Ezra 6 An official break

Ezra 6

If you recall in the last chapter the governor of East Euphrates and his cronies tried to sabotage the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and were told by the Jewish leaders that Cyrus had given not only permission to rebuild the temple but actual orders.The governor, Tattenai, wrote a letter to the emperor, Darius, to get his view, if you remember Xerxes ordered a halt to the building work.Darius ordered a search of the records and indeed in the citadel of Ecbactana in Media, they found the original decree from Cyrus.Darius sent a memorandum to Tattenai saying the following In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; with its height sixty cubits,and its width sixty cubits; with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in God’s house.Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there. Leave 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 its place. Moreover I make a decree what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered. That which they have need of, including young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; 10 that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.Somehow I doubt that this is what Tattenai had in mind - they are now forbidden to interfere or even visit and sneer at the work or try and discourage the Jews. Also now Tattenai has to pay the bills for this work! In Jerusalem the news was recieved joyously and the work on the Temple continued until they were able to re-open the temple in the 6th year of Darius reign - the new temple appears to be bigger than the size recorded in the book of Kings for the temple (60x30x20 cubits compared to 60x60x60 cubits now!)At the dedication they sacrifices 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs and 12 rams as a sin offering (one for each tribe of Israel) - This sounds a lot but when Solomon dedicated the original temple he sacrifices 22000 cattle and 120000 lambs and sheep so in fact it was very subdued by comparison.Also the Jews celebrated the passover as required, which they did with joy as the emperor had given his blessing and help in the re-building of Israel.