Ezra 6

Introduction

In the previous chapter, we see a return to the construction of the temple, but not before Haggai and Zechariah had to have a heart to heart with the leaders. As Haggai encouraged the returned Jewish exiles to rebuild the temple, Zechariah encouraged them to repent and renew their covenant with God. During the rebuilding, the exiles were questioned by the governor Tattenai, and Shethar-bozenai and their associates. Their questions were simple; who is building this, and under what authority? Now we see the response from King Darius to the letter sent by Tattenai et. al.

(According to history, the Persian kings reigned in the following order:

Cyrus (560-530 B.C.)

Cambyses (530-522)

Smerdis (522)

Darius I (522-486)

Ahasuerus (486-465)

Artaxerxes I (465-424)

Darius II (423-405)

Artaxerxes II (405-358) )

The King’s Decree

Ezra 6:1 ESV

1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored.

As we discussed last week, the difference between this letter to king Darius, and the one that will later come to King Artaxerxes is the discernment of the kings. Darius received the letter from Tattenai, a governor of the region, asking for clarification as to what the returned exiles were doing, under what authority, and by whom?

The decree given was this, search the house of archives. This is in stark contrast with the immediate emotional reaction given by Artaxerxes. Darius searched the records, at the suggestion of the governor, Artaxerxes took the word of chief deputy Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues that they had accurately researched the records of the Jews background.

Ezra 6:2–12 ESV

2 And in Ecbatana, the citadel that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: “A record. 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, 4 with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. 5 And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God.” 6 “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away. 7 Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. 8 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. 9 And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 11 Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. 12 May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”

Notice the decree was not found in Babylon, but instead was found in Ecbatana - the area where the summer palace was located. The decree that was found was in great detail. Not only had King Cyrus ordered the temple to be rebuilt as a place of worship where sacrifices could be made by the Jews, but the very dimensions and materials to be used in the construction were spelled out (90’ x 90’ as opposed to the original 180’ x 90’). Cyrus had even ordered the cost to be paid by the royal treasury . Moreover, as the Jews had claimed, Cyrus had ordered the gold and silver furnishings to be returned and placed in the temple. Once he found the claims to be true, his letter back to the governor was straightforward. Stay away from Jerusalem and don’t interfere with the construction, The temple was to be rebuilt on the former site, The governor Tattenai was to help finance the project with tax money and whatever animals were needed for sacrifice was to be provided along with required food items (wheat, salt, wine, and oil), The king described his desire that the returned exiles should be able to please their God and offer up prayers for the king and his family, and there would be a severe penalty - impaled on a stake - if anyone violated the king’s orders.

The decree of King Darius granting permission to rebuild the temple is a clear picture of the sovereignty of God. God had raised up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to stir the people to begin rebuilding. And the Lord had moved upon the hearts of the returnees, arousing them to a recommitment to resume construction. Moreover the Lord had moved upon the heart of the governor to allow the returnees to continue building until he could check with King Darius. Through the years since King Cyrus had freed the Jewish exiles, the Lord had protected the records of the king’s decree. As a result, King Darius was able to find the decree in the archives at the summer palace. Through event after event the hand of God’s sovereignty can be seen. So it is with us. God loves us and promises to look after us. Whatever we need—physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually—God promises to provide. He will move heaven and earth to fulfill His promises to us. If needed, world events as well as daily activities will be shifted, maneuvered, twisted, and even stopped in order to fulfill His promises. God is sovereign, controlling all events and all things in order to fulfill His Word, His promises, and His will. It is through His sovereign, omnipotent power that all our needs are met.

Completion and Obedience

Ezra 6:13–22 ESV

13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; 15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. 19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. 21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Just as Darius had ordered, Governor Tattenai and the other Persian officials worked diligently to carry out the commands of the king (v. 13). No doubt, a renewed vigor flooded the hearts of the returned exiles, strengthening them to work harder than ever before to complete the temple (v. 14). Note that God’s prophets Haggai and Zechariah continued to encourage the people, obviously assuring them of the Lord’s presence and the fulfillment of His promises.

Then, at last, the day for which they had all longed finally came. The temple was completed. Construction was just finished as commanded by God and decreed by the kings of Persia: Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes (v. 14). Although Artaxerxes had not issued a decree that involved the building of the temple, he had contributed timber for the building of the walls of Jerusalem (Ne. 2:1, 8). In addition he had ordered that sacrifices be provided for the worship services at the temple (7:12–17).

The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of King Darius’ reign. Based on the modern calendar, this was March 12, 515 B.C.

After the temple had been completed, a special dedication service was held to commemorate the event (vv. 16–17). All the returned exiles celebrated, including the priests, Levites, and people. In giving their thanks to the Lord, they offered up the sacrifice of 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs. They also presented a sin offering of 12 male goats, which represented the 12 tribes of Israel. To get some idea of the contrast between the first and second temples, when King Solomon dedicated the first temple, so many sacrifices were offered that they could not be counted (I K. 8:5). Over and above Solomon’s personal sacrifices, 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats were offered in behalf of the people (1 K. 8:63). This shows the poverty of the returned exiles, their need to depend utterly upon the Lord for their day-by-day survival.

During the dedication celebration, an installation service was held for the priests and Levites (v. 18). They were organized in the various divisions and assigned their various duties. Hereafter, they would be functioning in their day-to-day activities, worshipping the Lord and ministering to various people.

About three weeks after the dedication service, the Passover was celebrated. The Feast of Unleavened Bread also was instituted as one of the annual feasts that was to be faithfully observed by the people (vv. 19–22). As instructed by the Lord in His Holy Word, the priests and Levites purified themselves through the ritual washing with water (Ex. 29:4; Nu. 8:7). After cleansing themselves, the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles as well as for the priests and Levites themselves (v. 20).

The Passover meal was then eaten by both the returned exiles and the Jews of the land who had spiritually separated themselves (v. 21). This is a wonderful indication that many of the Jews who had escaped exile by the Assyrians and Babylonians were now repenting. They were turning away from the sins of their neighbors in order to seek the Lord and join in the fellowship with their fellow believers, the returned exiles.

The celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was to begin the day after Passover. For seven days the people celebrated with great joy because the Lord had changed the heart of the king toward them. He had helped them rebuild the temple of God (v. 22). Note that the Persian king Darius is said to be the king of Assyria. This is because Persia now ruled over Assyria; consequently, Darius could be called the king of Assyria as well as the king of Persia. Joy flooded the hearts of the returnees, for the exile was now ended and fellowship with God was at last restored.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary concludes this section of Ezra with a statement that is well worth quoting in its entirety:

Perhaps this title was a grim reminder that Assyria’s harsh tactics were now ended. She was the first to deport Israelites from their land; but now a contingent of Jews was settled back in their land.

This eight-day celebration … 900 years after the first Passover, signaled the end of the exile, for a remnant of the nation was once again back in fellowship with Yahweh. Since the temple worship was restored, it was important for people who wanted to be in fellowship with God and live according to the covenantal obligation to be in the place where the sacrificial system was being practiced. The people had seen first hand that God works through history, for He had caused pagan kings to issue decrees which let them return to the land of promise (much as he had caused Egypt’s Pharaoh to release Israel). The original readers of Ezra’s book would rejoice in that fact and would be encouraged to participate in the temple worship, which had been reestablished at such great cost.

Just as the returned exiles joyed and rejoiced in the Lord, so we are to joy and rejoice in Him who has loved us and given Himself for us, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

We can find joy in the Lord Himself:

John 17:13 ESV

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

We can find joy even in the times of despair, if we trust the Lord:

Psalm 30:5 ESV

5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

We can find joy in ministering to the needs of a lost world:

Luke 15:5 ESV

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Joy comes through what we draw from salvation:

Isaiah 61:10 ESV

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Joy is found in God’s Word:

John 15:11 ESV

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Joy is found in prayer and answered prayers:

John 16:24 ESV

24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

We are to rejoice and have joy in the Lord Jesus:

1 Peter 1:8 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

And we are to find joy through the trials of life:

Acts 16:23–25 ESV

23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

2 Corinthians 6:10 ESV

10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

We have endured NOTHING in this life like the Jews or the apostles, yet they still found JOY in serving the Lord. So, what is our excuse? Why is it that we cannot find the same kind of joy in serving Jesus?