Ezra 6:15-18

15 This temple was completed on the third day of the ¹month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

16 And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles *, ²celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

17 They offered for the dedication of this temple of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 * lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel * male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18 Then they appointed the priests to ³their divisions and the Levites in ⁴their orders for the service of God in Jerusalem, ⁵as it is written in the book of Moses.

Ezra 6:15-18 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. Esther 3:7
• 2. 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 7:5
• 3. Ezra 8:35
• 4. 1 Chronicles 24:1; 2 Chronicles 35:5
• 5. 1 Chronicles 23:6
• 6. Numbers 3:6; Numbers 8:9

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "house"
• [b] Lit "until"
• [c] Lit "sons of the captivity"
• [d] Lit "which is in"