1 Esdras 6
6
Work on the temple is finished
1In the second year of Darius’ rule, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Iddo’s son) prophesied to the Judeans who were in Judea and in Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel, who is ruler over them. 2Then Zerubbabel, Shealtiel’s son, and Jeshua, Jozadak’s son, went up and began to build the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, assisted by the Lord’s prophets.
3At the same time, Sisinnes, the commander of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes and their associates came to them and said, 4“By whose order are you building this house and this roof and finishing all the other things? Who are the builders who are doing all of these things?” 5Yet the elders of the Judeans enjoyed the gracious protection of the Lord on the exiles, 6and they weren’t prevented from building until Darius could be informed about them and return an answer. 7Here is a copy of the letter that Sisinnes, the commander of Syria and Phoenicia, Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, the local officials in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote to Darius:
8To King Darius. Greetings.
Our master the king, may you know that when we came to the country of Judea and entered the city of Jerusalem, we found the elders of the Jews, who had been in captivity, building in the city of Jerusalem a large new house for the Lord, of polished stone with costly beams set in the walls. 9These projects are proceeding swiftly, and the overall work is succeeding. They are completing it with brillance and precision. 10So we asked these elders, “By whose command are you building this house and laying the foundations of this project?” 11In order that we might inform you, we questioned them about who the leaders are and demanded a list of the names of the troublemakers. 12They told us, “We are the servants of the Lord who created the heaven and the earth. 13The house was built many years before by a great and mighty king of Israel, and it was finished. 14But when our ancestors angrily sinned against the Lord of Israel who is in heaven, God gave them over into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, king of the Chaldeans; 15and they tore down the house and burned it, and led the people away as prisoners to Babylon. 16But in the first year of Cyrus’ rule over the country of Babylonia, King Cyrus wrote that this house should be rebuilt. 17King Cyrus took out the holy gold and silver equipment from the temple in Babylon, which Nebuchadnezzar had removed from the house in Jerusalem and deposited in his own temple. Cyrus handed it over to Zerubbabel and the governor Sheshbazzar 18with the order that they#6.18 Or he take all of this equipment back and place it in the temple in Jerusalem, and that the Lord’s temple be rebuilt on its site. 19After coming here, Sheshbazzar laid the foundations of the Lord’s house in Jerusalem. It has been under construction until now, although it isn’t finished.” 20Now, King, if it seems right, please search the royal archives that are in Babylon. 21If it is discovered that the building of the Lord’s house in Jerusalem was done with King Cyrus’ consent, and if it seems right to our master the king, please direct us concerning these things.
22Then King Darius commanded a search of the royal archives that were kept in Babylon. In Ecbatana, within the palace of Medea, a scroll was found that recorded the following words:
23In the first year of Cyrus’ rule, King Cyrus commissioned the rebuilding of the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, where they offer sacrifices with continuous fire. 24Its height should be ninety feet and its width ninety feet, with three layers of polished stone and one layer of new native wood. The expenses should come out of the treasury of King Cyrus. 25Also the holy silver and gold equipment from the Lord’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar removed from the house in Jerusalem and transported to Babylon, should be restored to the house in Jerusalem, to be kept where it used to be.
26So he commanded Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, and those who were appointed as local officials in Syria and Phoenicia to stay away from the place and to let Zerubbabel, the Lord’s servant and Judea’s governor, and the elders of the Jews rebuild the Lord’s house on its site.
27I hereby command that it be built completely and that close attention be paid to helping those who have returned from the exile of Judea, util the Lord’s house is finished. 28A sum of money, out of the tribute of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, should be carefully arranged to be given to these persons, specifically to Zerubbabel the governor, for offerings to the Lord, for bulls, rams, and lambs. 29Also money should be given for wheat, salt, wine, and oil, continually every year, without arguing, for daily use as the Jerusalem priests may indicate 30so that drink offerings may be made to the Most High God for the king and his children, and prayers be offered for their lives.
31He further commanded that if anyone should disobey any of the things previously mentioned or previously written, or attempt to cancel them, a beam should be taken out of the house of the guilty, who then should be hung on it, and all their possessions forfeited to the king.
32May the Lord, on whose name they called, destroy every king and nation that will stretch out their hands to prevent or damage the Lord’s house in Jerusalem.
33I, King Darius, have declared that it be done with the necessary care described here.
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1 Esdras 6: CEB
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