Ezra
6:1 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.
6:2 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:
6:3 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;
6:4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the
expenses be given out of the king's house:
6:5 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.
6:6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and
your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far
from thence:
6:7 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.
6:8 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.
6:9 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:
6:10 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.
6:11 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.
6:12 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.
6:13 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.
6:14 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.
6:15 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.
6:16 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,
6:17 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.
6:18 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.
6:19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth
day of the first month.
6:20 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.
6:21 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,
6:22 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.
