The Letter of Artaxerxes to the King of Jerusalem

Andrew steiman argues that we should understand this as a collection of different correspondents joined by narrative sections. He suggests it was likely compiled by persian officials under the supervision of nahemiah. The first letter is sent by ke officials in the trans phrate s region, the province of beyond the river. Although they are situated beyond the river, they were largely sent there by the assyrian king, ashaban pal. They themselves are persians, babylonians, medians and other people who had come from the other side of the river. As such, they have a natural kinship with the persian king to whom they are writing. Within their correspondence, they present