¹³ I decree that any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who freely offers to go to Jerusalem may go with you.

The Decree of Darius

6 Then King Darius made a decree, and they searched the archives where the documents were stored in Babylon.^(A)

¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

¹⁴ So the king commanded this to be done; a decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hung.

¹⁵ The couriers went quickly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.^(A)

¹³ However, King Cyrus of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.^(A)

³ Let any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—go up to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; he is the God who is in Jerusalem.^(A)