1
After this, by order of King Darius, a search was made in the treasury at Babylon, in the place where the records were kept.
2
Then at Achmetha, in the fortress in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and this was written in it:
“Record:
3
In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices and offerings are made; let its height be sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits.
4
And let it be built with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. The cost is to be paid from the royal treasury.
5
And also the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned, so that they may be brought back to the temple in Jerusalem, to their former place; and you shall place them in the house of God.”
6
“Therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Bozenai, and your companions, the officials of the region beyond the River, keep away from there.
7
Leave the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God in its former place.
8
Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in rebuilding this house of God: from the royal revenue, from the tribute of the region beyond the River, the expenses are to be paid promptly and without delay to these men,
9
and whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the directions of the priests in Jerusalem—let it be given to them day by day without fail,
10
so that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11
Furthermore, I issue a decree that if anyone alters this command, a beam shall be pulled from his house and set up, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a heap of ruins because of this.
12
May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who put out a hand to alter this decree and destroy that house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be carried out with care.”
13
Then Tatnai, governor of the region beyond the River Euphrates, Shetar-Boznai, and their companions carried out carefully according to what King Darius had commanded.
14
So the elders of the Jews continued the building work, prospering under the prophesying of the prophet Haggai and the prophet Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.
15
Thus the house was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
16
Then the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
17
For the dedication of this house of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs; and as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18
They also appointed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God who dwells in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the book of Moses.
19
And on the fourteenth day of the first month, those who had returned from the exile celebrated the Passover.
20
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, so that all of them were clean. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
21
The Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, and so did everyone who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land and joined them, to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.
22
Moreover, they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy for seven days, because the LORD had made them joyful; he had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, so that he helped them in the work of building the house of God, the God of Israel.
📜👑🏛️ Summary of Ezra 6 – The Building of the House of the Lord Is Completed and Dedicated
Ezra 6 records the continuation of Tattenai’s letter to King Darius (Ezra 5) and the remarkable response from the Persian court. After finding King Cyrus’s decree in the archives, Darius reaffirmed the rebuilding of the Temple and even supported it financially and spiritually. At last, after years of delay, the house of the Lord was completed and dedicated with great joy, and the people of Israel celebrated their first Passover in the land after the exile. This is the high point of Israel’s spiritual restoration.
📌 1. Darius Finds Cyrus’s Decree and Gives Permission (verses 1–5)
➡️ King Darius ordered a search of the archives in Babylon, and the decree of King Cyrus was found in Media
➡️ Cyrus had indeed ordered the building of the house of God and the return of the vessels of the temple
➡️ Darius confirmed the decree, and not only allowed it, but ordered the building to continue
🎯 When God wills it, even the kings of the earth will hasten, not hinder His work.
📌 2. Darius Fully Supports the Building (verses 6–12)
➡️ Darius ordered Tattenai and the other officials not to interfere with the building
➡️ He commanded that the cost of the building be taken from the royal treasury
➡️ Even more, he arranged that sacrificial animals and what was needed for worship be provided, so that prayers might be offered for the king and his sons
➡️ Darius added a stern warning:
“Whoever breaks it shall be impaled on a beam from his own house.”
🎯 Divine support can come from unexpected sources — God can use a pagan nation to sustain His house.
📌 3. The House of God Is Completed and Dedicated (verses 13–18)
➡️ With the encouragement of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the building was completed in the sixth year of Darius’s reign
➡️ The temple was dedicated with great sacrifices:
- 100 bulls
- 200 rams
- 400 lambs
- 12 male goats as a sin offering for the 12 tribes of Israel
➡️ The priests and the Levites were appointed according to their duties, as it is written in the book of Moses
🎯 True restoration brings back the worship life, spiritual leaders, and the people’s hearts to God.
📌 4. The First Passover Celebration After the Exile (verses 19–22)
➡️ The people of Israel celebrated Passover, remembering their deliverance from Egypt — and now from Babylon
➡️ They also observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for 7 days, with joy and holiness
➡️ Even the non-Jewish people who had turned to the Lord rejoiced with them
🎯 Passover is not only a ritual, but a symbol of restored relationship with God and joy in His grace.
📖 Main Teaching
- The Lord is faithful to keep His promise, even after delay and obstacles
- The true word of God will always prevail, though challenged by the world
- True restoration involves obedience in worship and the reordering of spiritual service
- The Lord can use those who do not believe to fulfill His purpose
- Joy in the Lord is the result of obedience, restoration, and pure worship
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”
➡️ Just as with the building of the Temple, the Lord will also complete the building of our spiritual lives
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
➡️ Though there is pressure from outside, God’s plan will still be fulfilled
“…For our Passover lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.”
➡️ Passover in Ezra is a shadow of Christ as the true Redeemer and Deliverer
“You also, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…”
➡️ We now are the spiritual Temple, the place where the Lord dwells
🕊️ “Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices…” – Ezra 6:3
🕊️ “They completed the building with the help of the God of Israel and by the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes.” – Ezra 6:14
🕊️ “They celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.” – Ezra 6:16
🕊️ “They kept the Passover… because the Lord had made them joyful.” – Ezra 6:22
