“There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.”
The conclusion of the royal response: "Now issue an order to these men to stop work on this building. Why should damage accrue to the detriment of the royal interests?" The king explicitly issues the order the accusers had requested, commanding cessation of restoration work on the grounds that it threatens imperial interests. The royal order establishes that the accusers had successfully convinced imperial authorities that Jewish restoration posed sufficient threat to warrant official intervention. The language emphasizing royal interests indicates that the king had been persuaded by the financial and political arguments opponents had advanced, accepting their interpretation of restoration as contrary to Persian welfare. The issuance of the imperial order to cease work represents a major obstacle to the restoration project, interrupting construction efforts and requiring the Jewish community to navigate imperial opposition.
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