References (4)
[Here in , the text shifts from Hebrew to Aramaic until . The Jews were bilingual at this time, so to avoid switching between Aramaic (in which the Persian documents quoted were written) and Hebrew, the comments between the letters are also written in Aramaic. Verses 9-10 were probably the summary of the contents that was on the outside of the scroll.]
Rechum, the commander (literally: lord of commands), and Shimshaj, the city secretary, wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes (Hebr. Artachshaste) [here with an "e" at the end] with the following content:
Rechum, the commander, and Shimshaj, the city secretary, together with their colleagues (government officials): the judges, the officials, the administrators, the clerks, the men from Erek, Babylon, and Susa, i.e., the Elamites,
The king sent this reply:
"To the councilor Rechum and the scribe Shimshaj and the others, their brothers, who live in Samaria and in the rest of the land beyond the river. Peace!
When the letter from King Artaxerxes (Hebr. Artachshaste) had been read to Rechum, the scribe Shimshai, and their fellow brothers, they went to the Jews in Jerusalem and prevented them by force and power.
