Ezra 6

Darius's Decree Supporting the Temple

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

²A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record:

³In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid, with its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits;

⁴with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.

⁵Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in God’s house.

⁶Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there.

⁷Leave 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 its place.

⁸Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.

⁹That which they have need of, including young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail,

¹⁰that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.

¹¹I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

¹²May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter this, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

¹³Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions did accordingly with all diligence, because Darius the king had sent a decree.

¹⁴The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

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

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

¹⁷They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

¹⁸They 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.

Celebration of Passover

¹⁹The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

²⁰Because the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

²¹The children of Israel who had returned out of the captivity, and all who had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, ate,

²²and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house.

Previous Ezra 5

Next Ezra 7

King Darius discovers Cyrus's original decree authorizing the temple's reconstruction and issues his own decree commanding full support for the project, including funding and supplies. The temple is completed in Darius's sixth year with the help of prophets Haggai and Zechariah, followed by a joyful dedication ceremony. The chapter concludes with the celebration of Passover, marking the restoration of proper worship and the spiritual renewal of the returned exiles.

Context

This chapter resolves the opposition faced in chapter 5, showing God's sovereignty over foreign rulers to accomplish His purposes for His people.

Key Themes

Outline

1-5
Discovery of Cyrus's Decree Darius searches the archives and finds Cyrus's original authorization for temple reconstruction and vessel restoration.
6-12
Darius's Supporting Decree The king commands officials to support the project with royal funding and threatens severe punishment for interference.
13-15
Temple Completion Officials comply with the decree, and the temple is finished in the sixth year of Darius through prophetic encouragement.
16-18
Temple Dedication The completed temple is dedicated with sacrifices and joy by priests, Levites, and returned exiles.
19-22
Passover Celebration The community celebrates Passover with purification rituals, marking their spiritual restoration and God's favor.

Darius's Decree Supporting the Temple

6:1–6:12

narrative narration triumphant

King Darius finds Cyrus's original decree authorizing the temple reconstruction and issues his own decree supporting the project with royal funding and resources.

person_contrast

Darius transforms from the typical Persian king demanding tribute into an unprecedented benefactor, commanding his own treasury to fund Jewish temple reconstruction with lavish provisions including animals for burnt offerings.

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

6:13–6:18

narrative narration celebratory

The temple construction is completed and dedicated with great joy, sacrificial offerings, and proper organization of priests and Levites for temple service.

person_contrast

Tattenai, who previously interrogated the Jews about their temple construction, now zealously enforces Darius's decree supporting their work, transforming from skeptical overseer to enthusiastic facilitator.

Celebration of Passover

6:19–6:22

narrative narration joyful

The returned exiles celebrate Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread with great joy, recognizing God's favor in turning the king's heart toward them.

structural

Ezra's structural center places this Passover celebration as the theological climax, where ritual purity ("all of them were pure") symbolically reverses the exile's defilement that scattered Israel.

Insight Character Study

Insight Literary Structure

Ezra's structural center places this Passover celebration as the theological climax, where ritual purity ("all of them were pure") symbolically reverses the exile's defilement that scattered Israel.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Ezra 6:1 5 references

Lexicals 5

Ezra 5:17 Lexical

Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylo…

9 shared words

Ezra 5:13 Lexical

But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.

6 shared words

Ezra 4:19 Lexical

I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, an…

Ezra 6

Darius's Decree Supporting the Temple

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

Celebration of Passover

Darius's Decree Supporting the Temple

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

Celebration of Passover

Insights

Cross-References

Ezra 6:1 5 references

Ezra 6:2 5 references

Ezra 6:3 5 references

Ezra 6:4 5 references

Ezra 6:5 5 references

Ezra 6:6 5 references

Ezra 6:7 5 references

Ezra 6:8 5 references

Ezra 6:9 5 references

Ezra 6:10 5 references

Ezra 6:11 5 references

Ezra 6:12 5 references

Ezra 6:13 5 references

Ezra 6:14 5 references

Ezra 6:15 5 references

Ezra 6:16 5 references

Ezra 6:17 5 references

Ezra 6:18 5 references

Ezra 6:19 5 references

Ezra 6:20 3 references

Ezra 6:21 1 reference

Ezra 6:22 5 references

Interlinear

Historical Context

Timeline

Passover