The Decree of Darius
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Then King Darius issued a decree, a and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
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And at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of b Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written thus:
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In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a c decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: "Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits,
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d with three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber. Let the e expenses be paid from the king's treasury.
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Also let f the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple which is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple which is in Jerusalem, each to its place; and deposit them in the house of God" -
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g Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and ShetharBoz'nai, and your companions the Persians who are beyond the River, keep yourselves far from there.
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Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site.
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Moreover I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God: Let the cost be paid at the king's expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered.
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And whatever they need - young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests who are in Jerusalem - let it be given them day by day without fail,
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h that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
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Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; i and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this.
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And may the God who causes His j name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.
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Cross References
Ezra 5:17
Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.
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Cross References
2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
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Cross References
Ezra 1:1
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying.
Ezra 5:13
However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God.
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Cross References
1 Kings 6:36
And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams.
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Cross References
Ezra 3:7
They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
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Cross References
Ezra 1:7
King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods.
Ezra 1:8
And Cyrus king of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
Ezra 5:14
Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of Babylon - those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
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Cross References
Ezra 5:3
At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and ShetharBoz'nai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: "Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?
Ezra 5:6
This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai sent: The governor of the region beyond the River, and ShetharBoz'nai, and his companions, the Persians who were in the region beyond the River, to Darius the king.
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Cross References
Ezra 7:23
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Jeremiah 29:7
And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
1 Timothy 2:1
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.
1 Timothy 2:2
For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
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Cross References
Daniel 2:5
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
Daniel 3:29
"Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego' shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this."
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 12:5
But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.
Deuteronomy 12:11
Then there will be the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the LORD.
1 Kings 9:3
And the LORD said to him: "I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.