1Esd 6
1
Now in the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and Zacharias the son of Addo,
the prophets, prophesied to the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord
God of Israel, which was upon them.
2
Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began
to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them,
and helping them.
3
At the same time came to them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, with Sathrabuzanes
and his companions, and said to them,
4
By whose appointment do you build this house and this roof, and perform all the other
things? and who are the workmen that perform these things?
5
Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the Lord had visited
the captivity;
6
And they were not hindered from building, until such time as signification was given
to Darius concerning them, and an answer received.
7
The copy of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes,
with their companions, rulers in Syria and Phenice, wrote and sent to Darius; To king
Darius, greeting:
8
Let all things be known to our lord the king, that being come into the country of
Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem the
ancients of the Jews that were of the captivity
9
Building an house to the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, and the timber
already laid upon the walls.
10
And those works are done with great speed, and the work goes on prosperously in their
hands, and with all glory and diligence is it made.
11
Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build you this house, and
lay the foundations of these works?
12
Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge to you by writing, we demanded
of them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of
their principal men.
13
So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and
earth.
14
And as for this house, it was built many years ago by a king of Israel great and strong,
and was finished.
15
But when our fathers provoked God to anger, and sinned against the Lord of Israel
which is in heaven, he gave them over into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon,
of the Chaldees;
16
Who pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives to
Babylon.
17
But in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon Cyrus the
king wrote to build up this house.
18
And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor had carried away out
of the house at Jerusalem, and had set them in his own temple those Cyrus the king
brought forth again out of the temple at Babylon, and they were delivered to Zorobabel
and to Sanabassarus the ruler,
19
With commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and put them in the temple
at Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord should be built in his place.
20
Then the same Sanabassarus, being come here, laid the foundations of the house of
the Lord at Jerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not
yet fully ended.
21
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let search be made among the records of
king Cyrus:
22
And if it be found that the building of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem has been
done with the consent of king Cyrus, and if our lord the king be so minded, let him
signify to us thereof.
23
Then commanded king Darius to seek among the records at Babylon: and so at Ecbatana
the palace, which is in the country of Media, there was found a roll wherein these
things were recorded.
24
In the first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded that the house of the
Lord at Jerusalem should be built again, where they do sacrifice with continual fire:
25
Whose height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of
hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that country; and its expenses to
be given out of the house of king Cyrus:
26
And that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and silver, that
Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, should
be restored to the house at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where they were before.
27
And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes,
and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice,
should be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant
of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews, to build the house
of the Lord in that place.
28
I have commanded also to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently
to help those that be of the captivity of the Jews, till the house of the Lord be
finished:
29
And out of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion carefully to be given these
men for the sacrifices of the Lord, that is, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks,
and rams, and lambs;
30
And also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every year without further
question, according as the priests that be in Jerusalem shall signify to be daily
spent:
31
That offerings may be made to the most high God for the king and for his children,
and that they may pray for their lives.
32
And he commanded that whoever should transgress, yea, or make light of any thing afore
spoken or written, out of his own house should a tree be taken, and he thereon be
hanged, and all his goods seized for the king.
33
The Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly destroy every king and
nation, that stretches out his hand to hinder or endamage that house of the Lord in
Jerusalem.
34
I Darius the king have ordained that according to these things it be done with diligence.