Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
King Darius enthusiastically supports the Temple’s construction. The Temple is completed, and the Jews celebrate joyously. They then observe the holiday of Passover by bringing offerings.
II. Photo
The offerings are described: “And they sacrificed for the dedication of this House of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams…” (v. 17)
III. Important Verses
vv. 9-10: They are to be given daily, without fail, whatever they need of young bulls, rams, or lambs as burnt offerings for the God of Heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and oil, at the order of the priests in Jerusalem, so that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of Heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
v. 11-12: I also issue an order that whoever alters this decree shall have a beam removed from his house, and he shall be impaled on it and his house confiscated. And may the God who established His name there cause the downfall of any king or nation that undertakes to alter or damage that House of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree; let it be carried out with dispatch.
vv. 14-16: So the elders of the Jews progressed in the building, urged on by the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo, and they brought the building to completion under the aegis of the God of Israel and by the order of Cyrus and Darius and King Artaxerxes of Persia. The house was finished on the third of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites, the priests, and the Levites, and all the other exiles celebrated the dedication of the House of God with joy.
v. 22: They joyfully celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days, for the LORD had given them cause for joy by inclining the heart of the Assyrian king toward them so as to give them support in the work of the House of God, the God of Israel.
IV. Outline
1-12. Darius supports the Temple’s construction wholeheartedly
13-15. The Temple is completed in the sixth year of King Darius
16-17. The Temple is dedicated with great joy and abundant sacrifices
18. Priests and Levites are appointed
19-22. Passover is celebrated with great joy
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo taken from http://www.ramsridge.ca/images/3rams.jpg
