EZRA

Ezra 6

1Darius, finding the decree of Cyrus, maketh a new decree for the advancement of the building. 13Tatnai and Shethar-boznai assisting according to the king's decree, the temple is finished. 16The feast of the dedication is kept, and the passover, with great joy.


1THEN1 Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the 2house of the rolls,a where the 3treasures were laid up in 4Babylon.

1 After they had made search and found out the charge of king Cyrus, Darius gave command to build up the temple. The words of this command follow in the 6th verse.

2 Chald. in the house of books.

a scroll*

3 See Ezra 5 on verse 17.

4 Understand not the city of Babel, but the country and dominion of Babylon taken in a wider sense, and Media also reckoned under it.

2And there was found at 5Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a 6roll, and therein was a record thus written:7

5 Some hold this to be Ecbatana, where the kings of the Medes kept their court in summer; from which they perceive this place to have had the name of Achmetha, as their court was kept at Seleucia in winter by the river Tigris. Other, in a chest or cupboard.

6 As if one would say: rolled together, a part of a book, called in Latin volumen, in English volume; because the books of old were written in long rolls made of the bark of trees, and wound or rolled together. In Psalm 40:7 one finds the volume of the book; Jer. 36:2; Ezek. 2:9, a roll of a book, and Ezek. 2:10 and Rev. 5:1 a roll written within and without; which is thought to have been a roll. Yet to this day the Jews also have in their synagogues the book of Moses written in a long large roll of parchment.

7 In some translations the word Memorandum is added. This seems to have been the superscription of the ensuing memorial or record.

3In 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, 8the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be 9strongly laid; the height thereof 10threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

8 Or, for a place, etc.

9 Chald. properly: bearing, that is, so heavy and strong that they may be able to bear the building.

10 This is understood by some from consent or permission, that the temple would be permitted to be raised up so high, whereas Solomon’s temple was but thirty cubits high, 1 Kings 6:2. Now it appears by Hag. 2:3 that this building was not comparable to Solomon’s temple. See likewise Ezra 3:12.

4With three rows of 11great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:

11 As Ezra 5:8; see there.

5And 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 12is at Jerusalem, every one 13to his place, and 14place them in the house of God.

12 Or, shall be.

13 Namely, of the temple, or, every one to his place, meaning this of the vessels.

14 Other, ye shall carry them down, or, carry ye them down.

6Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the 15river, Shethar-boznai, and 16your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, 17be ye far from thence:

15 Euphrates.

16 Chald. and their company.

17 That is, take heed, that you do not in any wise approach to hinder this work.

718Let 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.

18 That is, let them continue unhindered in the labor or in the work.

8Moreover 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 19hindered.

19 Chald. that they may not cause to cease.

9And that which they have 20need of, both 21young 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:

20 Or, that which is needful.

21 Chald. sons or children of oxen.

10That they may offer sacrifices of 22sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

22 See Gen. 8 on verse 21.

11Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this 23word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be 24hanged thereon; and let his house be made a 25dunghill for this.

23 That is, transgress this command of mine, or do in any wise contrary thereto. So in the following verse; likewise Dan. 3:28; 6:9, 16.

24 Chald. blotted out.

25 Also Dan. 2:5; 3:29.

12And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put tob 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.

b apply, use*

13¶Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according 26to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

26 According to the command which the king had sent.

14And 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 27Cyrus, and 28Darius, and 29Artaxerxes king of Persia.

27 See Ezra 1:1; 5:13 and in this chapter verse 3, etc.

28 See Ezra 4 on verse 24.

29 Those who by Darius understand the son of Hystaspes, hold this man to be Artaxerxes Longimanus, that is, Longhand; but those who hold Darius, mentioned in the text, to be Darius Nothus, understand by this Artaxerxes Mnemon, that is, the Mindful, who reigned a long time with his father, and after that yet a long time alone, so that some do attribute unto him in all, threescore and two years.

15And this house was finished on the third day of the month 30Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

30 Agreeing for the greatest part with February, and likewise with a part of March.

16¶And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the 31dedication of this house of God with joy,

31 Compare Exodus 40; Num. 7 on verse 16; 1 Kings 8:63; Neh. 12 on verse 27.

17And 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.

18And they set the priests in their 32divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; 33asc it is written in the book of Moses.

32 Everyone in his order, rank, course, and in his ministry and service.

33 See Num. 3:6, 7, etc., 32; 8:9, etc. Understand withal, that they renewed the ordinance made by David, 1 Chron. 24:3, 4, 5, etc.

c Num. 3:6, 32; 8:11; 1 Chron. 24:1, etc.

19And the children of the captivity kept the passoverd upon the fourteenth day of the 34first month.

d Exod. 12:1, etc.; Lev. 23:5; Num. 28:16; Deut. 16:2.

34 Called Abib. See Exod. 12:2, 6; 13:4, 5.

20For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and 35killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

35 Compare 2 Chron. 29:24, 34; 30:17; 35:3, 6.

21And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and 36all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to 37seek the LORD God of Israel, did 38eat,

36 That is in this place, to serve Him with the heart and to walk in His ways.

37 According to the law, Exod. 12:48; Num. 9:14.

38 Namely, the Passover.

22And 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 39Assyria unto them, to strengthen their 40hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

39 He was properly king of Persia, but Assyria and Chaldea (which in times past had plagued Israel) were now under his dominion. Perhaps he also kept his court at this time in Assyria. For, some do write that Darius, having divided the government with his son, kept Assyria also unto himself.

40 That is, to make them courageous and cheerful to go about this work. Compare Ezra 1:6.