Scripture Thought (What I Learned):
Chapter 5: Zerubbabel Renews Building of the
Temple
The prophet Haggai and Zechariah
the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah
and Jerusalem. So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak
rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem;
and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
Meanwhile, Tattenai the governor
of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their
companions came to them and spoke to them and asked who had commanded them to
build them temple and finish the wall?" But the eye of their God was upon
the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report
could go to Darius. Then a written answer was returned to answer the question.
“But after that our fathers had provoked the
God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king
of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away
into Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the
same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. And the
vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took
out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the
temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon,
and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar,
whom he had made governor; And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry
them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God
be builded in his place. Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the
foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that
time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not
finished. Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be
search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon,
whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build
this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us
concerning this matter.” (Ezra 5:12-17)
Chapter 6: The Temple is Finished and
Dedicated
King Darius issued a decree, and a
search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
And at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a
scroll was found, and in it a record that was written:
“In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a
decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: 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, Shethar-boznai, 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.” (Ezra 6:3-12)
Then
Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai,
and their companions did what King Darius had sent. So the elders of the Jews
built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and
Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according
to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus,
Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. Now the temple was finished on the third
day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King
Darius.
Then the children of Israel, the
priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity,
celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. And they offered
sacrifices at the dedication of this house of God, one hundred bulls, two
hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel twelve
male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. They assigned the
priests to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions, over the service
of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.
And the descendants of the
captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were
ritually clean. And they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all
the descendants of the captivity, for their brethren the priests, and for
themselves. Then the children of Israel who had
returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves
from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of
Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy;
for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria
toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God
of Israel.
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