Temple Work Resumed

When the prophets, (A)Haggai the prophet and (B)Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, then (C)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and (D)the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

At that time (E)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them as follows: “(F)Who issued you a decree to rebuild this [a]temple and to finish this structure?” (G)Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building. But (H)the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report could reach Darius, and then the decree concerning it could be sent back.

Enemies Write to Darius

This is the copy of the letter that (I)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues (J)the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king. They sent the report to him in which it was written as follows: “To Darius the king, all peace. May it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God which is being built with large stones, and [b]beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is being performed with great care and is succeeding in their hands. Then we asked those elders and said to them as follows: ‘Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?’ 10 We also asked them their names so as to inform you, in order that we might write down the names of the men who were [c]in charge. 11 So they [d]answered us as follows, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, (K)which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But (L)because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, (M)He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon. 13 However, (N)in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus (O)issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14 Also (P)the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to the temple of Babylon, King Cyrus took them from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one (Q)whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15 And he said to him, “Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and have the house of God rebuilt in its place.” 16 Then that Sheshbazzar came and (R)laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is (S)not yet completed.’ 17 And now, if it pleases the king, (T)let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, as to whether a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.”

Darius Finds Cyrus’ Decree

Then King Darius issued a decree, and a (U)search was conducted in the [e]archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. And in [f]Ecbatana, in the fortress which is (V)in the province of Media, a scroll was found; and the following was written in it: “Memorandum— (W)In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: ‘Concerning the house of God in Jerusalem, let the [g]temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt, and let [h]its foundations be repaired, its height being [i]sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, (X)with three layers of large stones and [j]one layer of timber. And the cost is to be paid from the [k]royal treasury. Also (Y)the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned and [l]brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall put them in the house of God.’

“Now as for you, (Z)Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and [m]your colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, [n]stay 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 on its site. Furthermore, (AA)I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of that house of God: the full cost is to be paid to those people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, and that without interruption. And whatever is needed, bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem order, it is to be given to them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and (AB)pray for the lives of the king and his sons. 11 And I issued a decree that (AC)any person who violates this decree, a timber shall be pulled out of his house and he shall be impaled on it; and (AD)his house shall be turned into a refuse heap on account of this. 12 May the God who (AE)has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who [o]attempts to [p]change it, so as to destroy that house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree; it is to be carried out with all diligence!”

The Temple Completed and Dedicated

13 Then (AF)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had [q]ordered. 14 And (AG)the elders of the Jews [r]were successful in building through the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And [s]they finished building following the command of the God of Israel and the decree (AH)of Cyrus, (AI)Darius, and (AJ)Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 Now this [t]temple was completed [u]on the third day of the (AK)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 [v]exiles, (AL)celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered for the dedication of this temple of God a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel (AM)twelve male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 Then they appointed the priests to (AN)their divisions and the Levites in (AO)their sections for the service of God in Jerusalem, (AP)as it is written in the Book of Moses.

The Passover Held

19 (AQ)The exiles held the Passover on (AR)the fourteenth of the first month. 20 (AS)For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. Then (AT)they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves. 21 And the sons of Israel who returned from exile and (AU)all those who had separated themselves from (AV)the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the Lord God of Israel, ate the Passover. 22 And (AW)they held the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the Lord had made them happy, and (AX)had turned the heart of (AY)the king of Assyria toward them to [w]encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra Journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem

(AZ)Now after these things, in the reign of (BA)Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra went up to Jerusalem; Ezra was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest. So this Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a (BB)scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all [x]he requested (BC)because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him. (BD)Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, (BE)because the good hand of his God was upon him. 10 For Ezra had [y]firmly resolved to study the Law of the Lord and to practice it, and (BF)to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

King’s Decree on Behalf of Ezra

11 Now this is the copy of the letter which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, [z]learned in the words of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel: 12 [aa]Artaxerxes, (BG)king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, [ab]perfect peace. And now 13 (BH)I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 Since you are sent [ac]on the part of the king and his (BI)seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God which is in your hand, 15 and to bring the silver and gold, which the king and his advisers have voluntarily given to the God of Israel, (BJ)whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 with (BK)all the silver and gold which you find in the entire province of Babylon, along (BL)with the [ad]voluntary offering of the people and of the priests, who (BM)offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17 with this money, therefore, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams, and lambs, (BN)with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and (BO)offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 And whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God. 19 Also the utensils which are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And the rest of the needs of the house of your God, for which it may be incumbent upon you to provide, (BP)provide for them from the royal treasury.

21 “I myself, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, that whatever Ezra the priest, (BQ)the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently, 22 up to [ae]a hundred talents of silver, [af]a hundred kors of wheat, [ag]a hundred baths of wine, [ah]a hundred baths of anointing oil, and salt [ai]as needed. 23 Whatever is [aj]commanded by the God of heaven, it shall be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, (BR)so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons. 24 We also inform you that (BS)it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute, or toll (BT)on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, (BU)appoint magistrates and judges so that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the Euphrates River, that is, all those who know the laws of your God; and you may (BV)teach anyone who is ignorant of them. 26 And (BW)whoever does not comply with the Law of your God and the law of the king, judgment is to be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment, or for [ak]confiscation of property or for imprisonment.”

The King’s Kindness

27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, (BX)who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to glorify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, 28 and (BY)has extended favor to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty officials. So I was strengthened according to (BZ)the hand of the Lord my God that was upon me, and I gathered [al]leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Notas al pie

  1. Ezra 5:3 Lit house, and so in vv 9, 11, 12
  2. Ezra 5:8 Lit timber is
  3. Ezra 5:10 Lit at their heads
  4. Ezra 5:11 Lit returned us the word
  5. Ezra 6:1 Lit house of the books
  6. Ezra 6:2 Aram Achmetha
  7. Ezra 6:3 Lit house
  8. Ezra 6:3 Or perhaps offerings by fire be offered
  9. Ezra 6:3 About 90 ft. or 27 m
  10. Ezra 6:4 As in LXX; Aram a layer of new timber
  11. Ezra 6:4 Lit king’s house
  12. Ezra 6:5 Lit go
  13. Ezra 6:6 Aram their
  14. Ezra 6:6 Lit be distant
  15. Ezra 6:12 Lit sends his hand
  16. Ezra 6:12 Or violate
  17. Ezra 6:13 Lit sent
  18. Ezra 6:14 Lit were building and succeeding
  19. Ezra 6:14 Lit built and finished
  20. Ezra 6:15 Lit house
  21. Ezra 6:15 Lit until
  22. Ezra 6:16 Lit sons of the exile
  23. Ezra 6:22 Lit strengthen their hands
  24. Ezra 7:6 Lit his request
  25. Ezra 7:10 Lit set his heart
  26. Ezra 7:11 Or the scribe of
  27. Ezra 7:12 Ch 7:12-26 is in Aram
  28. Ezra 7:12 Or perhaps it is determined
  29. Ezra 7:14 Lit from before
  30. Ezra 7:16 Or freewill offering
  31. Ezra 7:22 About 3.75 tons or 3.4 metric tons
  32. Ezra 7:22 About 770 cubic feet or 22 cubic meters
  33. Ezra 7:22 About 600 gallons or 2,271 liters
  34. Ezra 7:22 About 600 gallons or 2,271 liters
  35. Ezra 7:22 Lit without instruction
  36. Ezra 7:23 Lit from the command of
  37. Ezra 7:26 Or fines
  38. Ezra 7:28 Lit heads

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

Now Haggai(A) the prophet and Zechariah(B) the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied(C) to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel(D) son of Shealtiel and Joshua(E) son of Jozadak set to work(F) to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

At that time Tattenai,(G) governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai(H) and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”(I) They[a] also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” But the eye of their God(J) 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.

This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. The report they sent him read as follows:

To King Darius:

Cordial greetings.

The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work(K) is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.

We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”(L) 10 We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

11 This is the answer they gave us:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple(M) that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our ancestors angered(N) the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.(O)

13 “However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree(P) to rebuild this house of God. 14 He even removed from the temple[b] of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple[c] in Babylon.(Q) Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar,(R) whom he had appointed governor, 15 and he told him, ‘Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.’

16 “So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God(S) in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.”

17 Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives(T) of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

The Decree of Darius

King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives(U) 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.(V) It is to be sixty cubits[d] high and sixty cubits wide, with three courses(W) of large stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid by the royal treasury.(X) Also, the gold(Y) 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.(Z)

Now then, Tattenai,(AA) governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai(AB) 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,(AC) from the revenues(AD) of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings(AE) 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.(AF)

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(AG) on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble.(AH) 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there,(AI) overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I Darius(AJ) 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(AK) carried it out with diligence. 14 So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching(AL) 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,(AM) Darius(AN) and Artaxerxes,(AO) 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.(AP)

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

The Passover

19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover.(AV) 20 The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered(AW) 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(AX) from the unclean practices(AY) of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord,(AZ) the God of Israel. 22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(BA) because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude(BB) of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes(BC) king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah,(BD) the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,(BE) the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok,(BF) the son of Ahitub,(BG) the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas,(BH) the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— this Ezra(BI) came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted(BJ) him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.(BK) Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.(BL)

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.(BM) 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching(BN) its decrees and laws in Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,(BO)

To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers(BP) to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given(BQ) to the God of Israel, whose dwelling(BR) is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold(BS) you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.(BT) 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs,(BU) together with their grain offerings and drink offerings,(BV) and sacrifice(BW) them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver(BX) to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.(BY)

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to a hundred talents[f] of silver, a hundred cors[g] of wheat, a hundred baths[h] of wine, a hundred baths[i] of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?(BZ) 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty(CA) on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.(CB)

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint(CC) magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach(CD) any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.[j](CE)

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart(CF) to bring honor(CG) to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor(CH) to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me,(CI) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Notas al pie

  1. Ezra 5:4 See Septuagint; Aramaic We.
  2. Ezra 5:14 Or palace
  3. Ezra 5:14 Or palace
  4. Ezra 6:3 That is, about 90 feet or about 27 meters
  5. Ezra 6:17 Or purification offering
  6. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  7. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 18 tons or about 16 metric tons
  8. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  9. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  10. Ezra 7:26 The text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.