But the Jews in Susa rested on the fifteenth day of the same month and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. The Jews established and made it a custom for them, for their descendants, and for all who should join them, so that it might not be repealed, that they should continue to observe these two days as feasts each year. For Haman had plotted to destroy the Jews completely, and he cast pur, that is, the lot, to persecute and destroy them. For this reason these days have been called Purim. EZRA THE RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM 139. CYRUS'S DECREE REGARDING THE TEMPLE That the promise made by Jehovah through the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, Jehovah inspired Cyrus king of Persia in the first year of his reign to make this written proclamation throughout all his kingdom, ‘Thus decrees Cyrus king of Persia: "Jehovah the God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has charged me to build him a temple in Jerusalem which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people who desires to return, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the temple of Jehovah, the God of Israel. (He is the God who dwells at Jerusalem.) In every place where a remnant of Jehovah's people now reside, let the men of that place assist with silver, with gold, with equipment, and with animals, in addition to the voluntary offering for the house of God at Jerusalem.". Then the heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites, including all whom God had inspired to build the temple of Jehovah at Jerusalem, started to return. And all their neighbors supplied them with silver utensils, with gold, with equipment, with animals, and with precious things in addition to all that was offered voluntarily. Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of the temple of Jehovah, which Nebuchadrezzar had carried from Jerusalem, and placed in the temple of his gods. Cyrus king of Persia had these brought out under the direction of Mithredath the treasurer and turned over to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah; and he carried them with those who returned from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem. 140. THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo preached to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel; and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak began at once to rebuild the temple of God which is at Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. At that time Tattenai, the governor of the Persian province west of the Euphrates, and Shethar-bozenai and their associates, came to them and said, 'Who gave you permission to rebuild this temple and to finish this wall? And what are the names of the men who are building this edifice?' But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, so that they were allowed to go on with the work until a report should reach Darius and a written decision should be sent back. Then Darius the king issued a decree, and search was made in the archives where the official documents from Babylon had been placed. At Ecbatana in the royal residence in the province of Media, a roll was found in which was written the following record: 'Cyrus the king in his first year issued this decree: "Concerning the temple of God at Jerusalem: Let the temple where the people of Jehovah offer sacrifices and bring offerings to be made by fire be rebuilt. Make it ninety feet high and ninety feet wide. It shall be constructed with three layers of huge stones and one layer of fresh timber; and let the expenses be paid out of the royal treasury. Also restore to their places the gold and silver utensils of the temple of God, which Nebuchadrezzar took from the temple at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon." 'Now therefore Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and the rulers of the province, go away from there; let the work on this house of God continue. Let the elders of the Jews rebuild it on its former site. I also direct that from the royal income, from the tribute of the province west of the Euphrates, you shall without delay pay all the expenses incurred by these men. And let whatever is needed be given to them each day without fail, including young oxen and rams and lambs for burntofferings to the God of heaven, also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as the priests at Jerusalem direct, that they may regularly offer sacrifices of sweet odor to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. 'I have further decreed that if any shall alter this command, a beam shall be pulled from his house, and he shall be lifted up and fastened to it, and for this crime his house shall be made a refuse heap. The God who has associated his name with this temple will overthrow all kings and peoples who attempt to alter this command or to destroy the temple of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree; let it be faithfully carried out.' Then Tattenai the Persian obeyed the command of Darius the king; so the elders of the Jews built with success under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They completed the building as the God of Israel commanded on the ninth of April in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. 141. NEHEMIAH THE PUBLIC READING AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE When the month of September arrived all the people gathered together as one man in the open space before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book containing the Mosaic law which. Jehovah had commanded Israel to follow. In the open space before the Water Gate from early morning to mid-day he read from the Mosaic law in the presence of the men and women and of those who could understand; and all the people listened to the reading of the book of the law. On the twenty-fourth day of the same month the Israelites were assembled in sackcloth and with earth upon their heads to observe a fast. When they had taken their places, they read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day, and another fourth part they confessed and worshipped him and said, "Thou didst see the affliction of our forefathers in Egypt and hear their cry by the Red Sea. Thou also gavest thy good spirit to instruct them; and thou didst make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and brought them into the land which thou didst promise their forefathers they should enter and possess. So they ate and were filled and grew fat and lived in luxury because of thy great goodness. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not obey thy commands, but broke thy laws and were rebellious and would not listen. But thou didst bear with them |