1 So|strong="H0116" King|strong="H4430" Darius|strong="H1868" gave|strong="H7761" an order to|strong="H2942" search|strong="H1240" the|strong="H0116" writings of|strong="H1005" the|strong="H0116" kings|strong="H4430" before him. The|strong="H0116" writings were|strong="H1768" kept in|strong="H4430" Babylon|strong="H0895" in|strong="H4430" the|strong="H0116" same place the|strong="H0116" money was|strong="H4430" kept.
2 A|strong="H7912" scroll|strong="H4040" was|strong="H1768" found|strong="H7912" in|strong="H1768" the|strong="H1768" fortress of|strong="H4083" Ecbatana|strong="H0307". (Ecbatana|strong="H0307" is|strong="H1768" in|strong="H1768" the|strong="H1768" province|strong="H4083" of|strong="H4083" Media|strong="H4076".) This is|strong="H1768" what|strong="H1768" was|strong="H1768" written|strong="H3790" on that|strong="H1768" scroll|strong="H4040":
3 During the|strong="H1768" first|strong="H2298" year|strong="H8140" that|strong="H1768" Cyrus|strong="H3567" was|strong="H4430" king|strong="H4430", he|strong="H1768" gave|strong="H7761" an order about the|strong="H1768" Temple|strong="H1005" of|strong="H0426" God|strong="H0426" in|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390". The|strong="H1768" order said:
4 Its|strong="H4481" wall will|strong="H1768" be|strong="H5313" in|strong="H1768" layers|strong="H5073" that|strong="H1768" have|strong="H4430" three|strong="H8532" rows of|strong="H1005" large stones|strong="H0069" and|strong="H4430" one row of|strong="H1005" wooden timbers|strong="H0636". The|strong="H1768" cost|strong="H5313" of|strong="H1005" building the|strong="H1768" Temple|strong="H1005" must be|strong="H5313" paid|strong="H3052" for|strong="H1768" from|strong="H4481" the|strong="H1768" king’s|strong="H4430" treasury|strong="H1005".
5 Also|strong="H0638", the|strong="H1768" gold|strong="H1722" and|strong="H3702" silver|strong="H3702" things from|strong="H4481" God’s Temple|strong="H1005" must be|strong="H0426" put|strong="H5182" back in|strong="H0426" their places|strong="H0870". Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020" took|strong="H5312" them from|strong="H4481" the|strong="H1768" Temple|strong="H1005" in|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390" and|strong="H3702" brought|strong="H2987" them to|strong="H4481" Babylon|strong="H0895". They|strong="H1768" must be|strong="H0426" put|strong="H5182" back in|strong="H0426" God’s Temple|strong="H1005".
6 So|strong="H1768" King Darius sent this message to|strong="H4481" his|strong="H1768" officials:
7 Don’t bother the|strong="H5922" workers. Don’t try to|strong="H5922" stop the|strong="H5922" work|strong="H5673" on|strong="H5922" this|strong="H1791" Temple|strong="H1005" of|strong="H0426" God|strong="H0426". Let the|strong="H5922" Jewish|strong="H3062" governor|strong="H6347" and|strong="H1005" the|strong="H5922" Jewish|strong="H3062" leaders rebuild|strong="H1124" it|strong="H5922". Let them rebuild|strong="H1124" God’s Temple|strong="H1005" in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H5922" same place|strong="H0870" it|strong="H5922" was|strong="H1005" in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H5922" past.
8 Now|strong="H4430" I|strong="H4481" give|strong="H3052" this|strong="H1791" order. You|strong="H1768" must do|strong="H5648" this|strong="H1791" for|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5675" Jewish|strong="H3062" leaders building|strong="H1124" God’s Temple|strong="H1005": The|strong="H5675" cost|strong="H5313" of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H5675" building|strong="H1124" must be|strong="H0426" fully paid|strong="H3052" from|strong="H4481" the|strong="H5675" king’s|strong="H4430" treasury|strong="H1005". The|strong="H5675" money will|strong="H1768" come from|strong="H4481" the|strong="H5675" taxes|strong="H4061" collected from|strong="H4481" the|strong="H5675" provinces in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H5675" area west of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H5675" Euphrates River|strong="H5103". Do|strong="H5648" these|strong="H0479" things quickly, so|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5675" work will|strong="H1768" not|strong="H3809" stop|strong="H0989".
9 Give|strong="H3052" them anything they|strong="H1768" need|strong="H2818". If they|strong="H1768" need|strong="H2818" young|strong="H1123" bulls|strong="H8450", rams|strong="H1798", or|strong="H0426" male lambs|strong="H0563" for|strong="H1768" sacrifices to|strong="H2818" the|strong="H1768" God|strong="H0426" of|strong="H0426" heaven|strong="H8065", give|strong="H3052" these things to|strong="H2818" them. If the|strong="H1768" priests|strong="H3549" of|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390" ask for|strong="H1768" wheat, salt|strong="H4416", wine|strong="H2562", and|strong="H8065" oil|strong="H4887", give|strong="H3052" these things to|strong="H2818" them every day|strong="H3118" without|strong="H3809" fail|strong="H7960".
10 Give them to|strong="H8065" the|strong="H1768" Jewish priests so|strong="H1768" that|strong="H1768" they|strong="H1768" may|strong="H2417" offer|strong="H7127" sacrifices|strong="H5208" that|strong="H1768" please the|strong="H1768" God|strong="H0426" of|strong="H0426" heaven|strong="H8065". Give these things so|strong="H1768" that|strong="H1768" the|strong="H1768" priests may|strong="H2417" pray|strong="H6739" for|strong="H1768" me and|strong="H4430" my|strong="H1768" sons|strong="H1123".
11 Also, I|strong="H4481" give|strong="H7761" this|strong="H1836" order: If anyone|strong="H0606" changes|strong="H8133" this|strong="H1836" order, a|strong="H7761" wooden beam must be pulled from|strong="H4481" their|strong="H3606" house|strong="H1005" and|strong="H0606" pushed through their|strong="H3606" body. Then|strong="H1768" their|strong="H3606" house|strong="H1005" must be destroyed until it|strong="H5922" is|strong="H1768" only a|strong="H7761" pile of|strong="H1005" rocks.
12 God|strong="H0426" put his|strong="H7972" name|strong="H8036" there|strong="H8536" in|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390". May God|strong="H0426" defeat any|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430" or|strong="H0426" other person who|strong="H1768" tries to|strong="H2942" change|strong="H8133" this|strong="H1791" order. If anyone|strong="H3606" tries to|strong="H2942" destroy|strong="H2255" this|strong="H1791" Temple|strong="H1005" in|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390", may God|strong="H0426" destroy|strong="H2255" that|strong="H1768" person.
13 So|strong="H0116" Tattenai|strong="H8674" the|strong="H5675" governor|strong="H6347" of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5675" area west of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5675" Euphrates River|strong="H5103", Shethar Bozenai, and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5675" men with|strong="H6903" them obeyed King|strong="H4430" Darius’ order. They|strong="H0116" obeyed the|strong="H5675" order quickly and|strong="H4430" completely.
14 So|strong="H4481" the|strong="H1868" Jewish|strong="H3062" leaders continued to|strong="H2942" build. Encouraged by|strong="H4481" the|strong="H1868" preaching of|strong="H0426" Haggai|strong="H2292" the|strong="H1868" prophet|strong="H5029" and|strong="H4430" Zechariah|strong="H2148" son|strong="H1247" of|strong="H0426" Iddo|strong="H5714", they had|strong="H4430" great success|strong="H6744". They finished|strong="H3635" building|strong="H1124" the|strong="H1868" Temple as the|strong="H1868" God|strong="H0426" of|strong="H0426" Israel|strong="H3479" had|strong="H4430" commanded and|strong="H4430" as Cyrus|strong="H3567", Darius|strong="H1868", and|strong="H4430" Artaxerxes|strong="H0783", the|strong="H1868" kings|strong="H4430" of|strong="H0426" Persia|strong="H6540", had|strong="H4430" ordered.
15 The|strong="H1768" Temple|strong="H1005" was|strong="H4430" finished on|strong="H5705" the|strong="H1768" third|strong="H8532" day|strong="H3118" of|strong="H1005" the|strong="H1768" month|strong="H3393" of|strong="H1005" Adar|strong="H0144". That|strong="H1768" was|strong="H4430" in|strong="H4437" the|strong="H1768" sixth|strong="H8353" year|strong="H8140" of|strong="H1005" the|strong="H1768" rule of|strong="H1005" King|strong="H4430" Darius|strong="H1868".
16 Then the|strong="H5648" Israelites celebrated|strong="H5648" the|strong="H5648" dedication|strong="H2597" of|strong="H0426" God’s Temple|strong="H1005" with|strong="H5648" much happiness. The|strong="H5648" priests|strong="H3549", the|strong="H5648" Levites|strong="H3879", and|strong="H1005" all the|strong="H5648" other people who came back from captivity joined in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H5648" celebration.
17 This|strong="H1836" is|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" way they dedicated God’s Temple|strong="H1005": They offered|strong="H7127" 100 bulls|strong="H8450", 200 rams|strong="H1798", and|strong="H1005" 400 male|strong="H6841" lambs|strong="H0563". And|strong="H1005" they offered|strong="H7127" twelve|strong="H6236" male|strong="H6841" goats|strong="H5796" for|strong="H5922" all|strong="H3606" Israel|strong="H3479" for|strong="H5922" a sin|strong="H2409" offering|strong="H7127". That is|strong="H0426" one|strong="H1836" goat for|strong="H5922" each of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" twelve|strong="H6236" tribes|strong="H7625" of|strong="H0426" Israel|strong="H3479".
18 Then|strong="H1768" they|strong="H1768" chose the|strong="H5922" priests|strong="H3549" in|strong="H0426" their groups and|strong="H3792" the|strong="H5922" Levites|strong="H3879" in|strong="H0426" their groups to|strong="H5922" serve in|strong="H0426" God’s Temple in|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390". They|strong="H1768" did these things as|strong="H1768" it|strong="H5922" is|strong="H1768" written|strong="H3792" in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H5922" \+w Book|strong="H5609"\+w* \+w of|strong="H0426"\+w* \+w Moses|strong="H4873"\+w*.
19 On|strong="H6453" the|strong="H0853" fourteenth day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" first|strong="H7223" month|strong="H2320", the|strong="H0853" Jews who|strong="H1121" came back from|strong="H1121" captivity celebrated|strong="H6213" the|strong="H0853" Passover|strong="H6453".
20 The|strong="H3605" priests|strong="H3548" and|strong="H1121" Levites|strong="H3881" made|strong="H3605" themselves|strong="H2891" pure|strong="H2889". They|strong="H1992" all|strong="H3605" made|strong="H3605" themselves|strong="H2891" clean|strong="H2889" and|strong="H1121" ready to|strong="H1121" celebrate the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453". The|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881" killed|strong="H7819" the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" lamb for|strong="H3588" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Jews who|strong="H3605" came back from|strong="H1121" captivity. They|strong="H1992" did that|strong="H3588" for|strong="H3588" their|strong="H3605" brothers|strong="H0251" the|strong="H3605" priests|strong="H3548", and|strong="H1121" for|strong="H3588" themselves|strong="H2891".
21 So|strong="H7725" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" who|strong="H3605" came|strong="H0413" back|strong="H7725" from|strong="H7725" captivity ate|strong="H0398" the|strong="H3605" Passover meal. Other|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1121" washed themselves and|strong="H1121" made|strong="H7725" themselves pure from|strong="H7725" the|strong="H3605" unclean|strong="H2932" things|strong="H3605" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1121" living in|strong="H0413" that|strong="H3605" country|strong="H0776". These|strong="H3605" pure people|strong="H1121" also|strong="H3068" shared in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" Passover meal. They|strong="H3068" did this|strong="H3068" so|strong="H7725" that|strong="H3605" they|strong="H3068" could go|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478", for|strong="H0413" help.
22 They|strong="H3588" celebrated|strong="H8055" the|strong="H5921" Festival|strong="H2282" of|strong="H4428" Unleavened|strong="H4682" Bread|strong="H4682" with|strong="H1004" much|strong="H3027" joy|strong="H8057" for|strong="H3588" seven|strong="H7651" days|strong="H3117". The|strong="H5921" LORD|strong="H3068" made|strong="H6213" them|strong="H5921" very|strong="H8055" happy|strong="H8055" because|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" had|strong="H3068" changed|strong="H5437" the|strong="H5921" attitude|strong="H3820" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H5921" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804". So|strong="H6213" the|strong="H5921" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804" had|strong="H3068" helped|strong="H2388" them|strong="H5921" do|strong="H6213" the|strong="H5921" work|strong="H4399" on|strong="H5921" God’s|strong="H0430" Temple|strong="H1004".