|
The
Decree of Darius
6:1 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.
6:2 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:
6:3 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;
6:4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new
timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's
house:
6:5 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.
6:6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river,
Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which
are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
6:7 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.
6:8 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.
6:9 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:
6:10 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.
6:11 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.
6:12 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.
Completion and
Dedication of the Temple
6:13 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.
6:14 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.
6:15 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.
6:16 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.
6:17 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.
6:18 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.
The Passover
6:19 And the children of the captivity kept the
passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.
6:20 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.
6:21 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,
6:22 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, to strengthen their hands
in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. |
Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
