4:23a When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates,

¶ When a copy of the letter of/from King/Chief Artaxerxes was read before Rehum, Shimshai the secretary, and their colleagues,
-or-
¶ Then ⌊a messenger/servant took⌋ the letter that the king/ruler ⌊had sent⌋ and read it to/for Rehum and Shimshai and their companions.

4:23b they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

they went quickly to Jerusalem and caused the Jewish people with/by force to stop ⌊building⌋.
-or-
⌊When they heard what the letter said⌋, they went to Jerusalem without delay ⌊and took some soldiers with them⌋. ⌊There,⌋ they and the soldiers forced the Jews to stop ⌊rebuilding the foundations and walls of the city⌋.

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