[:en]SCRIPTURE: EZRA 6
“So, the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia” (Ezra 6:14-15)
THE DECREE OF DARIUS (vs. 1-12)
Darius became ruler of Persia who defeated Babylon in 522 BC. He had a friendly attitude towards the Jews and decreed the governor to assist the Jews to build their temple and provide supplies out of the king’s treasury.
COMPLETION AND DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE (vs. 13-18)
Because of the decree of King Darius, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates carried it out with diligence. Haggai and Zechariah provided the spiritual encouragement through preaching of God’s Word. The work was completed and the Jews joyfully dedicated the temple to the Lord. They offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs and, as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. And the installed the priest in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God at Jerusalem, according to what is written in the book of Moses.
THE PASSOVER (vs. 19-22)
The Jews kept the Passover by purifying themselves and separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors. For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of the Unleavened Bread because the Lord had changed the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God.[:]