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
.
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
:
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
;
With three rows
of great
stones
, and a row
of new
timber
: and let the expenses
be given
out of
the king's
house
:
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
.
Now therefore , Tatnai
, governor
beyond
the river
, Shetharboznai
, and your companions
the Apharsachites
, which are beyond
the river
, be ye
far
from
thence
:
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
.
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
.
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
:
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
,
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
.
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
.
And the children of the captivity
kept
the passover
upon the fourteenth
day of the first
month
.
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.
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
,
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
.