Beginning
Adversaries Discourage the Work
4 Then (A)the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that (B)the people of the exile were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel, 2 so they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; (C)and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of (D)Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.” 3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “(E)You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, (F)as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”
4 So (G)the people of the land [a]discouraged the people of Judah and dismayed them from building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 Now in the reign of [b](H)Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 And in the days of [c]Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his colleagues wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the [d]text of the letter was written in Aramaic and translated (I)from Aramaic.
The Letter to King Artaxerxes
8 [e]Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as follows—
9 then wrote Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and (J)the rest of their colleagues, the judges and (K)the lesser governors, the officials, the secretaries, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites,
10 and the rest of the nations, which the great and honorable [f]Osnappar took away into exile and settled in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the region beyond the [g]River. (L)And now—
11 this is the copy of the letter which they sent to him:
“To King Artaxerxes: Your servants, the men in the region beyond the River, and now—
12 let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem; they are rebuilding (M)the rebellious and evil city and (N)are completing the walls and repairing the foundations.
13 Now let it be known to the king, that if that city is rebuilt and the walls are completed, (O)they will not give tribute, custom, or toll, and it will damage the revenue of the kings.
14 Now because we [h]are in the service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s [i]dishonor, therefore we have sent and made known to the king,
15 that a search be made in the record books of your fathers. And you will find in the record books and come to know that that city is a rebellious city and damaging to kings and provinces, and that they have incited revolt within it in past days; therefore that city was laid waste.
16 We make known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and the walls completed, as a result you will have no portion in the province beyond the River.”
A Decree Makes the Men Stop Rebuilding
17 Then the king sent an edict to Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and in the rest of the provinces beyond the River: “Peace. And now— 18 the document which you sent to us has been (P)plainly read before me.
19 So a decree has been [j]issued by me, and a search has been made and it has been found that that city has lifted itself up against the kings in past days, that rebellion and revolt have been perpetrated in it,
20 (Q)that strong kings have been over Jerusalem, even rulers in all the provinces (R)beyond the River, and that (S)tribute, custom, and toll were given to them.
21 Now issue a decree to make those men stop, that this city may not be rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.
22 And beware of being negligent in doing this matter; why should harm increase to damage the kings?”
23 Then as soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ document was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force and military.
24 Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped, and it was stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Rebuilding the House of God Begins Again
5 And the prophets, (T)Haggai the prophet and (U)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. 2 Then (V)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and (W)the prophets of God were with them supporting them.
3 At that time (X)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the [k]River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “(Y)Who issued you a decree to rebuild this house and to complete this structure?” 4 (Z)Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were rebuilding this building. 5 But (AA)the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to Darius, and then a document be returned concerning this.
Tattenai and Others Write to King Darius
6 This is the copy of the letter which (AB)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues (AC)the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king. 7 They sent word to him in which it was written thus:
“To Darius the king, all peace.
8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, and it is being built with huge stones, and timber is being put within the walls; and that work is going on with all diligence and is succeeding in their hands.
9 Then we asked those elders and said to them thus, ‘Who issued you a decree to rebuild this house and to complete this structure?’
10 And we also asked them their names in order to make known to you, and that we might write down the names of the men who were at their head.
11 Thus they responded with a word to us, saying,
‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, (AD)which a great king of Israel built and completed.
12 But (AE)because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, (AF)He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and took the people away into exile in Babylon.
13 However, (AG)in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus (AH)issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.
14 Also (AI)the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple [l]in Jerusalem and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took out from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one (AJ)whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.
15 He said to him, “Take these articles, go and deposit them in the temple [m]in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt in its place.”
16 Then that Sheshbazzar came and (AK)laid the foundations of the house of God [n]in Jerusalem; and from then until now it is being rebuilt, and it is (AL)not yet finished.’
17 So now if it seems good to the king, (AM)let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild that house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his will concerning this matter.”
The Scroll with Cyrus’ Decree Is Found
6 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a (AN)search was made in the [o]archives, where the treasures were deposited in Babylon. 2 And in [p]Ecbatana in the fortress, which is (AO)in the province of Media, a scroll was found and there was written in it as follows:
“Memorandum—
3 (AP)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 [q]retained, its height being [r]60 cubits and its width 60 cubits;
5 And also let (AR)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 [u]brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall deposit them in the house of God.’
6 “Now (AS)Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the [v]River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, [w]keep away from there.
7 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.
8 Moreover, (AT)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.
9 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 (AU)pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11 And I issued a decree that (AV)any man who violates this edict, a timber shall be pulled out from his house and he shall be impaled on it and (AW)his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this.
12 May the God who (AX)has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who [x]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 (AY)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 (AZ)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 (BA)of Cyrus, (BB)Darius, and (BC)Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was brought to completion [y]on the third day of the (BD)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 [z]exiles, (BE)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 (BF)12 male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 Then they appointed the priests to (BG)their sections and the Levites in (BH)their divisions for the service of God [aa]in Jerusalem, (BI)as it is written in the book of Moses.
Passover Celebrated
19 (BJ)And the exiles celebrated the Passover on (BK)the fourteenth of the first month. 20 (BL)For the priests and the Levites had cleansed themselves together; all of them were clean. Then (BM)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 (BN)all those who had separated themselves from (BO)the uncleanness of the nations of the land to join them, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate the Passover. 22 And (BP)they celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with gladness, for Yahweh had caused them to be glad and (BQ)had turned the heart of (BR)the king of Assyria toward them to [ab]strengthen them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Ezra Goes Up from Babylon to Jerusalem
7 (BS)Now after these things, in the reign of (BT)Artaxerxes king of Persia, there went up Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest. 6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a (BU)scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all [ac]he requested (BV)because the hand of Yahweh his God was upon him. 7 (BW)And 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.
8 He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first of the first month [ad]he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, (BX)because the good hand of his God was upon him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to [ae]study the law of Yahweh and to practice it, and (BY)to teach His statute and judgment in Israel.
The 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, [af]learned in the words of the commandments of Yahweh and His statutes to Israel:
12 “[ag]Artaxerxes, (BZ)king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now—
13 (CA)I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who freely offer to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14 Forasmuch as you are sent from before the king and his (CB)seven counselors to inquire concerning 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 counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, (CC)whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16 and (CD)all the silver and gold which you find in the whole province of Babylon, along (CE)with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, who (CF)offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;
17 with this money, therefore, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, (CG)with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and (CH)bring them near to the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18 And whatever seems good to you and to 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 The rest of the needs for the house of your God, which may fall upon you to provide, (CI)provide for it from the royal treasury.
21 “So I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the [ah]River, that whatever Ezra the priest, (CJ)the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may ask of you, it shall be done with all diligence,
22 even up to [ai]100 talents of silver, [aj]100 kors of wheat, [ak]100 baths of wine, [al]100 baths of oil, and salt without written order.
23 Whatever is [am]decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, (CK)so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.
24 We also make known to you that (CL)it is not allowed to [an]impose tribute, custom, or toll (CM)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, (CN)appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and to anyone who does not know the laws, you shall (CO)make them known.
26 (CP)Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be done to him with all diligence, whether for death or for [ao]banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”
Yahweh Put This in the King’s Heart
27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, (CQ)who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, 28 and (CR)has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to (CS)the hand of Yahweh my God upon me, and I gathered [ap]chief men from Israel to go up with me.
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