by bribing their consultants in order to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia until Darius became king.

As a result, work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem ceased and did not begin again until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.

But God watched over the Jewish leaders, who could not be forced to stop working until Darius received a report and responded in reply.

Here is a copy of the letter that Trans-Euphrates Governor Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and his colleagues the Trans-Euphrates Persians sent to King Darius.

The letter sent to him was written like this: To: King Darius: Greetings!

Then King Darius issued an order to search the Hall of Records where the Babylonian archives were stored.

And may the God who causes his Name to rest there destroy any king or people who might attempt to destroy this Temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be carried out quickly.

Because of what King Darius had mandated, Tattenai, the Trans-Euphrates Governor, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues carried out his orders quickly.

And so the Jewish leaders continued their building, and prospered because of the prophecies of Haggai the prophet and Iddo's son Zechariah. They completed the rebuilding in accordance with the commandment from the God of Israel and the edicts of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia.

The Temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar during the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.