Work on the Temple Begins Again
(Ezra 5.1-17)1 In the second year of the reign of Emperor Darius, the two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, began to speak in the name of the Lord God of Israel to the Jews who lived in Judah and Jerusalem. 2 When Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak heard their messages, they began to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and the two prophets helped them.
3 Almost at once Governor Sisinnes of Greater Syria and Phoenicia, with Shethar Bozenai and the other officials, came to Jerusalem and demanded: 4 “Who gave you orders to build this Temple and complete this roof and everything else? Who is doing this work?” 5 But the Lord was with the people who had returned from exile and was watching over the Jewish leaders, 6 and they were allowed to continue building until Emperor Darius could be informed and his reply received. 7 Here is the report that the Persian officials sent to the emperor:
8 “To Emperor Darius, greetings.
“Your Majesty should know that we went to Judah and to Jerusalem and there we found the leaders of the Jews who have returned from exile 9 building a large new Temple for the Lord with expensive, shaped stone blocks and with wooden beams set in the walls. 10 The work is being done rapidly and is moving ahead steadily; yet they are taking great care and doing their work beautifully.
11 “We then asked the leaders of the people to tell us who had given them orders to rebuild the Temple and lay the foundations for the buildings. 12 We also asked them who their leaders were and demanded a list of their names, so that we could inform you.
13 “They answered, ‘We are servants of the Lord who created heaven and earth. 14 This Temple was built and equipped many years ago by a very powerful king of Israel. 15 But because our ancestors sinned against Israel's Lord in heaven and made him angry, he let them be conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia, a king of the Chaldean dynasty. 16 The Temple was demolished and burned, and the people were taken into exile in Babylonia. 17 Then, in the first year of his reign as emperor of Babylonia, Cyrus issued orders for the Temple to be rebuilt. 18 He gave back the sacred gold and silver utensils which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in his own temple in Babylon. Emperor Cyrus turned these utensils over to Zerubbabel and the governor, Sheshbazzar. 19 The Emperor told Sheshbazzar to take them and return them to the Temple in Jerusalem, and to rebuild the Temple where it had stood before. 20 So Sheshbazzar came and laid its foundation, and construction has continued from then until the present, but the Temple is still not finished.’
21 “Now, if it please Your Majesty, have a search made in the royal records in Babylon 22 to find whether or not the building of this Temple in Jerusalem had the approval of Emperor Cyrus, and then, if it please Your Majesty, inform us what your will is in this matter.”
Emperor Cyrus' Order Is Rediscovered
(Ezra 6.1-5)23 So Emperor Darius ordered a search to be made in the royal records that were kept in Babylon. It was, however, in the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found, containing the following record:
24 “In the first year of his reign Emperor Cyrus ordered the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, where sacrifices are continually offered. 25 The Temple is to be 90 feet high and 90 feet wide. The walls must be built with one layer of new local wood on top of each three layers of shaped stone. All expenses are to be paid by the royal treasury. 26 Also the gold and silver utensils which King Nebuchadnezzar brought to Babylon from the Temple in Jerusalem are to be returned to their proper place in the Jerusalem Temple.”
Emperor Darius Orders the Work to Continue
(Ezra 6.6-12)27 Then Emperor Darius gave strict orders to Sisinnes, governor of Greater Syria and Phoenicia, Shethar Bozenai, the other officials, and the local officials to stay away from Jerusalem and let Zerubbabel, the servant of the Lord and governor of Judah, and the other Jewish leaders rebuild the Temple of the Lord where it stood before. 28 “And I also command,” he continued, “that it be completely rebuilt and that, until it is finished, every effort be made to help the Jews who have returned from exile. 29 From the taxes received in Greater Syria and Phoenicia a contribution shall be made on a regular basis to these men, payable to Governor Zerubbabel, for bulls, sheep, and lambs to be used in their sacrifices to the Lord. 30 In the same way, each year and without further question, wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil are to be supplied, according to the daily needs indicated by the priests. 31 This must be done so that they can make wine offerings to God Most High for me and my children and pray for his blessing on our lives.” 32 He also gave these orders: “If anyone disobeys the commands as written above or fails to carry them out, he is to be hanged on a wooden beam taken from his own house, and his property is to be turned over to the emperor. 33 May the Lord who is worshiped at Jerusalem destroy any king or nation that tries to stop the work or damage the Temple there. 34 I, Emperor Darius, issue the command that these orders be carried out in every detail.”
1 Now in the second year of the reign of Darius, Aggeus and Zacharias the son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied unto the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel, which was upon them.
2 Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them.
3 At the same time came unto them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said unto them,
4 By whose appointment do ye build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and who are the workmen that perform these things?
5 Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the Lord had visited the captivity;
6 And they were not hindered from building, until such time as signification was given unto Darius concerning them, and an answer received.
7 The copy of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, rulers in Syria and Phenice, wrote and sent unto Darius; To king Darius, greeting:
8 Let all things be known unto our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem the ancients of the Jews that were of the captivity
9 Building an house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, and the timber already laid upon the walls.
10 And those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth on prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence is it made.
11 Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works?
12 Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men.
13 So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
14 And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and strong, and was finished.
15 But when our fathers provoked God unto wrath, and sinned against the Lord of Israel which is in heaven, he gave them over into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, of the Chaldees;
16 Who pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives unto Babylon.
17 But in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon, Cyrus the king wrote to build up this house.
18 And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor had carried away out of the house at Jerusalem, and had set them in his own temple, those Cyrus the king brought forth again out of the temple at Babylon, and they were delivered to Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus the ruler,
19 With commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and put them in the temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord should be built in his place.
20 Then the same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the foundations of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.
21 Now therefore, if it seem good unto the king, let search be made among the records of king Cyrus:
22 And if it be found that the building of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem hath been done with the consent of king Cyrus, and if our lord the king be so minded, let him signify unto us thereof.
23 Then commanded king Darius to seek among the records at Babylon: and so at Ecbatane the palace, which is in the country of Media, there was found a roll wherein these things were recorded.
24 In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, king Cyrus commanded that the house of the Lord at Jerusalem should be built again, where they do sacrifice with continual fire:
25 Whose height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that country; and the expences thereof to be given out of the house of king Cyrus:
26 And that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and silver, that Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, should be restored to the house at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where they were before.
27 And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice, should be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews, to build the house of the Lord in that place.
28 I have commanded also to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently to help those that be of the captivity of the Jews, till the house of the Lord be finished:
29 And out of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion carefully to be given these men for the sacrifices of the Lord, that is, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and lambs;
30 And also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every year without further question, according as the priests that be in Jerusalem shall signify to be daily spent:
31 That offerings may be made to the most high God for the king and for his children, and that they may pray for their lives.
32 And he commanded that whosoever should transgress, yea, or make light of any thing afore spoken or written, out of his own house should a tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged, and all his goods seized for the king.
33 The Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly destroy every king and nation, that stretcheth out his hand to hinder or endamage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
34 I Darius the king have ordained that according unto these things it be done with diligence.