1 Then Darius the King made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolles, where the treasures were laide vp in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the prouince of the Medes, a rolle, and therein was a record thus written:
3 In the first yeere of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Ierusalem: Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof of be strongly laid, the height therof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubites:
4 With three rowes of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences bee giuen out of the kings house.
5 And also let the golden, and siluer vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar tooke foorth out of the temple which is at Ierusalem, and brought vnto Babylon, be restored, and brought againe vnto the temple which is at Ierusalem, euery one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
6 Now therefore Tatnai, gouernour beyond the riuer, Shethar-Boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the riuer, be ye farre from thence:
7 Let the worke of this house of God alone, let the gouernour of the Iewes, and the elders of the Iewes, build this house of God in his place.
8 Moreouer I make a decree, what ye shall doe to the Elders of these Iewes, for the building of this house of God: that of the kings goods, euen of the tribute beyond the riuer, forthwith expences be giuen vnto these men, that they be not hindered.
9 And that which they haue need of, both yong bullocks, and rammes, and lambes, for the burnt offerings of the God of heauen, wheat, salt, wine, and oyle, according to the appoyment of the priests which are at Ierusalem, let it be giuen them, day by day without faile:
10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet sauours vnto the God of heauen, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sonnes.
11 Also I haue made a decree, that whosoeuer shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set vp, let him bee hanged thereon, and let his house bee made a doung hill for this.
12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there, destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand, to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Ierusalem. I Darius haue made a decree, let it be done with speed.
13 ¶ Then Tatnai gouernour on this side the riuer, Shethar-Boznai, & their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
14 And the elders of the Iewes builded, and they prospered, through the prophecying of Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah the sonne of Iddo, and they builded, and finished it, according to the commandement of the God of Israel, and according to the commandement of Cyrus and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15 And this honse was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixt yere of the reigne of Darius the king.
16 ¶ And the children of Israel, the Priests and the Leuites, and the rest of the children of the captiuitie, kept the dedicatiō of this house of God, with ioy,
17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God, an hundred bullockes, two hundred rammes, foure hundred lambes; and for a sinne offering for all Israel, twelue hee goates, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18 And they set the Priests in their diuisions, and the Leuites in their courses, for the seruice of God, which is at Ierusalem, as it is written in the booke of Moses.
19 And the children of the captiuitie kept the Passeouer, vpon the fourteenth day of the first moneth:
20 For the Priestes and the Leuites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the Passeouer for all the children of the captiuitie, and for their brethren the Priests, and for themselues.
21 And the children of Israel, which were come againe out of captiuitie, and all such as had separated themselues vnto them, from the filthinesse of the heathen of the land, to seeke the Lord God of Israel, did eate,
22 And kept the feast of vnleauened bread seuen dayes, with ioy: for the Lord had made them ioyfull, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria vnto them, to strengthen their handes in the worke of the house of God, the God of Israel.
The decree for completing the temple. (1-12) The temple is finished. (13-22)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.
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.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.