Because the temple was finished in the reign of Darius, there has been much discussion about the inclusion of Artaxerxes, since he came to the throne some fifty years after the temple’s completion. However, one we realize that this passage is part of the larger Aramaic archival report (Ezra 4:8-6:18), it is evident that this document is designed to persuade Artaxerxes to allow the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall. Thus Artaxerxes’ name is included here for rhetorical effect: