Ezra6
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Then Darius the king made a decree, and the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, was searched.
2A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record:
3In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid, with its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits;
4with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
5Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in God’s house.
6Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there.
7Leave 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 its place.
8Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.
9That which they have need of, including young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail,
10that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.
11I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter this, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.
13Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions did accordingly with all diligence, because Darius the king had sent a decree.
14The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16The children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
17They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18They 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.
19The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20Because the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
21The children of Israel who had returned out of the captivity, and all who had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate,
22and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezra 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The decree for completing the temple. (1–12). The temple is finished. (13–22).
vv1-12
When God's time is come for fulfilling his gracious purposes concerning his church, he will raise up instruments to do it, from whom such good service was not expected. While our thoughts are directed to this event, we are led by Zechariah to fix our regard on a nobler, a spiritual building. The Lord Jesus Christ continues to lay one stone upon another: let us assist the great design. Difficulties delay the progress of this sacred edifice. Yet let not opposition discourage us, for in due season it will be completed to his abundant praise. He shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
vv13-22
The gospel church, that spiritual temple, is long in the building, but it will be finished at last, when the mystical body is completed. Every believer is a living temple, building up himself in his most holy faith: much opposition is given to this work by Satan and our own corruptions. We trifle, and proceed in it with many stops and pauses; but He that has begun the good work, will see it performed. Then spirits of just men will be made perfect. By getting their sins taken away, the Jews would free themselves from the sting of their late troubles. Their service was with joy. Let us welcome holy ordinances with joy, and serve the Lord with gladness.
Key Words
אֱדַיִן: then (of time)
דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ: {Darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings}
מֶלֶךְ: a king
שׂוּם: {to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)}
טְעֵם: properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively)
בְּקַר: {properly, to plough, or (generally) break forth, i.e. (figuratively) to inspect, admire, care for, consider}
בַּבֶל: {Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire}
בַּיִת: {a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)}
סְפַר: a book
תָּם: there
Cross References
Ezra 6Direct follow-up to the search requested in the archives at Babylon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Darius's specified architectural pattern directly matches Solomon's temple layout.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the specific prophets Haggai and Zechariah who motivated the completion of the work.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Recalls the original capture and return of the sacred temple vessels.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament parallel for offering prayers on behalf of secular rulers.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the severe Eastern dynastic penalty of turning a house into a dunghill/rubble.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Solomon's dedication of the first temple, though on a much grander scale.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Refers back to the historic first year of Cyrus when the original decree was made.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Confirms Cyrus restoring the temple vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the tribal dedication offerings of the Tabernacle under Moses.
Supported by JFB
God causing His name to dwell in the temple, echoing Solomon's dedication.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The formal post-exilic celebration of the Passover on the fourteenth day.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The priests and Levites purifying themselves in unison for the feast.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The division of the priests and Levites into courses for temple service.
Supported by JFB