1
Then Daryavesh the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Bavel.
2
There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record:
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In the first year of Koresh the king, Koresh the king made a decree: Concerning the House of Elohim at Yerushalayim, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits;
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with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house.
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Also let the gold and silver vessels of the House of Elohim, which Nevukhadnetzar took forth out of the Temple which is at Yerushalayim, and brought to Bavel, be restored, and brought again to the Temple which is at Yerushalayim, everyone to its place; and you shall put them in the House of Elohim.
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Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there.
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Leave the work of this house of Elohim alone; let the governor of the Yehudim and the elders of the Yehudim build this house of Elohim in its place.
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Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of the Yehudim for the building of this house of Elohim: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered.
9
That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for ascending offerings to Elohim of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the kohenim who are at Yerushalayim, let it be given them day by day without fail;
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that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to Elohim of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
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Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:
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and Elohim who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of Elohim which is at Yerushalayim. I Daryavesh have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.
13
Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions, because Daryavesh the king had sent a decree, did accordingly with all diligence.
14
The elders of the Yehudim built and prospered, through the prophesying of Chaggai the prophet and Zekharyahu the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of Elohim of Yisra’el, and according to the decree of Koresh, and Daryavesh, and Artachshasta king of Paras.
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This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh the king.
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The children of Yisra’el, the kohenim, and the Leviyim, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of Elohim with joy.
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They offered at the dedication of this house of Elohim one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Yisra’el, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Yisra’el.
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They set the kohenim in their divisions, and the Leviyim in their courses, for the service of Elohim, which is at Yerushalayim; as it is written in the book of Mosheh.
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The children of the captivity kept the Pesach on the fourteenth day of the first month.
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For the kohenim and the Leviyim had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Pesach for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the kohenim, and for themselves.
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The children of Yisra’el who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahuah, Elohim of Yisra’el, ate,
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and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Yahuah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the House of Elohim, Elohim of Yisra’el.