Decree to Build Ezra 6

Ezra 6:1 "Then Darius the king made a decree and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon."

This search was made in response to the letter where the counselors complained that the building had started again and also to see if there was an order from Cyrus as the Jews said.

It resulted in finding the roll giving the order. That was one decree. The other decree, the main one came from the LORD of hosts and we have touched on it in the books of Haggai and Zechariah.

The house of the LORD was to have an amazing foundation as described in King Cyrus' decree. v3-4 "In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of the king's house;"

A cubit is about 18 inches or actually 18 inches. So you would add 1/2 foot to each number making the foundation 90 feet high and 90 feet wide. That is a strong foundation. The church is built on such a foundation where Jesus is the chief cornerstone.

Not only did the governors have to let the Jews build the temple but they had to pay their expenses while they did so. (I wonder if those lawyers got fired.)

v8 "Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered."

Just one more thing. To enforce these two decrees, the king placed a penalty of death on anyone who tried to stop the building.

v11 "Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon, and let his house be made a dunghill for this."

So the building went forward unhindered and the elders setup the sacrifices and people in their proper offices.

v15 "And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king,"

So once the legal matter was settled, it took about 4 years to finished the house of God.

Zechariah 2:10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD."

Temple rebuilding is finished.