61 Then King Darius issued a decree , and search was made in the archives e , where e the treasures were stored in Babylon . 2 In Ecbatana in the fortress , which is in the province of Media , a scroll was found and there was written in it as follows : "Memorandum - 3 " In the first year of King Cyrus , Cyrus the king issued a decree : 'Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem , let the temple , the place where sacrifices are offered , be rebuilt and let its foundations be retained , its height being 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits ; 4 with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers . And let the cost be paid from the royal treasury . 5 'Also let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God , which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon , be returned and brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem ; and you shall put them in the house of God .' 6 "Now therefore, Tattenai , governor of the province beyond the River , Shethar-bozenai and your colleagues , the officials of the provinces beyond the River , keep away from there . 7 "Leave this work on the 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 issue a decree concerning what e you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of this house of God : the full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River , and that without delay . 9 "Whatever is needed , both young bulls , rams , and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven , and wheat , salt , wine and anointing oil , as the priests in Jerusalem request , it is to be given to them daily without fail , 10 that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons . 11 "And I issued a decree that any man who violates this edict , a timber shall be drawn from his house and he shall be impaled e on it and his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this . 12 "May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempts e to change it, so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem . I, Darius , have issued this decree , let it be carried out with all diligence !"
13 Then Tattenai , the governor of the province beyond the River , Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence , just as King Darius had sent . 14 And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo . And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus , Darius , and Artaxerxes king of Persia . 15 This temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar ; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 6:1-15
Commentary on Ezra 6:1-12
(Read Ezra 6:1-12)
When God's time is come for fulfilling his gracious purposes concerning his church, he will raise up instruments to do it, from whom such good service was not expected. While our thoughts are directed to this event, we are led by Zechariah to fix our regard on a nobler, a spiritual building. The Lord Jesus Christ continues to lay one stone upon another: let us assist the great design. Difficulties delay the progress of this sacred edifice. Yet let not opposition discourage us, for in due season it will be completed to his abundant praise. He shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Commentary on Ezra 6:13-22
(Read Ezra 6:13-22)
The gospel church, that spiritual temple, is long in the building, but it will be finished at last, when the mystical body is completed. Every believer is a living temple, building up himself in his most holy faith: much opposition is given to this work by Satan and our own corruptions. We trifle, and proceed in it with many stops and pauses; but He that has begun the good work, will see it performed. Then spirits of just men will be made perfect. By getting their sins taken away, the Jews would free themselves from the sting of their late troubles. Their service was with joy. Let us welcome holy ordinances with joy, and serve the Lord with gladness.