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In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lord put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing:

Verse ConceptsHuman WillProclamationsImpulsesWords To Individuals FulfilledThe First Temple

This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.

Verse ConceptsKingdomsThe Second TempleResponsibility

Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.

Verse ConceptsGod Be With You

So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone God had motivated—prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord’s house in Jerusalem.

Verse ConceptsHouse Of GodPriests, Institution In Ot TimesTribes Of IsraelImpulsesMoving To A New Placejerusalem

All their neighbors supported them with silver articles, gold, goods, livestock, and valuables, in addition to all that was given as a freewill offering.

Verse ConceptsGiving To The Poor

King Cyrus of Persia had them brought out under the supervision of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

Verse ConceptsGovernorsPrincesTreasurer

The gold and silver articles totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Verse ConceptsReturn From BabylonFive ThousandThose who returned from exile

These now are the people of the province who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.

Verse ConceptsReturn From BabylonJudaismProvincesExile Of Judah To BabylonThose who returned from exile

The following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer but were unable to prove that their families and ancestry were Israelite:

The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.

Verse ConceptsMinistry, Nature OfThe Urim And ThummimUrim And Thummim

After they arrived at the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders gave freewill offerings for the house of God in order to have it rebuilt on its original site.

Verse ConceptsFreewill OfferingHouse Of GodFree Will

Based on what they could give, they gave 61,000 gold coins, 6,250 pounds of silver, and 100 priestly garments to the treasury for the project.

Verse ConceptsGiving, Of PossessionsCoinageGoldStoringCoinsOne HundredPriests GarmentsLarge DenominationsMoney For The Temple

Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers began to build the altar of Israel’s God in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.

Verse ConceptsMoses, Significance OfParticipation, In ChristBuilding AltarsSetting Up The Bronze AltarWritten In The Law

They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples.

Verse ConceptsFoundationsBurnt offeringSacrifice, In OtAnimal Sacrifices, BurntAt Morning And EveningSetting Up The Bronze AltarFear Of Enemies

They celebrated the Festival of Booths as prescribed, and offered burnt offerings each day, based on the number specified by ordinance for each festival day.

Verse ConceptsFeastingFeast Of TabernaclesDaily Duty

After that, they offered the regular burnt offering and the offerings for the beginning of each month and for all the Lord’s appointed holy occasions, as well as the freewill offerings brought to the Lord.

Verse ConceptsConsecrationFestivals ObservedFree Will

On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, even though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.

Verse ConceptsMonth 7Foundations Of BuildingsThe First Temple

They gave money to the stonecutters and artisans, and gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so they could bring cedar wood from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, according to the authorization given them by King Cyrus of Persia.

Verse ConceptsCraftsmenCedarCarpentersMasonsBarteringMediterranean SeaAsking PermissionRaftsCedar WoodMoney For The Temple

In the second month of the second year after they arrived at God’s house in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers, including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began to build. They appointed the Levites who were 20 years old or more to supervise the work on the Lord’s house.

Verse ConceptsJudaismMaturity, PhysicalMiddle AgeTwentyAge Ranges Of Levites

Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah and of Henadad, with their sons and brothers, the Levites, joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.

Verse ConceptsOverseers

When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed.

Verse ConceptsBuildingClothing, Kinds OfBuildingMusical Instruments, types ofTrumpetOrchestrasCymbalsPraising GodSaul And DavidThe First Temple

They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For He is good; His faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid.

Verse ConceptsPraiseAttitudes Of PraiseRevival, Nature OfThanksgivingVoicesShouting For JoyEternal BlessingThose Singing Praise

they approached Zerubbabel and the leaders of the families and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.”

Verse ConceptsSamaritansExiled ForeignersTimes Of People

Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.

Verse ConceptsTrouble, Causes OfdiscouragementPersecution, Forms OfFear, Of PersecutionHindering God's WorkFear Of Enemiesconstruction

They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.

Verse ConceptsHiringTimes Of People

During the time of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.

Verse ConceptsCompanionsArtaxerxes The KingLanguagesLettersLanguages Mentioned In ScriptureAramaic LanguageTimes Of People

Rehum the chief deputy and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes concerning Jerusalem as follows:

Verse ConceptsArtaxerxes The KingOfficersNamed Gentile Rulers

This is the text of the letter they sent to him:

To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the region west of the Euphrates River:

Verse ConceptsArtaxerxes The KingServanthood, In SocietyCopies Of DocumentsBeyond The RiverBeyond The Euphrates

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations.

Verse ConceptsFoundationsCityJudaismBuilding Jerusalem's WallRebuilding Jerusalemrebuilding

Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax, and the royal revenue will suffer.

Verse ConceptsTaxationTributes

Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king, and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king

Verse ConceptsSaltLosing HonourSourness

that a search should be made in your fathers’ record books. In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

Verse ConceptsArchivesBooksStoringSeeking For Concrete ThingsHistorical Books

The king sent a reply to his chief deputy Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates River:

Greetings.

Verse ConceptsGreetingsAnswering PeopleBeyond The RiverNamed Gentile RulersBeyond The Euphrates

Powerful kings have also ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region, and tribute, duty, and land tax were paid to them.

Verse ConceptsTributesBeyond The RiverBeyond The Euphrates

Therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until a further decree has been pronounced by me.

As soon as the text of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they immediately went to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

Verse ConceptsArtaxerxes The KingJews, TheHasty ActionReading Other Matter

But when the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them,

Verse ConceptsJews, TheProphesyingNamed Prophets Of The LordIn God's Name

Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began to rebuild God’s house in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, helping them.

Verse ConceptsAliancesHouse Of GodSchool Of ProphetsThe Second Temple

At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues came to the Jews and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?”

Verse Conceptsenemies, of Israel and JudahGovernorsBeyond The RiverNamed Gentile RulersThe King's Ordersstructure

But God was watching over the Jewish elders. These men wouldn’t stop them until a report was sent to Darius, so that they could receive written instructions about this matter.

Verse ConceptsJews, TheWatchfulness, DivineGod Seeing The Righteous

This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.

Verse ConceptsGovernorsCopies Of DocumentsBeyond The RiverNamed Gentile Rulers

They sent him a report, written as follows:

To King Darius:

All greetings.

Verse ConceptsGreetings

Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut stones, and its beams are being set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people’s efforts.

Verse ConceptseagernessdiligenceBuilding Jerusalem's WallRebuilding The Templereinforcement

So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?”

Verse ConceptsRestorationThe King's Ordersstructure

But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He handed them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.

Verse ConceptsBabylon, Israel Exiled ToDestruction Of The TempleExile Of Judah To Babylon

However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild the house of God.

Verse ConceptsProclamationsThe Second TempleThe King's OrdersThe First Templerebuilding

He also took from the temple in Babylon the gold and silver articles of God’s house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and carried them to the temple in Babylon. He released them from the temple in Babylon to a man named Sheshbazzar, the governor by the appointment of King Cyrus.

Verse ConceptsPossessions Taken To BabylonGovernorsTaking Mixed MetalsTemple Utensils Removed

So if it pleases the king, let a search of the royal archives in Babylon be conducted to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king’s decision regarding this matter be sent to us.

Verse ConceptsArchivesStoringSeeking For Concrete ThingsThe King's Orders

In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem:

Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its original foundations be retained. Its height is to be 90 feet and its width 90 feet,

Verse ConceptsFoundationsBreadthProclamationsThe Second TempleDimensions Of BuildingsThe First Temple

with three layers of cut stones and one of timber. The cost is to be paid from the royal treasury.

Verse ConceptsThree Parts Of Constructions

The gold and silver articles of God’s house that Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon must also be returned. They are to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem where they belong and put into the house of God.

Verse ConceptsPossessions Taken To BabylonTaking Mixed MetalsTemple Utensils Removed

I hereby issue a decree concerning what you must do, so that the elders of the Jews can rebuild the house of God:

The cost is to be paid in full to these men out of the royal revenues from the taxes of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that the work will not stop.

Verse ConceptsPersecution, Attitudes To

Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, or wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—let it be given to them every day without fail,

Verse ConceptsGenerosity, HumanOilWheatProviding WineOil On SacrificesSacrificing Cattle Sheep And GoatsSourness

so that they can offer sacrifices of pleasing aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Verse Conceptsethics, socialPleasing God

May the God who caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who dares to harm or interfere with this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out diligently.

Verse ConceptsdiligenceA Place For God's Name

So the Jewish elders continued successfully with the building under the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia.

Verse ConceptsAdministrationArtaxerxes The KingNamed Prophets Of The LordGay Marriageprospering

This house was completed on the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

Verse ConceptsMonth 12

They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the book of Moses.

Verse ConceptsBook of the LawSubdivisions

The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

Verse ConceptsPassover lambYearsThe Number Fourteen

The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land in order to worship Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Verse ConceptsExclusivenessSeparationHeathenNations DescribedProselytesSeparation From Evil PeopleThose who returned from exileAdoption Should Lead To Holiness

Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Verse ConceptsServanthood, And Worship Of GodArtaxerxes The KingSingersTemple Assistants

Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king.

He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him.

Verse ConceptsReturn From BabylonJourneyHand Of GodGod's HandMonth 5God's Hands On People

Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Verse ConceptsDoctrine, CommunicatedIntelligenceStudyRenewed HeartMan's PurposesStudying The LawTeaching The Way Of GodStudyingstatues

This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, an expert in matters of the Lord’s commands and statutes for Israel:

Verse ConceptsJudaismLettersArtaxerxes The KingCopies Of Documents

Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

Verse ConceptsGreetingsHigh Priest, In OtArtaxerxes The KingVolunteering

I issue a decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who want to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.

Verse ConceptsProclamationsPeople WillingFree WillVolunteering

You are sent by the king and his seven counselors to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your possession.

Verse ConceptsSeven PeopleVolunteering

You are also to bring the silver and gold the king and his counselors have willingly given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

Verse ConceptsVolunteering

and all the silver and gold you receive throughout the province of Babylon, together with the freewill offerings given by the people and the priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.

Verse ConceptsFreewill Offering

Then you are to buy with this money as many bulls, rams, and lambs as needed, along with their grain and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem.

Verse ConceptsLambsdrink offeringSacrificing Cattle Sheep And Goats

You may do whatever seems best to you and your brothers with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.

Verse ConceptsGuidance, Need For God'sGood Activity

You must deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.

Verse ConceptsTemple Utensils Removed

You may use the royal treasury to pay for anything else needed for the house of your God.

Verse ConceptsUnlimitedness

I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates River:

Whatever Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of heaven, asks of you must be provided promptly,

Verse ConceptsArtaxerxes The King

up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of oil, and salt without limit.

Verse ConceptsTalentsWeights And Measures, DrySpecific Sums Of MoneySourness

And you, Ezra, according to God’s wisdom that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the region west of the Euphrates who know the laws of your God and to teach anyone who does not know them.

Verse ConceptsGod, Wisdom OfJudgesMagistratesBeyond The RiverTeaching The Way Of God

Praise Yahweh the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s mind to glorify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem,

Verse ConceptsHuman WillHeart, HumanBless The Lord!

and who has shown favor to me before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officers. So I took courage because I was strengthened by Yahweh my God, and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.

Verse ConceptsGod's HandGod's Hands On People

I gathered them at the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I searched among the people and priests, but found no Levites there.

Verse ConceptsAssembling Israel

I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for him and his brothers, the temple servants at Casiphia, that they should bring us ministers for the house of our God.

Verse ConceptsTemple Assistants

I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who abandon Him.”

Verse ConceptsForsaking GodGrace, In OtRejection Of God, Results OfRoadsGod's HandConsequences Of Forsaking GodGod's Hands On PeopleShame Has Come

I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles—the contribution for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites who were present had offered.

Verse ConceptsWeighing

I weighed out to them 24 tons of silver, silver articles weighing 7,500 pounds, 7,500 pounds of gold,

Verse ConceptsTalentsWeights Of GoldWorth

20 gold bowls worth 1,000 gold coins, and two articles of fine gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold.

Verse ConceptsCoinageHoly VesselsBrassWeights Of Gold

Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers.

Verse ConceptsFreewill OfferingGiving, Of PossessionsHoly VesselsA Holy NationFree Will

So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the articles that had been weighed out, to bring them to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

We set out from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God, and He protected us from the power of the enemy and from ambush along the way.

Verse ConceptsCaravansHand Of GodRoadsDivine Protection, Examples OfGod's HandGod Saving From EnemiesGod's Hands On PeopleEnemy Attacks

On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the articles were weighed out in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him. The Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui were also with them.

Verse ConceptsThe Fourth Day Of The WeekDay 4

The exiles who had returned from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, and 77 lambs, along with 12 male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering for the Lord.

Verse ConceptsGoatsThe Number TwelveSacrifice, In OtSin OfferingThe Number NinetyTwelve TribesTwelve AnimalsSeventiesNinetiesSacrificing Cattle Sheep And Goats

They also delivered the king’s edicts to the royal satraps and governors of the region west of the Euphrates, so that they would support the people and the house of God.

Verse ConceptsGovernorsBeyond The River

At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God.

Verse ConceptsTearing Of ClothesCloaksHigh Priest, In OtKneelingPrayer, Practicalities OfReverence, And ObedienceLifting HandsThose Who Tore Clothes

And I said:

My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.

Verse ConceptsGuilty ConsciencesConfession, Examples OfGuilt, Human Aspects OfShameSin, Effects OfBlushingFound GuiltyShame Has Come

Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our fathers until the present. Because of our iniquities we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings, and to the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame, as it is today.

Verse ConceptsIniquity, Punishment ForHumiliation

But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from Yahweh our God to preserve a remnant for us and give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us new life and light to our eyes.

Verse ConceptsenlightenmentLight, SpiritualRemnantGod Is GraciousPegsA Short TimeSurvivors FavouredShort Time For Actionrevivalspacegraciousness

Though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings, giving us new life, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

Verse ConceptsKindnessUnkindnessWallsArchaeologyGod Not ForsakingGroups Of Slavesslaveryrevival

You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: “The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices.

Verse ConceptsGod Spoke By The ProphetsUnclean Things

So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you will be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.”

Verse ConceptsTreatyIntermarriageNot ProsperingNo Peace

After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt—though You, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve and have allowed us to survive

Verse ConceptsIniquity, Punishment ForRemnantSurvivors Of The Nations

should we break Your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices? Wouldn’t You become so angry with us that You would destroy us, leaving no survivors?

Verse ConceptsEvil AssociationsIntermarriageWill God Be Angry?