Ezra 6:6-15 - Exposition

DECREE ISSUED BY DARIUS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE DECREE OF CYRUS . OBEDIENCE OF THE PERSIAN OFFICIALS , AND RAPID COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE ( Ezra 6:6-15 ). The religious policy of Darius being directly opposed to that of his immediate predecessor, he would naturally reverse his decree with respect to the Jews ( Ezra 4:11-22 ). He would also be glad to show himself in accordance with the great founder of the empire, who was universally reverenced, and regarded as a truly wise king. Hence his recital of the decree of Cyrus, which it would have been enough merely to have referred to. By recalling its terms he showed how completely his policy tallied with that of Cyrus, and how thoroughly he inherited the spirit of the first monarch. We may also give him credit for a real sympathy with the Jewish religion, and a real belief that the prayers of the Jews in their recovered sanctuary would bring God's blessing upon himself and his children ( Ezra 6:10 ). His decree is not a mere formal and colourless document, but breathes a reverential spirit, and shows him at least as true a servant of Jehovah as Cyrus.

As the trumpet had given no uncertain note, the Persian officials, Tatnai and Shetharboznai, whatever their wishes may have been, had no choice as to their line of action. The king's word was law; and his favour, when clearly manifested, secured to the objects of it the warmest assurances of good-will, and the most active help, on the part of every official in the empire, from the highest to the lowest. The temple, therefore, made rapid progress, and within four years of the time when Zerubbabel and Jeshua resumed the building ( Ezra 5:2 ), the entire work was completed—"the house was finished." The whole time which elapsed between the laying of the foundation ( Ezra 3:10 ) and the completion was twenty-one years; but scarcely any progress had been made till Haggai began his preaching. The main part of the work was accomplished between the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of the second year of Darius ( Haggai 1:15 ) and the third day of the twelfth month of his sixth year. This was a space of four years and a half. The temple of Solomon, after a long term of preparation, occupied in its construction seven years and a half ( 1 Kings 6:37 , 1 Kings 6:38 ).