Ezra 6

King James Version

Full text for Ezra Chapter 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.

2And 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:

3In 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:

5And 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.

6Now [therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which [are] beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

7Let 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.

8Moreover 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.

9And 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:

10That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

11Also 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.

12And 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.

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.

14And 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.

15And 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.

16And 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,

17And 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.

18And 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.

19And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth [day] of the first month.

20For 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.

21And 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,

22And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

King Darius, seeking clarification, orders a search for Cyrus's original decree concerning the Jerusalem temple. A scroll is found in Achmetha, confirming Cyrus's command for the temple's reconstruction, specifying its dimensions, and mandating royal funding and the return of sacred vessels. Darius then issues his own decree, instructing officials to cease hindering the work and to provide royal tribute for the temple's expenses and daily sacrifices. He pronounces severe penalties for anyone altering his decree and invokes divine judgment against those who would destroy the temple. Following this, the Jewish elders, encouraged by prophets Haggai and Zechariah, swiftly complete the temple in Darius's sixth year. The temple is dedicated with great joy and numerous sacrifices, and the people observe the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, acknowledging the Lord's favor and the support of the Persian kings.

Long Summary

King Darius, responding to inquiries about the Jerusalem temple's construction, orders a search for Cyrus's original decree. A scroll is discovered in Achmetha, detailing Cyrus's command from his first year to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem, specifying its dimensions of sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide, and its construction with three rows of great stones and one row of new timber. Crucially, Cyrus's decree also stipulated that all expenses for the temple should be paid from the king's treasury and that the golden and silver vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar be restored to Jerusalem. Based on this finding, Darius issues a new, stringent decree to Tatnai, governor beyond the river, and his associates, commanding them to cease hindering the work and to allow the Jewish elders and governor to proceed unhindered. Darius further mandates that royal funds, specifically from the tribute beyond the river, be immediately provided for the building project and for daily supplies—bullocks, rams, lambs, wheat, salt, wine, and oil—for the burnt offerings to the God of heaven, so that the priests may pray for the king and his sons. A severe penalty is decreed for anyone altering this word: they shall be impaled on timber from their own house, and their house made a dunghill. Darius invokes the God who caused His name to dwell there to destroy any king or people who attempts to alter or destroy the temple. Following this powerful decree, Tatnai and his companions diligently and speedily comply. The Jewish elders, encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, successfully complete the temple in the sixth year of King Darius's reign, fulfilling the commandments of God, Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes. The dedication of the finished house of God is celebrated with immense joy by the children of Israel, priests, and Levites, marked by numerous sacrifices, including a sin offering for all Israel. The priests and Levites are then organized into their divisions for service, as prescribed in the book of Moses. Finally, the children of the captivity, along with those who had separated from the heathen, observe the Passover and the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread with great joy, acknowledging the Lord's favor in turning the heart of the king of Assyria to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God.

Core Concepts

  • Royal DecreesThe chapter highlights the pivotal role of decrees from Persian kings, specifically Cyrus and Darius, in authorizing, funding, and protecting the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
  • Divine ProvidenceThe successful completion of the temple is attributed to the commandment of the God of Israel and His turning the heart of the king, demonstrating divine oversight in fulfilling His purposes.
  • Temple ReconstructionThe core narrative details the completion of the second temple in Jerusalem, including its specific dimensions, the mandated royal funding, and the restoration of its sacred vessels.
  • Worship and DedicationThe chapter culminates in the joyful dedication of the completed temple, the re-establishment of priestly and Levitical service, and the celebration of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, signifying renewed worship.
  • Prophetic EncouragementThe work of building the temple is noted to have prospered through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah, underscoring the crucial role of prophets in motivating and guiding the people.
  • Persian SupportThe chapter details the significant financial and political support provided by the Persian Empire, which not only permitted the temple work but actively funded it and imposed severe penalties on those who would hinder it.
  • Restoration of Sacred VesselsA key element of Cyrus's decree, reaffirmed by Darius, was the return of the golden and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple, symbolizing the restoration of its sanctity and function.