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Ezra Chapter 6
The Decree of Darius
- Ezra 6:1 Then Darius
the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the
rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
- 2 And there was
found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the
Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
- 3 In the first year
of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree
concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be
builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the
foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof
threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
- 4 With three rows of
great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be
given out of the king's house:
- 5 And also let the
golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at
Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought
again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his
place, and place them in the house of God.
Darius could have had an excuse to stop
the work. I read in other writings that the first place they looked
for the rolls, it was not found. Perhaps Darius remembered that
Cyrus did indeed write that decree so he searched further and it was
found in Achemtha a province of the Medes. So it seems as if Darius
wanted it to be found. Whoever had it hidden probably hid it so it
wouldn't be found or hid it to keep it safe from being destroyed. I
see the hand of God here. He knows how to preserve what is
rightfully needed at a later time.
- Ezra 6:6 Now
therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and
your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river,
be ye far from thence:
- 7 Let the work of
this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the
elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
- 8 Moreover I make a
decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the
building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of
the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto
these men, that they be not hindered.
- 9 And that which
they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for
the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and
oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at
Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
- 10 That they may
offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and
pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
- 11 Also I have made
a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be
pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged
thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
Darius saw through their deception of
trying to stir up the king's anger against the Jews because they
didn't ask him first. I've seen trouble makers through the years
pretending to really care about things going on but in reality
jealousy or other reasons motivated them to cause trouble for those
that just wanted to do good, live in peace and worship God.
Darius was having none of it. He even
pronounced death upon those that tried to hinder the work of
rebuilding their temple. When God said seventy years, He meant
seventy years and it was time to get moving and not delay any longer
the proper return to the Holy land that He originally gave them
through His promise to Abraham.
We can't fight against the will of God
no matter who we think we are.
Darius saw the hand of God in this. He
was a wise king as was Cyrus. I give credit to Daniel here. Daniel
may have informed Cyrus that he was known and written about by the
prophet Israiah years before Cyrus was even born.
-
Isaiah 44:28 That saith
of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure:
even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the
temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
This continues in chapter 45.
-
Isaiah 45:1 Thus saith
the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have
holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins
of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates
shall not be shut;
The Temple Finished and Dedicated
- Ezra 6:13 Then
Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and
their companions, according to that which Darius the king had
sent, so they did speedily.
- 14 And the elders of
the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of
Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they
builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the
God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and
Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
As with all nations we have good rulers
and bad ones. The bad ones end up being hated and feared. Their end
usually turns out bad. All the evil they do is for nothing. God's
people will win in the longrun as we all will find out one day. As
I've said before, it times to get on the Lord side and stop our evil
nonsense. It is strange to think about though. Iran is modern day
Persia and are now enemies of Israel whereas Persia were ones that
set Israel free to return to their own land. Go figure. I wish they
could be friends again.
- Ezra 6:15 And this
house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was
in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
- 16 And the children
of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of
God with joy,
- 17 And offered at
the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two
hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all
Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes
of Israel.
- 18 And they set the
priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses,
for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written
in the book of Moses.
A time of joy and rejoicing begins
again for the Jews that had finished their temple at last. Now it
was time to celebrate their passover.
Passover Celebrated
- Ezra 6:19 And the
children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth
day of the first month.
- 20 For the priests
and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure,
and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity,
and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
- 21 And the children
of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such
as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the
heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,
- 22 And kept the
feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had
made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria
unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of
God, the God of Israel.
God always has a people. These were faithful
and remembered the law of Moses and the word of God. They were quick
to return to the commandments of God for their Passover feast. This
was a time of revival and renewal. God always rewards His faithful
people in the midst of those that still resist God and persecute His
people. Notice the true end of the captivity when the people are
free to worship God. Bondage to evil rulers brings oppression and
trouble to so many down through the ages. A nation that has fair and
balanced law and order is a great nation. DC
Ezra Chapter 7
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