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Then the neighboring people began to do everything possible to frighten the Jews and to make them stop building.
You should know that the Jews who left your country have moved back to Jerusalem and are now rebuilding that rebellious city. In fact, they have almost finished rebuilding the walls and repairing the foundations.
You should also know that if the walls are completed and the city is rebuilt, the Jews won't pay any kind of taxes, and there will be less money in your treasury.
The Jews were forced to stop work on the temple and were not able to do any more building until the year after Darius became king of Persia.
Other Jews, including priests, Levites, musicians, the temple guards, and servants, came to Jerusalem with Ezra. This happened during the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king.
when my brother Hanani came with some men from Judah. So I asked them about the Jews who had escaped from being captives in Babylonia. I also asked them about the city of Jerusalem.
None of the city officials knew what I had in mind. And I had not even told any of the Jews—not the priests, the leaders, the officials, or any other Jews who would be helping in the work.
In front of his friends and the Samaritan army he said, “What is this feeble bunch of Jews trying to do? Are they going to rebuild the wall and offer sacrifices all in one day? Do they think they can make something out of this pile of scorched stones?”
Our enemies were saying, “Before those Jews know what has happened, we will sneak up and kill them and put an end to their work.”
On at least ten different occasions, the Jews living near our enemies warned us against attacks from every side,
Some of the men and their wives complained about the Jews in power
We are Jews just as they are, and our children are as good as theirs. But we still have to sell our children as slaves, and some of our daughters have already been raped. We are completely helpless; our fields and vineyards have even been taken from us.”
The king handed his official ring to Haman, who hated the Jews, and the king told him,
In every province where the king's orders were read, the Jews cried and mourned, and they went without eating. Many of them even put on sackcloth and sat in ashes.
and Mordecai told him everything that had happened. He also told him how much money Haman had promised to add to the king's treasury, if all the Jews were killed.
Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the orders for the murder of the Jews and told him that these had been read in Susa. He said, “Show this to Esther and explain what it means. Ask her to go to the king and beg him to have pity on her people, the Jews!”
he sent back this reply, “Don't think that you will escape being killed with the rest of the Jews, just because you live in the king's palace.
“Bring together all the Jews in Susa and tell them to go without eating for my sake! Don't eat or drink for three days and nights. My servant girls and I will do the same. Then I will go in to see the king, even if it means I must die.”
Before the end of the day, King Xerxes gave Esther everything that had belonged to Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Esther told the king that Mordecai was her cousin. So the king made Mordecai one of his highest officials
Once again Esther went to speak to the king. This time she fell down at his feet, crying and begging, “Please stop Haman's evil plan to have the Jews killed!”
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The Jews say: ''The Christians have nothing (to stand) upon''; and the Christians say: ''The Jews have nothing (to stand) upon.'' Yet they (profess to) study the (same) Book. Like unto their word is what those say who do not know; but Allah will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment.
Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you unless you follow their form of religion. Say: ''The Guidance of Allah, - that is the (only) Guidance.'' If you were to follow their desires after the knowledge which has reached you, then you would find neither Protector nor Helper against Allah.
They say: ''Become Jews or Christians if you would be guided (to salvation).'' You say: ''Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah.''
Or do you say that Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do you know better than Allah? Ah! who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what you do!
Of the Jews there are those who displace words from their (right) places, and say: ''We hear and we disobey''; and ''Hear what is not heard''; and ''Raina''; with a twist of their tongues and a slander to Faith. If only they had said: ''We hear and we obey''; and ''Do hear'': and ''Do look at us'': it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah has cursed them for their Unbelief; and but few of them will believe.
For the iniquity of the Jews We made unlawful for them certain (foods) good and wholesome which had been lawful for them; - in that they hindered many from Allah's Way; -
(Both) the Jews and the Christians say: ''We are sons of God, and His beloved.'' Say: ''Why then does He punish you for your sins? Nay, you are but men, - of the men He has created: He forgives whom He pleases, and He punishes whom He pleases: and to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between: and to Him is the final goal (of all).''
O Messenger! let not those grieve you, who race each other into Unbelief: (whether it be) among those who say ''We believe'' with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or it be among the Jews, - men who will listen to any lie, - will listen even to others who have never so much as come to you. They change the words from their (right) times and places: they say, ''If you are given this, take it, but if not, beware!'' If any one's trial is intended by Allah, you have no authority in the least for him against Allah. For such - it is not Allah's will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.
It was We Who revealed the Law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the Prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's Will, by the Rabbis and the Doctors of Law. For to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's Book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear Me, and do not sell My Signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.
O you who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your protectors: they are but protectors to each other. And he amongst you who turns to them is of them. Verily Allah guides not a people unjust.
The Jews say: ''Allah's hand is tied up.'' Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter. Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He gives and spends (of His bounty) as He pleases. But the revelation that comes to you from Allah increases in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. Amongst them we have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah extinguishes it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah does not love those who do mischief.
Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers will you find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the Believers will you find those who say, ''We are Christians'': because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.
The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the Son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the Unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!
To the Jews We prohibited such things as We have mentioned to you before: We did them no wrong, but they were used to doing wrong to themselves.
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