Ezra 6:1-14
“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.” (Ezra 6:1)
Probably about three or four months after the Jews had resumed construction on the temple, Darius got the letter from Tatnai and the rulers of the areas around Jerusalem. He ordered a search of the records to find out if Cyrus had ordered construction of the temple as the Jews claimed. If such a record existed, then they were obligated to allow the Jews to continue.
“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.” (Ezra 6:2-5)
With no computer records and everything written on scrolls, the search woud be a major undertaking, made worse by the age of the scrolls. Eventually, the proper record was found, not at the main palace in Shushan, but at Achmetha. It not only authorized the rebuilding, but ordered that the ancient Jewish religious artifacts be returned to their proper places. After almost a year, Darius responded to the letter challenging the Jews right to build the temple.
“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.” (Ezra 6:6-7)
Based on Cyrus’ order, Darius warned the neighboring groups not to interfere, but to stay completely away and allow the Jews to build the house of God as they were authorized to do. He also made a decree of his own relating to the temple.
“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.” (Ezra 6:8-10)
Besides declaring that the Jews were authorized to build the temple, Darius ordered that the necessary building materials and sacrificial animals be paid for with the taxes the various rulers collected, without any squabbling, because he wanted them to pray for him and his children.
“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.” (Ezra 6:11-12)
He stated the punishment for failure to obey his orders. Anyone who hindered construction would have his own house demolished by Darius’ troops, and be hanged on a gallows made from beams taken from it, leaving him dead and his family homeless. A king or country who interfered could expect God himself to destroy their country.
“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.” (Ezra 6:13-14)
Two or three months after Darius sent his decree, the various governors got the letter. They immediately stopped interfering and began to deliver materials as he had commanded. The Jews were glad they had listened to Hagai and Zechariah. Work progressed much faster with a ready supply of materials and no vandalism or opposition from other groups. While construction would take another three years, they never had to stop work again. After Darius’ death, Artaxerxes would follow a similar policy towards the Jews.
“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.” (Ezra 6:1)
Probably about three or four months after the Jews had resumed construction on the temple, Darius got the letter from Tatnai and the rulers of the areas around Jerusalem. He ordered a search of the records to find out if Cyrus had ordered construction of the temple as the Jews claimed. If such a record existed, then they were obligated to allow the Jews to continue.
“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.” (Ezra 6:2-5)
With no computer records and everything written on scrolls, the search woud be a major undertaking, made worse by the age of the scrolls. Eventually, the proper record was found, not at the main palace in Shushan, but at Achmetha. It not only authorized the rebuilding, but ordered that the ancient Jewish religious artifacts be returned to their proper places. After almost a year, Darius responded to the letter challenging the Jews right to build the temple.
“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.” (Ezra 6:6-7)
Based on Cyrus’ order, Darius warned the neighboring groups not to interfere, but to stay completely away and allow the Jews to build the house of God as they were authorized to do. He also made a decree of his own relating to the temple.
“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.” (Ezra 6:8-10)
Besides declaring that the Jews were authorized to build the temple, Darius ordered that the necessary building materials and sacrificial animals be paid for with the taxes the various rulers collected, without any squabbling, because he wanted them to pray for him and his children.
“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.” (Ezra 6:11-12)
He stated the punishment for failure to obey his orders. Anyone who hindered construction would have his own house demolished by Darius’ troops, and be hanged on a gallows made from beams taken from it, leaving him dead and his family homeless. A king or country who interfered could expect God himself to destroy their country.
“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.” (Ezra 6:13-14)
Two or three months after Darius sent his decree, the various governors got the letter. They immediately stopped interfering and began to deliver materials as he had commanded. The Jews were glad they had listened to Hagai and Zechariah. Work progressed much faster with a ready supply of materials and no vandalism or opposition from other groups. While construction would take another three years, they never had to stop work again. After Darius’ death, Artaxerxes would follow a similar policy towards the Jews.
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