Ezra 6:1-12

The Decree of Darius

1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and ¹search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored.

2 And in Ecbatana, the capital that is ²in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: "A record.

3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits^[a] and its breadth sixty cubits,

4 ³with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.

5 And also ⁴let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God."

6 "Now therefore, ⁵Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, ⁶and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away.

7 Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.

8 Moreover, ⁷I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.

9 And whatever is needed--bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require--let that be given to them day by day without fail,

10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven ⁸and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

11 Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and ⁹his house shall be made a dunghill.

12 May the God ¹⁰who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence."

Ezra 6:1-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 6

Darius, on receiving the letter from his officers in Samaria, searched for the decree of Cyrus, and found it, and which he confirmed, Ezr 6:1-7 and made a fresh decree, and ordered expenses to be given out of his tribute for the building of the temple, and for the sacrifices of it; and that whosoever altered it should be hanged on the timber of his own house, and imprecated a curse on those that should destroy the house of God, Ezr 6:8-12 upon which the building went on, and was finished, Ezr 6:13-15 and the temple was dedicated to God in a solemn manner, Ezr 6:16-18, and the passover was kept by all the people, Ezr 6:19-22.

Cross References

• 1. Ezra 5:17
• 2. [2 Kings 17:6]
• 3. 1 Kings 6:36
• 4. Ezra 1:7, 8; Ezra 5:14
• 5. Ezra 5:3, 6
• 6. Ezra 5:6
• 7. Ezra 7:13, 21
• 8. Jeremiah 29:7; [1 Timothy 2:2]
• 9. Daniel 2:5; Daniel 3:29
• 10. 1 Kings 9:3

Footnotes

• [a]. A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters