Add parallel Print Page Options

Edicto del rey Darío

El rey Darío dio la orden de que se investigara en el archivo real de Babilonia donde se guardaban los documentos. Pero fue en Acmetá, en el palacio de la provincia de Media, donde se encontró un rollo que rezaba:

Memoria: En el primer año de su reinado, el rey Ciro promulgó el siguiente edicto con relación al Templo de Dios en Jerusalén: “Que se edifique el Templo como lugar donde se ofrezcan sacrificios y que se echen sus cimientos. Su altura será de treinta metros y de otros tantos su anchura, con tres hileras de grandes piedras labradas y una de maderos. Los gastos correrán a cargo del rey. Se restituirán además al Templo de Dios los objetos de oro y plata que Nabucodonosor sacó del Templo de Jerusalén y llevó a Babilonia. Volverán al lugar que les corresponde en el Templo de Dios en Jerusalén”.

Por tanto, Tatnay, gobernador del otro lado del Éufrates, Setar-Boznay y demás colegas que gobiernan al otro lado del Éufrates, ¡aléjense de allí! Dejen que se realicen las obras del Templo de Dios y que el gobernador de Judea y los responsables de los judíos reconstruyan ese Templo de Dios en su emplazamiento original.

Estas son mis órdenes sobre cómo deben colaborar con los responsables de los judíos para llevar a cabo la reedificación del Templo de Dios: A cuenta del erario real y con dinero procedente de los tributos de la provincia Transeufratina, páguense puntualmente los gastos de esos hombres y que no pare la obra.

Y según las indicaciones de los sacerdotes de Jerusalén, den también lo necesario para los holocaustos al Dios del cielo: becerros, carneros y corderos, trigo, sal, vino y aceite. Que todo esto se les dé cada día, sin falta, 10 para que puedan ofrecer sacrificios agradables al Dios del cielo y oren por la vida del rey y de sus hijos. 11 Ordeno, además, que a cualquier persona que infrinja este decreto se le arranque una viga de su casa, sea empalado en ella y se convierta su casa en un montón de escombros. 12 Dios, que ha hecho habitar allí su nombre, derribe a cualquier rey o pueblo que intente destruir el Templo de Dios que está en Jerusalén. Yo, Darío, he promulgado este decreto. Que sea puntualmente ejecutado.

13 Entonces Tatnay, gobernador del otro lado del Éufrates, Setar-Boznay y sus colegas, actuaron exactamente como había ordenado el rey Darío. 14 Por su parte, los responsables de los judíos, de acuerdo con las palabras proféticas de Ageo y Zacarías, descendiente de Idó, llevaron a cabo con éxito las obras de reconstrucción. Construyeron y acabaron la edificación según la orden del Dios de Israel y el mandato de Ciro, de Darío y de Artajerjes, reyes de Persia. 15 Finalizó la construcción de este Templo el tercer día del mes de Adar, el sexto año del reinado de Darío.

Dedicación del Templo y celebración de la Pascua

16 Los israelitas, los sacerdotes, los levitas y el resto de los repatriados dedicaron este Templo a Dios con alegría. 17 Ofrecieron, con motivo de la dedicación del Templo, cien becerros, doscientos carneros, cuatrocientos corderos y, como expiación por todo Israel, doce machos cabríos, según el número de las tribus de Israel. 18 Igualmente, organizaron a los sacerdotes por turnos y a los levitas según sus clases para el servicio de Dios en Jerusalén, conforme a lo escrito en el libro de Moisés.

19 Los que regresaron del cautiverio celebraron la Pascua el día catorce del primer mes. 20 Los sacerdotes y levitas se habían purificado sin excepción y todos estaban limpios. Así que sacrificaron la Pascua por los que habían vuelto del cautiverio, por sus hermanos sacerdotes y por sí mismos. 21 Y la comieron, tanto los israelitas que habían vuelto del destierro como todos los que se habían separado de las impurezas de las gentes del lugar para buscar al Señor, Dios de Israel. 22 Durante siete días celebraron con regocijo la fiesta de los Panes sin levadura porque el Señor los había llenado de gozo y había dispuesto favorablemente el corazón del rey de Asiria para darles ánimo en la obra del Templo del Dios de Israel.

The Scroll with Cyrus’ Decree Is Found

Then King Darius issued a decree, and a (A)search was made in the [a]archives, where the treasures were deposited in Babylon. And in [b]Ecbatana in the fortress, which is (B)in the province of Media, a scroll was found and there was written in it as follows:

“Memorandum—

(C)In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree:

Concerning the house of God in Jerusalem, let that house, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be [c]retained, its height being [d]60 cubits and its width 60 cubits;

(D)with three layers of huge stones and [e]one layer of timbers. And let the cost be given from the [f]royal treasury.

And also let (E)the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and [g]brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall deposit them in the house of God.’

“Now (F)Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the [h]River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, [i]keep away from there.

Leave that work on the house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild that house of God in its designated place.

Moreover, (G)I issue a decree concerning what you shall do for those elders of Judah in the rebuilding of that house of God: the full cost is to be given to those people from the royal treasury out of the tribute of the provinces beyond the River, and that without negligence.

Whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, according to what the priests in Jerusalem say, it is to be given to them daily without negligence,

10 that they may bring sweet-smelling sacrifices near to the God of heaven and (H)pray for the life of the king and his sons.

11 And I issued a decree that (I)any man who violates this edict, a timber shall be pulled out from his house and he shall be impaled on it and (J)his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this.

12 May the God who (K)has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who [j]stretches out his hand to change it, so as to destroy that house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree, let it be done with all diligence!”

The Dedication of the House of God

13 Then (L)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent. 14 And (M)the elders of the Jews were building and succeeding through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. So they built and completed it according to the decree of the God of Israel and the decree (N)of Cyrus, (O)Darius, and (P)Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was brought to completion [k]on the third day of the (Q)month 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 [l]exiles, (R)celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They brought near for the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel (S)12 male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 Then they appointed the priests to (T)their sections and the Levites in (U)their divisions for the service of God [m]in Jerusalem, (V)as it is written in the book of Moses.

Passover Celebrated

19 (W)And the exiles celebrated the Passover on (X)the fourteenth of the first month. 20 (Y)For the priests and the Levites had cleansed themselves together; all of them were clean. Then (Z)they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves. 21 Then the sons of Israel who returned from exile and (AA)all those who had separated themselves from (AB)the uncleanness of the nations of the land to join them, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate the Passover. 22 And (AC)they celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with gladness, for Yahweh had caused them to be glad and (AD)had turned the heart of (AE)the king of Assyria toward them to [n]strengthen them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 6:1 Lit house of the books
  2. Ezra 6:2 Aram Achmetha
  3. Ezra 6:3 Or fixed, laid
  4. Ezra 6:3 Approx. 90 ft. or 27 m, a cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm
  5. Ezra 6:4 As in Gr; Aram a layer of new timber
  6. Ezra 6:4 Lit king’s house
  7. Ezra 6:5 Lit go
  8. Ezra 6:6 The Euphrates River, so in ch
  9. Ezra 6:6 Lit be distant
  10. Ezra 6:12 Lit sends his hand
  11. Ezra 6:15 Lit until
  12. Ezra 6:16 Lit sons of the captivity
  13. Ezra 6:18 Lit which is in
  14. Ezra 6:22 Lit strengthen their hands

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.

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:

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;

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, 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.

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.

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.

The Decree of Darius

King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives(A) stored in the treasury at Babylon. A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it:

Memorandum:

In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem:

Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid.(B) It is to be sixty cubits[a] high and sixty cubits wide, with three courses(C) of large stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid by the royal treasury.(D) Also, the gold(E) and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; they are to be deposited in the house of God.(F)

Now then, Tattenai,(G) governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai(H) and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.

Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God:

Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury,(I) from the revenues(J) of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings(K) to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.(L)

11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled(M) on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble.(N) 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there,(O) overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I Darius(P) have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

13 Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates(Q) carried it out with diligence. 14 So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching(R) of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus,(S) Darius(T) and Artaxerxes,(U) kings of Persia. 15 The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.(V)

16 Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication(W) of the house of God with joy. 17 For the dedication of this house of God they offered(X) a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs and, as a sin offering[b] for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they installed the priests in their divisions(Y) and the Levites in their groups(Z) for the service of God at Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.(AA)

The Passover

19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover.(AB) 20 The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered(AC) the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their relatives the priests and for themselves. 21 So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves(AD) from the unclean practices(AE) of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord,(AF) the God of Israel. 22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(AG) because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude(AH) of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 6:3 That is, about 90 feet or about 27 meters
  2. Ezra 6:17 Or purification offering