12 be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that ^arebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay ^btribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired. 14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace¹ and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king, 15 in order that ^csearch may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and ^gGeshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you ^hrebelling against the king?”