History · Chapter 6 of 10

Ezra 6

Darius searches the archives and finds Cyrus's decree authorizing the temple. He confirms it, orders the work funded from royal revenue, and provides for the sacrifices, warning severe punishment on any who interfere. The elders finish the temple through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah. They dedicate it with joy and offerings, then keep the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread with gladness.

What happens in Ezra 6

Darius orders a search, and in the palace at Achmetha a scroll is found recording Cyrus's decree that the house of God be rebuilt at royal expense and the temple vessels restored. Darius then commands Tatnai to leave the work alone and to fund it from the tribute beyond the river, providing also animals and grain daily for the sacrifices, so the priests can pray for the king. He decrees that anyone altering this order be hanged on timber from his own house.

Tatnai obeys speedily. The elders build and prosper through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah, finishing the temple on the third of Adar in Darius's sixth year. They dedicate the house with joy, offering many bullocks, rams, and lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering for all Israel. They keep the Passover, having purified themselves, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful.

Ezra 6 in context

The second temple was completed in 516 BC, about seventy years after the first temple's destruction, roughly fulfilling Jeremiah's timeframe. Darius's confirmation and lavish support show God turning imperial power to serve His people.

The dedication and Passover echo Solomon's temple dedication and the exodus, framing the return as a new exodus and a fresh start for restored covenant worship.

Main themes of Ezra 6

Ezra 6 (KJV)

1Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2And 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: 3In 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; 4With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house: 5And 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. 6Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 7Let 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. 8Moreover 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. 9And 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: 10That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11Also 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. 12And 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. 13Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 14And 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. 15And 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. 16And 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, 17And 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. 18And 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. 19And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 20For 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. 21And 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, 22And 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.

Verses to carry from Ezra 6

“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.”Ezra 6:14

“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,”Ezra 6:16

“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.”Ezra 6:22

Reflection

The work that enemies once halted was finished, funded by a king's decree, through the steady word of the prophets. What God begins, He completes, often turning obstacles into instruments. Where you see only delay and opposition, He may be arranging provision. Trust Him to finish His work, and let the end be joyful, purified worship.

A prayer from Ezra 6