Ezra 6:12-22
EZRA 6:12
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.
Then Darius makes a general statement concerning anyone
including kings and people that if anyone of those attempts to alter his decree
or to attempt to destroy the house of God when it was being built or finished,
that the God of Heaven would destroy them and their efforts to hinder the
building of the temple. Darius made
that decree and had it put into immediate effect so no one would make any
attempt to cause hurt to the house of God.
EZRA 6:13
Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river,
Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king
had sent, so they did speedily.
Then Tatnai and Shethar-boznai and all those with them
had read the letter and its consequences for those who would try anything that
would hinder the work on the temple.
They put the king’s decree into effect immediately.
I guess the part about taking the timber from their house and hanging
them on it caused them to act hastily.
EZRA 6:14
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.
Without any hindrance or enemies, the work on the temple
continued to prosper according to the divine prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah.
They continued to build the temple until they finished it according to
the commandment of God. It was also
done in accordance with the commandments of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the
kings of Persia. It shows that even
pagan kings are under the authority of God and that he can direct them whichever
way he needs according to his plans.
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.
Adar was the last month of the Jewish Calendar and
corresponds to our February into March.
It was four years after the decree from Darius went forth.
EZRA 6:16
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,
Then there were some of the ten tribes of Israel which
returned, and the priests, Levites, and the children of the captivity which
would have been the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
They all partook in the dedication of the house of God with great joy
because now they were once again able to partake in the feasts and offerings
which they couldn’t for the past seventy years.
EZRA 6:17
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.
Then it was like the dedication of Solomon’s temple where
they had dedicated it with many sacrifices. They
offered two hundred bulls, two hundred rams which were sheep, and four hundred
lambs. Then because some of the
people of the ten tribes returned to Jerusalem with the tribes of Judah and
Benjamin, they offered twelve male goats, one for each of the twelve tribes of
Israel for a sin offering.
EZRA 6:18
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.
Then for the normal service in the temple, they set the
priests in their divisions or sections which was their duties and service.
Then the Levites were placed in their courses which was their divisions
or sections for the work in the temple at Jerusalem according to the way it was
prescribed in the writings of Moses.
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and
present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. (Numbers
3:6)
EZRA 6:19
And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon
the fourteenth day of the first month.
Then the returnees from Babylon had kept the passover for
the first time in seventy years in the first month which was Nisan.
This month
shall be unto you the beginning
of months: it shall be the
first month of the year to you. (Exodus 12:2)
EZRA 6:20
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.
So all the priests and Levites were purified together as
one man and now all of them were now pure which made them eligible to begin the
work of the temple. They now killed
the passover which was the paschal lamb for all the children of the captivity
who returned from Babylon. It was
done also for the other priests and themselves.
And ye shall keep it up until the
fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of
Israel shall kill it in the evening. (Exodus 12:6)
They were more ready and qualified to serve than in the days of Hezekiah.
EZRA 6:21
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,
All those who returned from Babylon and had separated
themselves in both mind and body from the filthiness of the heathen which would
have been their false religions, idols, and all the pagan feasts which
accompanied them. Those who have
completely renounced false religions were now allowed to eat of the Lord’s
passover.
EZRA 6:22
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.