Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Joy of Worshiping in the Temple

For the music director; on the Gittith.

Of the sons of Korah. A psalm.^[a]

Darius’ Search for the Decree

6 Then King Darius issued forth a decree, and they searched the house of the treasury of scrolls being stored in Babylonia. ² But it was in Ecbatana in the province of Media, in the citadel, that a certain scroll had written on it, “A record. ³ In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued forth a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem. Let the house be built, the place where sacrifices are offered and let its foundations be raised. Its height shall be sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, ⁴ with three layers of great stones and a layer of timber. Let the new expenses be paid from the house of the king. ⁵ Also, let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylonia, be returned and brought to the temple in Jerusalem to its place. Put them in the house of God.”

The Decree of Darius

⁶ “Now then, Tattenai governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates, the envoys who are in the province Beyond the River—keep far away from there. ⁷ Leave this work of the house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site. ⁸ And I issue forth a decree for what you should do for these elders of the Jews to build this house of God. The full expense will be paid to these men from the riches of the king from the taxes of the province Beyond the River, without delay. ⁹ Whatever may be needed—young bulls,^[a] young rams, sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil for the priests in Jerusalem—let it be given to them day by day with no negligence, ¹⁰ that they may offer incense offerings to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his children. ¹¹ Furthermore, I issue forth a decree that if any person violates this decree, let a beam be pulled out from his house and let him be impaled on it. And let his house be made a pile of rubble on account of this. ¹² May the God who has set his name there overthrow any king or people who sets his hand to alter or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, issue forth a decree. Let it be done with diligence.”

Temple is Dedicated and Completed

¹³ Then Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates consequently did with diligence what Darius the king ordered. ¹⁴ So the elders of the Jews were building and prospering, through the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building by the command of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia. ¹⁵ This house was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

¹⁶ And the Israelites,^[b] the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles^[c] celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

The Cleansing of the Temple

¹⁵ And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered into the temple courts^[a] and^[b] began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple courts,^[c] and overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling doves. ¹⁶ And he did not permit anyone to carry objects^[d] through the temple courts.^{[e] 17} And he began to teach^[f] and was saying to them, “Is it not written,

but you have made it a cave of robbers!” ¹⁸ And the chief priests and the scribes heard it,^[h] and began considering^[i] how they could destroy him. For they were afraid of him because the whole crowd was astounded by his teaching. ¹⁹ And when evening came they went out of the city.