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The Rebuilding Resumes

24 So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 4:24 The second year of Darius’s reign was 520 B.c. The narrative started in 4:1-5 is resumed at verse 24.

24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius(A) king of Persia.

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15 on September 21[a] of the second year of King Darius’s reign.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:15 Hebrew on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on September 21, 520 B.c.; also see note on 1:1a.

15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.(A)

The Promised Glory of the New House

In the second year of King Darius,(B)

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the triumph of the wicked has been short lived
    and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?

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that the mirth of the wicked(A) is brief,
    the joy of the godless(B) lasts but a moment.(C)

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They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 6:9 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads But now to strengthen my hands.

They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”

But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

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so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”

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so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

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Darius Approves the Rebuilding

So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury.

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The Decree of Darius

King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives(A) stored in the treasury at Babylon.

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But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision.

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But the eye of their God(A) was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

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18 We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.

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18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan(A) blocked our way.(B)

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