¶ Then commanded king Darius, that search should be made in the library of the king's treasure house which lay at Babilon.
So at Egbathanis in a castell there lieth in the land of the Meedes, there was found a book, and in it was there an act written after this manner:
In the first year of king Cyrus, commanded the same king Cyrus to build the house of God at Ierusalem, in the place where the sacrifice is made, and to lay the foundation to bear threescore cubits height, threescore cubits breadth,
and three walls of rough stones, and one wall of timber, and the expenses shall be given of the king's house.
And the gold and silver vessel of the house of God, (which Nabuchodonozor took out of the temple at Ierusalem, and brought unto Babilon) shall be restored again, that they may be brought unto the temple at Ierusalem to their place into the house of God.
Get you far from them therefore, thou Thathanai, captain beyond the water, and Stharbuzani, and your counselors, which are beyond the water, get ye away from them.
Let them work in the house of God, that the captain of the Iews and their Elders may build the house of God in his place.
I have commanded also, what shall be done to the Elders of Iuda for the building of the house of God, that there shall diligently be taken of the king's goods, even of the rents beyond the water, and given unto the men, and that they be not hindered.
And if they have need of calves, lambs, or goats, for the burnt offering unto the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine and oil, after the custom of the priests at Ierusalem, there shall be given them daily as is according: and see that this be done without fault,
that they may offer sweet saviours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the king's life, and for his children.
This commandment have I given. And what man soever he be that altereth these words, there shall a beam be taken from his house, and set up, and he shall be hanged thereon, and his house shall be prised for the deed.
But the God that dwelleth in heaven, destroy all kings and people, that put to their hand to alter and to break down the house of God at Ierusalem. I Darius have commanded, that this be diligently done.
¶ Then Thathanai the captain beyond the water, and Stharbuzanai with their counselors (to whom king Darius the king had sent) did their diligence.
And the Elders of the Iews builded, and they prospered thorow the prophesying of Aggeus the prophet and Zachary the son of Ado: and they builded, and set up the work, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and after the commandment of Cyrus, Darius, and Arthaxerses kings of Persia.
And they performed the house unto the third day of the month Adar, that was in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius.
And the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the other children of the captivity held the dedication of the house of God with joy,
and offered at the dedication of the house of God, an hundredth calves, two hundredth lambs, four hundredth goats: and for the sinoffering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel,
and set the priests in their courses, and the Levites in their offices to minister unto God which is at Ierusalem as it is written in the book of Moses.
And the children of the captivity held Passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month:
for the priests and Levites had purified themselves, so that they were all clean as one man, and killed Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
And 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 in the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate
and held the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them glad, and turned the heart of the king of Assur unto them, so that their hands were strengthened in the work of the house of God, which is the God of Israel.
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Praise the Everlasting Lord for His Faithful Word.