֵ֗י כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס וְעַד־מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס׃

6And in the reign of Ahasuerus, at the start of his reign, they drew up an accusation against the inhabitants of Yehuda and Yerushalayim.

u-v'-mal-khu-TAH a-khash-VE-rosh bi-t'-khi-LAT mal-khu-TO, ka-TE-vu sit-NA al yo-sh'-VAY y'-hu-DAH vi-ru-sha-LA-im. (S)

ווּבְמַלְכוּת֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת מַלְכוּת֑וֹ כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

7And in the time of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia, a letter written in Aramaic and translated. Aramaic:

u-vi-MEY ar-tach-SHAS-ta ka-TAV b'-sha-LAM mit-re-DAT ta-VE-el u-sh'-AR k'-na-VO-tav al ar-tach-SHAS-ta me-LEKH pa-RAS u-ka-TAV ha-nish-TE-van ka-TUV a-ra-MEET u-m'-tur-GAM a-ra-MEET.

זוּבִימֵ֣י אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא כָּתַ֨ב בִּשְׁלָ֜ם מִתְרְדָ֤ת טָֽבְאֵל֙ וּשְׁאָ֣ר כְּנָוֺתָ֔ו עַל־אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרָ֑ס וּכְתָב֙ הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ן כָּת֥וּב אֲרָמִ֖ית וּמְתֻרְגָּ֥ם אֲרָמִֽית׃

8Rehum the commissioner and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Yerushalayim to King Artaxerxes as follows: (

RE-khoom b'-EL-t'-EM v'-shim-SHAI saf-RA ka-TOV-u i-g'-RA cha-DAH al y'-ru-sh'-LEM l'-ar-takh-shas-TE mal-KA k'-ne-MA

חרְח֣וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵ֗ם וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ סָֽפְרָ֔א כְּתַ֛בוּ אִגְּרָ֥ה חֲדָ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֖א כְּנֵֽמָא׃

9Then Rehum the commissioner and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues, the judges, officials, officers, and overseers, the men of Erech, and of Babylon, and of Susa—that is the Elamites—

e-da-YIN r'-KHUM b'-EL-t'-EM u-shim-SHAI saf-RA u-sh'-AR k'-na-va-t'-HON di-NA-y'-a va-a-far-sat-kha-Y'-a tar-p'-la-Y'-a a-far-sa-Y'-a (ar-ko-Y) [ar-ko-va-Y'-a] va-vev-la-Y'-a shu-shan-kha-Y'-a (de-HU) [de-ha-Y'-a] e-l'-ma-Y'-a

טאֱדַ֜יִן רְח֣וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵ֗ם וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָ֖ר כְּנָוָתְה֑וֹן דִּ֠ינָיֵ֠א וַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵ֞א טַרְפְּלָיֵ֣א אֲפָֽרְסָיֵ֗א (ארכוי) [אַרְכֳּוָיֵ֤א] בָבְלָיֵא֙ שֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵ֔א (דהוא) [דֶּהָיֵ֖א] עֵלְמָיֵֽא׃

10and other peoples whom the great and glorious Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Shomron and the rest of the province Beyond the River [wrote]—and now

u-sh'a-AR u-ma-YA-a d'-hee ha-g'-LEE o-s'-NAP-ar ra-BA v'-ya-ki-RA v'-ho-TAYV hi-MO b'-ki-rya d'-hee sham-RA-yin u-sh'a-AR a-var-na-ha-RAH u-k'-e-NET

יוּשְׁאָ֣ר אֻמַּיָּ֗א דִּ֤י הַגְלִי֙ אׇסְנַפַּר֙ רַבָּ֣א וְיַקִּירָ֔א וְהוֹתֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּקִרְיָ֖ה דִּ֣י שָׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֥ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃

11this is the text of the letter which they sent to him:)—“To King Artaxerxes [from] your servants, men of the province Beyond the River. And now

d'-NAH par-SHE-gen i-gar-TA, di sh'-LA-khu a-lo-HI al-ar-ta-KH-shas-TE mal-KA, av-DAKH e-NAsh a-var-na-ha-RAH u-k'-E-net.

יאדְּנָה֙ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִגַּרְתָּ֔א דִּ֚י שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֔וֹהִי עַל־אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֑א עַבְדָ֛יךְ אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃

12be it known to the king that the Yehudim who came up from you to us have reached Yerushalayim and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are completing the walls and repairing the foundation.

y'-DEE-a le-he-VAY l'-mal-KA DEE y'-hu-da-YAY DEE s'-LI-ku min l'-va-TAKH a-LE-na a-TO lee-ru-sh'-LEM kir-y'-TA ma-ra-d'-TA u-veesh-TA ba-NA-yin v'-shu-ra-YA shakh-LEE-lu v'-u-sha-YA ya-KHEE-tu

יביְדִ֙יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֣י יְהוּדָיֵ֗א דִּ֤י סְלִ֙קוּ֙ מִן־לְוָתָ֔ךְ עֲלֶ֥ינָא אֲת֖וֹ לִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם קִרְיְתָ֨א מָֽרָדְתָּ֤א וּבִֽאישְׁתָּא֙ בָּנַ֔יִן (ושורי) [וְשׁוּרַיָּ֣א] (אשכללו) [שַׁכְלִ֔ילוּ] וְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖א יַחִֽיטוּ׃

13Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls completed, they will not pay tribute, poll-tax, or land-tax, and in the end it will harm the kingdom.

k'-AN y'-di-AH le-he-VEH l'-mal-KA dee HEN kir-YA-ta DAKH tit-B'-NE-a v'-shu-ra-YA yish-takh-L'-LUN min-DAH-b'-LO va-ha-LAKH LA lo yin-t'-NU-n v'-a-PTOM mal-KHEEM te-han-ZIK. (S)

יגכְּעַ֗ן יְדִ֙יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖א יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן מִנְדָּֽה־בְל֤וֹ וַהֲלָךְ֙ לָ֣א יִנְתְּנ֔וּן וְאַפְּתֹ֥ם מַלְכִ֖ים תְּהַנְזִֽק׃

14Now since we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not right that we should see the king dishonored, we have written to advise the king [of this]

k'-AN kol-ko-BEL di-m'-LAKH heikh-LA m'-LAKH-NA v'-ar-VAT m'-LAKA la a-RIKH-la-NA l'-me-khe-ZE al d'-NA sh'-LAKH-NA v'-ho-DA-na l'-m'-LAKA

ידכְּעַ֗ן כׇּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָא֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא וְעַרְוַ֣ת מַלְכָּ֔א לָ֥א אֲֽרִֽיךְ־לַ֖נָא לְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑א עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה שְׁלַ֖חְנָא וְהוֹדַ֥עְנָא לְמַלְכָּֽא׃

15so that you may search the records of your fathers and find in the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and states. Sedition has been rife in it from early times; on that account this city was destroyed.

di y'-va-KAR bi-s'-far-dokh-ra-NY-a di a-va-HA-takh u-t'-hash-KAKH bi-s'-far dokh-ra-NY-a v'-tin-DA di kir-YA-ta dakH kir-YA ma-ra-DA u-m'-han-Z'-kat mal-KHIN u-m'-di-NAN v'-esh-ta-DUR av-DIN b'-ga-vaH min-yo-MAT ol-MA al-de-NAH kir-YA-ta dakH ho-KHAR-vat

טודִּ֡י יְבַקַּר֩ בִּֽסְפַר־דׇּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜א דִּ֣י אֲבָהָתָ֗ךְ וּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּ֠ח בִּסְפַ֣ר דׇּכְרָנַיָּא֮ וְתִנְדַּע֒ דִּי֩ קִרְיְתָ֨א דָ֜ךְ קִרְיָ֣א מָֽרָדָ֗א וּֽמְהַנְזְקַ֤ת מַלְכִין֙ וּמְדִנָ֔ן וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ עָבְדִ֣ין בְּגַוַּ֔הּ מִן־יוֹמָ֖ת עָלְמָ֑א עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה קִרְיְתָ֥א דָ֖ךְ הׇֽחָרְבַֽת׃

16We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will no longer have any portion in the province Beyond the River.”

m'-ho-d'-IN a-na-KH'-na l'-mal-KA di HEN kir-YA-ta dakh tit-B'-ne v'-shu-ra-YA yish-takh-l'-LUN l'-ko-KH'-vel d'-NA kha-LAK ba-a-var na-ha-RA la a-ee-TAI laKH.

טזמְהוֹדְעִ֤ין אֲנַ֙חְנָה֙ לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן לׇקֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֔ה חֲלָק֙ בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔א לָ֥א אִיתַ֖י לָֽךְ׃

17The king sent back the following message: “To Rehum the commissioner and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues, who dwell in Shomron and in the rest of the province of Beyond the River, greetings.

pit-GA-ma sh'-LAKH mal-KA al-re-KHUM b'-el-t'-EM v'-shim-SHAI saf-RA u-sh'-AR k'-na-va-TOHN di ya-t'-VEEN b'-sha-m'-RA-yin u-sh'-AR a-var-na-ha-RAH sh'-LAM u-k'-ET.

יזפִּתְגָמָ֞א שְׁלַ֣ח מַלְכָּ֗א עַל־רְח֤וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵם֙ וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָר֙ כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן דִּ֥י יָתְבִ֖ין בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁלָ֖ם וּכְעֶֽת׃

18Now the letter that you wrote me has been read to me in translation.

nish-t'va-NA di sh'-lakh-TOON a-lei-NA m'-fa-RASH k'-ri ka-da-MAI

יחנִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕א דִּ֥י שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן עֲלֶ֑ינָא מְפָרַ֥שׁ קֱרִ֖י קׇדָמָֽי׃

19At my order a search has been made, and it has been found that this city has from earliest times risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been rife in it.

u-mi-NI sim t'-EM u-va-KA-ru v'-hash-KA-chu, di kir-YA-ta dakh min-yo-MA-ta al-MA, al-mal-KHIN mit-na-s'-A-ha, u-m'-RAD v'-esh-ta-DUR mit-a-VE-d-BAH

יטוּמִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ וּבַקַּ֣רוּ וְהַשְׁכַּ֔חוּ דִּ֚י קִרְיְתָ֣א דָ֔ךְ מִן־יוֹמָת֙ עָֽלְמָ֔א עַל־מַלְכִ֖ין מִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑ה וּמְרַ֥ד וְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר מִתְעֲבֶד־בַּֽהּ׃

20Powerful kings have ruled over Yerushalayim and exercised authority over the whole province of Beyond the River, and tribute, poll-tax, and land-tax were paid to them.

u-mal-KHEEN ta-KEE-feen ha-VO al y'-ru-sh'-LEM v'-sha-LEE-TEEN b'-KOL a-VAR na-ha-RAH u-mi-DAH v'-LO va-ha-LAKH mit-y'-HEV l'-HON

כוּמַלְכִ֣ין תַּקִּיפִ֗ין הֲווֹ֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה וּמִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַהֲלָ֖ךְ מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְהֽוֹן׃

21Now issue an order to stop these men; this city is not to be rebuilt until I so order.

k'-a-AN si-MU t'-EIM l'-ba-ta-LA guv-RA-yah i-LEKH v'-kir-y'-TA dakh la t'-ti-b'-NE-a ad mi-NI ta-MA yi-t'-SAM

כאכְּעַן֙ שִׂ֣ימוּ טְּעֵ֔ם לְבַטָּלָ֖א גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֑ךְ וְקִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ לָ֣א תִתְבְּנֵ֔א עַד־מִנִּ֖י טַעְמָ֥א יִתְּשָֽׂם׃

22Take care not to be lax in this matter or there will be much damage and harm to the kingdom.”

u-ze-hi-REEN he-VO sha-LOO l'-me-ABAD al d'-NAH, l'-MAH yis-GE ch'-va-LA l'-han-ZA-kat mal-KHEEN.

כבוּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־דְּנָ֑ה לְמָה֙ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔א לְהַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין׃

23When the text of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues, they hurried to Yerushalayim, to the Yehudim, and stopped them by main force.

e-da-YAN min-di PAR-she-GAN nish-t'-VA-na di ar-ta-KHAS-ta mal-KA, ke-RI ko-DAM-re-KHUM v'-shim-SHAI sa-f'-RA u-k'-na-va-t'-HON a-ZA-lu vi-v'-HI-lu li-ru-sh'-LEM al y'-hu-DA-y'-A u-va-TI-lu hi-MO b'-ed-RA v'-kha-YIL. (s)

כגאֱדַ֗יִן מִן־דִּ֞י פַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶן נִשְׁתְּוָנָא֙ דִּ֚י אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֔א קֱרִ֧י קֳדָם־רְח֛וּם וְשִׁמְשַׁ֥י סָפְרָ֖א וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן אֲזַ֨לוּ בִבְהִיל֤וּ לִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ עַל־יְה֣וּדָיֵ֔א וּבַטִּ֥לוּ הִמּ֖וֹ בְּאֶדְרָ֥ע וְחָֽיִל׃

24At that time, work on the House of Hashem in Yerushalayim stopped and remained in abeyance until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.

be-E-da-YIN b'-tay-LAT a-vee-DAT bayt e-la-HA dee bi-ru-sh'-LEM va-ha-VAT ba-t'-LA ad sh'-NAT tar-TAYN l'-mal-KHUT dar-YA-vaysh me-lekh pa-RAS.

כדבֵּאדַ֗יִן בְּטֵלַת֙ עֲבִידַ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֔א דִּ֖י בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וַהֲוָת֙ בָּֽטְלָ֔א עַ֚ד שְׁנַ֣ת תַּרְתֵּ֔ין לְמַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס׃