Bishlam

Bishlam is a Samaritan official who, together with Mithredath, Tabeel, and other associates, writes to Artaxerxes king of Persia to obstruct the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem.

The Letter to Artaxerxes

In the days of Artaxerxes, "Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his fellow slaves, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian [character], and set forth in the Syrian [tongue]" (Ezr 4:7). The wider correspondence — joined by Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe — accuses the returning Jews of building "the rebellious and the bad city" (Ezr 4:12) and warns that, once finished, Jerusalem will withhold "tribute, custom, or toll" (Ezr 4:13) and the king will retain "no portion beyond the River" (Ezr 4:16).

The Outcome

Artaxerxes replies that the records confirm Jerusalem's history of insurrection (Ezr 4:19) and orders the work halted "until a decree will be made by me" (Ezr 4:21). Rehum, Shimshai, and their fellow officials then go up "in a hurry to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power" (Ezr 4:23). The result is that "the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia" (Ezr 4:24). Bishlam's name appears only at the head of this opposition, but his letter sets the obstruction in motion.