What is happening in this passage about Darius and the temple?

In this passage, King Darius orders that the royal records be searched to see if Cyrus had really allowed the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. A scroll is found that confirms Cyrus’s decree. Darius then not only allows the work to continue, but commands local officials to stay away from the project and to pay the costs from the royal income. The Jews, helped by the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, finish the temple, dedicate it with sacrifices, and then celebrate Passover and the feast of unleavened bread with great joy.

Why did Darius support the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem?

Darius supports the rebuilding because he finds the earlier decree from Cyrus that ordered God’s house in Jerusalem to be rebuilt and supplied from the king’s resources. He wants to uphold that order and also asks that sacrifices be offered to the God of heaven and that prayers be made for the life of the king and his sons. Behind this, the passage shows that God is the one who turns the hearts of kings so that they help His people and the work on His house instead of stopping it.

What does this passage teach about God’s control over rulers?

This passage shows that God rules over kings and uses them to carry out His plans. A foreign king, Cyrus, first gave the order to rebuild the temple. Later, Darius confirms that order, protects the builders, and pays for the work and the offerings. At the end, it says the Lord turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward the people to strengthen their hands. So even though these rulers did not belong to Israel, God directed their decisions so that His house would be rebuilt and His people could worship again.

Why are Haggai and Zechariah mentioned in the rebuilding of the temple?

Haggai and Zechariah are mentioned because God used them to encourage and stir up the people while they were rebuilding the temple. The passage says the elders of the Jews prospered through their prophesying, and that they finished the house according to God’s command and the commands of the Persian kings. Their messages helped the people not to give up when there was opposition, but to keep working, trusting that God was with them and would bring the rebuilding to completion.

What is the significance of the dedication of the temple and the sacrifices?

The dedication of the temple marks the completion of God’s house after years of delay and struggle. The people offer many animals in sacrifice, showing joy, thankfulness, and a desire to worship God as He had commanded. They also offer twelve male goats as a sin offering for all Israel, matching the twelve tribes, which shows they see themselves as one people before God even after exile. Setting priests and Levites in their proper divisions shows a return to ordered worship, as written in the law given through Moses.

Why do the returned exiles keep Passover and the feast of unleavened bread?

The returned exiles keep Passover and the feast of unleavened bread to obey God’s commands and to remember His saving work. Passover recalls how God brought Israel out of Egypt, and now He has brought them back from captivity. The priests and Levites make sure they are purified before they kill the Passover lamb for the people, other priests, and themselves. They then keep the feast for seven days with joy because the Lord made them joyful and turned the king’s heart to help them in the work on His house.

Who are the people that separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations?

The passage mentions not only the children of Israel who came back from captivity, but also others who separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations in the land to seek the Lord. These would be people who had lived among idol-worshiping neighbors but chose to turn away from that and join the returned exiles in worshiping the God of Israel. They ate the Passover together and shared in the feast, showing that true belonging among God’s people is marked by leaving false worship and seeking the Lord.

Why does Darius threaten punishment for anyone who changes his decree?

Darius adds a very strong warning to protect the rebuilding of the temple. He says that if anyone alters his word, timber should be pulled from that person’s house and he should be hanged on it, and his house made a ruin heap. He also calls on the God whose name dwells in the temple to destroy any king or people who try to harm it. This shows how seriously the king intends to defend the work and how firmly the protection around the temple and its builders is set in place.

Ezra.6.1

Ezra 6:1

KJV

Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

The Decree of Darius

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

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

3 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;

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

5 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.

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

7 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.

8 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.

9 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:

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

The Temple Completed

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

14 And 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 Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

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

Dedication of the Temple

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

17 And 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.

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

The Returned Exiles Keep the Passover

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

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

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

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

Cross References

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