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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 6
Darius renews decree of Cyrus to build the temple—It is finished
and dedicated, and sacrifices and feasts commence again.
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Darius researches for the decree of Cyrus and upon finding it Darius renews
the decree with additions commands to enforce finacial and resource support
for the completing of the Temple of the God of Heaven. The Second Temple is
completed and dedicated about 515 B.C., in the 6th year of the reign of
Darius. All the scrifices and feasts commence to be held again.
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1 THEN Darius the king
made a decree, and search was made in the house of the
arolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that
is in the province of the Medes, a aroll, and therein was a record thus
written:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the
kinga the same
Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem,
Let the ahouse 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:
5 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.
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3a In the first year of Cyrus the
king According the Biblical chronology this was about 538-537 B.C.
As the beginning and ending of an ancient king's rule does not fall exactly
upon today's beginning and ending of a calendar year, it is likely that the
decree may have come from Cyrus in say 538, and then such decreed return
actually would take time and would likely actually take place in 537 B.C.
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6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor
abeyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the
Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
7 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.
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8 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.
9 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:
10 That they may offer asacrifices
of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and bpray for the
life of the king, and of his sons.
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11 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.
12 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.
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13 ¶ Then Tatnai, governor aon
this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that
which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they
prospered through the prophesying of aHaggai 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 bCyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of
Persia.
15 And this house was finished on the third day of
the month aAdar, which was in the sixth year of the reign
of Darius the king.
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16 ¶ And the children of Israel, the priests,
and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the
adedication of this house of God with joy,
17 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.
18 And they set the apriests in
their divisions, and the Levites in their bcourses, for the
cservice of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is
written in the book of Moses.
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19 And the children of the captivity kept the
apassover upon the bfourteenth day
of the first month.
20 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.
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21 And the children of Israel, which were come again
out of captivity, and all such as had aseparated themselves
unto them from the bfilthiness of the
cheathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did
eat,
22 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, ato strengthen their hands in the
work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
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