Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:
English Standard Version (ESV)
While we might see these men as mere messengers, the text highlights their official roles: Rehum, the "lord of judgment," and Shimshai, the "scribe." Their positions meant they were not just relaying gossip but officially documenting and endorsing a carefully crafted accusation designed to manipulate the king's perception. This detail reveals how officialdom and bureaucratic processes can be used to weaponize falsehoods against God's people.
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:
English Standard Version (ESV)
The leaders of the mixed population settled in Samaria, incensed by the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, conspire to halt the work. They present a formal accusation to King Artaxerxes, and this verse introduces the key figures who penned the official complaint. These men, Rehum and Shimshai, acted as the voices of opposition, dictating a letter filled with slander and deceit intended to turn the king against the returning Jewish exiles.
Ever notice how opposition often comes with an 'official' seal? The enemies of God's people didn't just complain; they organized.
In Ezra 4:8, we meet Rehum and Shimshai, key players in the opposition against Jerusalem's rebuilding. Their titles tell a story:
Together, they represent both the administrative power and the persuasive articulation of opposition. They weren't just random people; they were officials leveraging their positions to thwart God's work.
Opposition to God's work often starts with a carefully crafted message. What goes into creating an accusation that gets the king's attention?
This verse marks the beginning of a significant conflict. Rehum and Shimshai didn't just react; they wrote. Their letter to King Artaxerxes was a deliberate act of political maneuvering.
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This shows that opposition often moves from grievance to formal accusation, using official channels to undermine God's people.
Understand the original words
ṭemeya · Aramaic Noun
A title for a local administrator or official in the Persian imperial hierarchy, responsible for governing a portion of the province.
saphar · Aramaic Noun
A professional writer or secretary tasked with the drafting of official correspondence and the keeping of imperial records.
The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and the Temple during the Persian period was not a smooth process. This verse captures a moment of intense political intrigue, where established provincial officials actively sought to undermine the Judeans' efforts by appealing to the Persian king.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire, and its people are exiled. Many foreign peoples are resettled in the land, intermingling with the remaining Israelites and forming the Samaritan people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling many Judeans. This marks the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ushering in the Achaemenid Persian Empire. This event leads to a new policy allowing exiled peoples to return home.
516 BC
Second Temple Completed
Under Persian permission and encouragement, the Judean exiles return to Jerusalem and complete the rebuilding of the Temple, a significant moment for their religious and national identity.
c. 465-424 BC— this verse
Reign of Artaxerxes I
Artaxerxes I reigns as king of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. During his long reign, tensions arise between the returning Judeans and the inhabitants of Samaria.
This passage shows false accusations and slander being used by adversaries, similar to how Rehum and Shimshai will attempt to undermine the work in Ezra.
Nehemiah 4:1-3This highlights the opposition faced by those rebuilding Jerusalem, revealing a pattern of enemies trying to stop God's work through intimidation and lies.
Esther 3:8-9This shows a similar political maneuver where a group writes a letter to the king, falsely accusing and petitioning for the destruction of a specific people.
Matthew 5:11Jesus warns His followers that they will be slandered and falsely accused because of their relationship with Him, a reality echoed in the struggles faced by the returned exiles.
clarkeEzra 4:8: "Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:"
Rehum the chancellor - With this verse the Chaldee part of the chapter begins; and the same language continues to the end of Ezra 6:18 . These men wrote to Darius in their own language; and the king in the same dialect returns an answer, chap. 5. This circumstance adds authenticity to what is written: so scrupulous was the inspired penman, that he not only gave the word…
henryEzra 4:6-24: "And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem."
4:6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the cons…
While we might see these men as mere messengers, the text highlights their official roles: Rehum, the "lord of judgment," and Shimshai, the "scribe." Their positions meant they were not just relaying gossip but officially documenting and endorsing a carefully crafted accusation designed to manipulate the king's perception. This detail reveals how officialdom and bureaucratic processes can be used to weaponize falsehoods against God's people.
The leaders of the mixed population settled in Samaria, incensed by the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, conspire to halt the work. They present a formal accusation to King Artaxerxes, and this verse introduces the key figures who penned the official complaint. These men, Rehum and Shimshai, acted as the voices of opposition, dictating a letter filled with slander and deceit intended to turn the king against the returning Jewish exiles.
The leaders of the mixed population settled in Samaria, incensed by the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, conspire to halt the work. They present a formal accusation to King Artaxerxes, and this verse introduces the key figures who penned the official complaint. These men, Rehum and Shimshai, acted as the voices of opposition, dictating a letter filled with slander and deceit intended to turn the king against the returning Jewish exiles.
"Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:" — While we might see these men as mere messengers, the text highlights their official roles: Rehum, the "lord of judgment," and Shimshai, the "scribe." Their positions meant they were not just relaying…
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Last reviewed October 2026