“‘If in spite of these things you do not allow yourselves to be disciplined and you walk in hostility against me,

The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence.

I will walk in hostile rage against you and I myself will also discipline you seven times on account of your sins.

“‘If you walk in hostility against me and are not willing to obey me, I will increase your affliction seven times according to your sins.

Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped them with threat of armed force.