The Passover

       On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves. So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek The Lord, The GOD of Israel. For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because The Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of GOD, The GOD of Israel.


The Book of Ezra: chapter 6, verses 19 - 22

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

       Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shether-Bozenai and their associates carried it out with diligence. 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. The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
       Then the people of Israel--the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles--celebrated the dedication of the house of GOD with joy. For the dedication of this house of GOD 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 they installed the priests 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 Book of Ezra: chapter 6, verses 13 - 18

The Decree of Darius

King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives stored in the treasury at Babylon. A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it:

   Memorandum:

       In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of GOD in Jerusalem:

       Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. It is to be ninety feet high and ninety feet wide, with three courses of large stones and one of timbers. The cost are to be paid by the royal treasury. Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of GOD, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; they are to be deposited in the house of GOD.

       Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shether-Bozenai and you, their fellow officials of that province, stay away from there. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of GOD. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of GOD on its site.
       Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of GOD:
       The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed--young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to The GOD of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem--must be given them daily without fail, so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to The GOD of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
       Futhermore, I decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. May GOD, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.
       I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.


The Book of Ezra: chapter 6, verses 1 - 12

Tattenai's Letter to Darius

       Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of The GOD of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of GOD in Jerusalem. And the prophets of GOD were with them, helping them.
       At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" They also asked, "What are the names of the men constructing this building?" But the eye of their GOD was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.
       This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. The report they sent him read as follows:

   To King Darius:

   Cordial greetings.

       The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great GOD. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.
       We questioned the elders and asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
       This is the answer they gave us:

       "We are the servants of The GOD of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. But because our fathers angered The GOD of heaven, He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.
       "However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of GOD. He even removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of GOD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon.
       "Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor, and he told him, 'Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of GOD on its site.' So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of GOD in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished."

       Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of GOD in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.


The Book of Ezra: chapter 5

Later Opposition Under Xerses and Artaxerses

       At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
       And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.
       Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates--the judges and officials over the men from Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.

       (This is a copy of the letter they sent him.)

       To King Artaxerxes,

       From your servants, the men of Trans-Euphrates:

       The king should know that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.

       Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and the royal revenues will suffer. Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place of rebellion from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

       The king sent this reply:

To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates:

Greetings,

       The letter you sent to us has been read and translated in my presence. I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?

       As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.

       Thus the work on the house of GOD in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

The Book of Ezra: chapter 4, verses 6 - 24

Opposition to the Rebuilding

       When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for The Lord, The GOD of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."
       But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our GOD. We alone will build it for The Lord, The GOD of Israel, as king Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us."
       Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

The Book of Ezra: chapter 4, verses 1 - 5

Rebuilding the Altar and the Temple

       When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem. Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of The GOD of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of GOD. Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to The Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices. Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred feast of The Lord, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to The Lord. On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to The Lord, though the foundation of The Lord's temple had not yet been laid.

       Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and gave food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.

       In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of GOD in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work, appointing Levites twenty years of age and older to supervise the building of the house of The Lord. Jeshua and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers--all Levites--joined together in supervising those working on the house of GOD.

       When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of The Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise The Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to The Lord:

       "He is good;

          His love to Israel endures forever."

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to The Lord, because the foundation of the house of The Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

The Book of Ezra: chapter 3

A Call to Build the House of The Lord

       In the second year of king Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of The Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for The Lord's house to be built.' "
       Then the word of The Lord came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
       Now this is what The Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says The Lord. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares The Lord Almighty. "Because of My house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands."

       Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Zehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of The Lord their GOD and the message of the prophet Haggai, because The Lord their GOD had sent him. And the people feared The Lord.
       Then Haggai, The Lord's messenger, gave this message of The Lord to the people: "I Am with you,' declares The Lord. So The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of The Lord Almighty, their GOD, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius."


The Book of Haggai: chapter 1

Blessings for a Defiled People

       On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of The Lord came to the prophet Haggai: "This is what The Lord Almighty says: 'Ask the priests what the law says: If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does it become consecrated?' "
       The priests answered, "No."
       Then Haggai said, "If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?"
       "Yes," the priests replied, "it becomes defiled."
       Then Haggai said, " 'So it is with this people and this nation in My sight,' declares The Lord. 'Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
       'Now give careful thought to this from this day on--consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in The Lord's temple. When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares The Lord. 'From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of The Lord's temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
       " 'From this day on I will bless you.' "


The Book of Haggai: chapter 2, verses 10 - 19

The Promised Glory of the New House

       On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of The Lord came through the prophet Haggai: "Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares The Lord. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares The Lord, 'and work. For I Am with you,' declares The Lord Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And My spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
       "This is what The Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says The Lord Almighty. 'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares The Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says The Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares The Lord Almighty."


The Book of Haggai: chapter 2, verses 1 - 9

Zerubbabel - The Lord's Signet Ring

       The word of The Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: "Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
       " 'On that day,' declares The Lord Almighty, 'I will take you, My servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares The Lord, 'and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares The Lord Almighty."


The Book of Haggai: chapter 2, verses 20 - 23

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

       Again the word of The Lord Almighty came to me. This is what The Lord Almighty says: "I Am very jealous for Zion; I Am burning with jealousy for her."
       This is what The Lord says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of The Lord Almghty will be called the Holy Mountain."
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there."
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to Me?" declares The Lord Almighty.
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "I will save My people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be My people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their GOD."
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of The Lord Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built. Before that time there were no wages for man or beast. No one could go about his business safely because of his enemy, for I had turned every man against his neighbor. But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past," declares The Lord Almighty.
       "The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong."
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "Just as I had determined to bring disaster upon you and showed no pity when your fathers angered Me," says The Lord Almighty, "so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares The Lord.
       Again the word of The Lord Almighty came to me. This is what The Lord Almighty says: "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace."
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat The Lord and seek The Lord Almighty. I myself am going.' And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek The Lord Almighty and to entreat Him."
       This is what The Lord Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that GOD is with you.' "


The Book of Zechariah: chapter 8

A Crown for Joshua

       The word of The Lord came to me: "Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. Tell him this is what The Lord Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of The Lord. It is he who will build the temple of The Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.' The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of The Lord. Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of The Lord, and you will know that The Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey The Lord your GOD."


The Book of Zechariah: chapter 6, verses 9 - 15

Clean Garments for the High Priest

       Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before The Angel of The Lord, and satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to satan, "The Lord rebuke you, satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
       Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before The Angel. The Angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes."
       Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."
       Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while The Angel of The Lord stood by.
       The Angel of The Lord gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what The Lord Almighty says: 'If you will walk in My ways and keep My requirements, then you will govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
       " 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring My servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says The Lord Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
       " 'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares The Lord Almighty."


The Book of Zechariah: chapter 3