Immerse: Chronicles Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 122
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IMMERSE
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CHRONICLES
6:3-14
“Memorandum:
“In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out
concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.
“Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their
sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety
feet, and its width will be ninety feet. Every three layers of specially
prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will
be paid by the royal treasury. Furthermore, the gold and silver cups,
which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple
of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back
where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.”
So King Darius sent this message:
“Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the
Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues and other
officials west of the Euphrates River—stay away from there! Do not
disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its
original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders
of the Jews in their work.
“Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of
the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full
construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the
province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be
interrupted.
“Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of
young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented
to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much
wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day. Then they will
be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray
for the welfare of the king and his sons.
“Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled
from their house. Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it, and
their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble. May the God who has
chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor his name destroy any
king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple.
“I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed with all
diligence.”
Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and
Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues complied at once with the command
of King Darius. So the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were
greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah
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