“And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.”
The continuation: "Jerusalem has had mighty kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them." The king's statement acknowledges Jerusalem's historical power and capacity to dominate the region, supporting the accusers' argument that a restored city would pose threats to imperial authority. The reference to past Jerusalem rulers extracting taxes from the region validates concerns that a reconstituted Jewish state would similarly challenge Persian dominance. The historical acknowledgment of Jerusalem's historical power provides imperial basis for fearing that restoration would produce similar challenges to current Persian authority. The king's recognition of Jerusalem's historical power validates the accusers' argument that restoration represented a genuine threat to imperial regional control.
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