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.

2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: [ They did as the Jews suggested and they were able to find the decree. ]

3 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; [ Not just put up but built to with stand the elements and time. ] the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: [ This is the response letter to the petition letter from the Samaritans. ]

7  Let the work of this house of God alone; [ Leave the Jews alone. You wanted an answer here it is Let them build the house. ] let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.

8 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, [ As a matter of fact let me help cover the costs of the construction. ] that they be not hindered. [ Don't let money be the reson why the work is slowed down. ]

9  And that which they have need of, [ As a matter of fact give them all that they need in order to make the daily sacrifices that they need to make to God. ] both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:

10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. [ And with what I give them for sacrifice maybe they will pray for me and my sons as well. If they will be loyal to me then maybe they can help me as well. As if their Gods will bless them maybe he will bless me as well. If one does not know who the right God is then it is better to have all of the Gods on your side right? ]

11 Also I [ The King. ] have made a decree, [ Declare, I am telling you. ] that whosoever shall alter this word, [ Who ever does not do as I have told you. ] let timber be pulled down from his house, [ I will have his house pulled to the ground, and the timbers of his house will be used to hang that man. ] and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. [ Then I will have it plowed under and manure thrown on top of it. ]

12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed. [ So Darius is not necessarily trusting the Israelites but he is trusting the judgement of King Cyrus. So as Isaiah says that Kings and queens shall be their nursing mothers and fathers, well here we have a nursing father of sorts. ]

13 ¶ Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15 And this house was finished [ The Temple is built, it is complete. They did it. A little over 42,000 of them did it with Gods help, as well as help from the Kings. ] on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 ¶ And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, [ A rededication of sorts. ]

17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.

19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.

20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, [ They kept the passover. ]

22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, [ While the adversary used the Samaritans to weaken the hand of the Israelites, God used the Kings to strengthen their hands. Proof yet again who really is in control. ] the God of Israel.