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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.
02 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:
03 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;
04 With three rows of great stones, and a row of
new timber: and let the expenses be given out of
the king's house:
05 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.
06 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the
river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the
Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye
far from thence:
07 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.
08 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.
09 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.
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12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell
there destroy all kings and people, that shall
put to their hand to alter and to destroy this
house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have
made a decree; let it be done with speed.
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.
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.
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.
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