Ezra6

King Darius discovers Cyrus's original decree authorizing the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple. Darius reaffirms this decree, ordering royal funds for the construction and forbidding any hindrance to the work. Consequently, the temple is speedily completed and joyfully dedicated by the Jewish people, who also observe Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Darius Searches for Cyrus's Decree

1
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. ​
2
And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: ​
3
In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; ​
4
With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
5
And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. ​

Darius Confirms the Decree and Provides Funds

6
Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: ​
7
Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
8
Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. ​
9
And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
10
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. ​
11
Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. ​
12
And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed. ​

Completion of the Temple

13
Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. ​
14
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. ​
15
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. ​

Dedication and Passover Celebration

16
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, ​
17
And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. ​
18
And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. ​
19
And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. ​
20
For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
21
And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, ​
22
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. ​

Study Notes for Ezra 6

Verse 1

Darius’s action demonstrates the efficiency and importance of the centralized record-keeping system maintained by the Persian Empire, even across vast territories.

Verse 2

Achmetha (Ecbatana) was the summer capital of the Medes and Persians. Finding the original decree here suggests Cyrus may have issued it early in his reign while traveling the empire.

Verse 3

The specified dimensions (60x60 cubits) are large, confirming Cyrus’s generous intent and providing a legal basis to counter the claims of the local adversaries who had questioned the scope of the project.

Verse 5

The mandated return of the sacred vessels signifies the reversal of Babylonian conquest and is a physical sign of God fulfilling his promise to restore his presence among his people.

Verse 6

Darius addresses the officials who had earlier attempted to halt the work (Ezra 5:3), commanding them to immediately withdraw and cease all interference with the temple rebuilding.

Verse 8

Crucially, Darius mandates that the required funds be drawn directly from the royal treasury, specifically the tribute collected from the very region where the opposition resided ('beyond the river').

Verse 10

The requirement to pray for the king demonstrates the Persian policy of religious tolerance, viewing the God of Israel as a powerful deity whose favor protected the stability of the empire.

Verse 11

The extreme penalty (impaling and house demolition) underscores the seriousness of the decree and serves as a powerful deterrent against future administrative interference.

Verse 12

Darius’s decree ends with a curse, invoking the power of the God of Israel to protect the temple, effectively aligning Persian imperial law with divine authority.

Verse 13

The immediate and speedy compliance of the local officials shows the absolute authority of the Persian monarch, ensuring the work could proceed without further hindrance.

Verse 14

This verse credits the successful completion not only to the decrees of three Persian kings but primarily to the prophetic encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah, highlighting the divine initiative.

Verse 15

The temple was finished in March 515 BC, approximately four and a half years after the work resumed and about 70 years after the destruction of the first temple by Babylon (586 BC).

Verse 16

The dedication marked the official reconsecration of the site and the establishment of worship, signifying the restoration of the covenant community.

Verse 17

The offering of twelve he-goats for a sin offering symbolized atonement for all twelve tribes of Israel, emphasizing the unity of the people despite the historical division of the kingdoms.

Verse 18

The organization of the priests and Levites into divisions and courses was essential for restoring the proper, mandated structure of worship as detailed in the Law of Moses.

Verse 19

The observance of Passover marked the communal purification and remembrance of God's redemption, linking the returning exiles to the foundational identity of Israel.

Verse 21

Those who 'separated themselves' were non-Israelites who had committed fully to the worship of Yahweh alongside the returnees, demonstrating the openness of the restored community to genuine converts.

Verse 22

Referring to Darius as 'the king of Assyria' is a common biblical usage, generalizing the title of the ruler of the dominant Mesopotamian empire. The Lord had sovereignly shifted this ruler’s heart to bless Israel.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options