Ezra 6:4

4 Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury.

Ezra 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 6:4

With three rows of great stones
Which Jarchi interprets of the walls of it, and these stones of marble; and so Ben Melech:

and a row of new timber;
of cedar wood upon the rows of stone, see ( 1 Kings 6:36 ) or for the lining and wainscoting the walls:

and let the expenses be given out of the king's house;
treasury, or exchequer; but it does not appear that this part of the decree was observed, at least hitherto; but the Jews built at their own expense, and perhaps did not exactly observe the directions given as to the dimensions of the house.

Ezra 6:4 In-Context

2 But it was at the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found. This is what it said: “Memorandum:

3 “In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem. “Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet.

4 Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury.

5 Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.”

6 So King Darius sent this message: “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues and other officials west of the Euphrates River—stay away from there!