[Sidenote:  Ezra 6:1-5] Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the archives where the official documents from Babylon had been deposited.  And at Ecbatana, the royal palace in the province of Media, a roll was found, and in it was thus written:  A record:  In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree:  ’Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, where they offer sacrifices and bring him offerings made by fire; its height shall be sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits.  It shall be constructed with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timber; and let the expenses be paid out of the king’s treasury.  Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought to the temple which is at Jerusalem, each to its place; and you shall put them in the house of God.’

[Sidenote:  Ezra 6:6-12] Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and the rulers of the province beyond the River, go away from there; let the work of this house of God alone; let the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God in its place.  Moreover I make a decree in regard to what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God:  that out of the king’s wealth from the tribute of the province beyond the River the expenses be exactly paid to these men, and that without delay.  And whatever is needed, both young bullocks and rams and lambs for burnt-offerings to the God of heaven, also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the direction of the priests at Jerusalem, let it be given to them day by day without fail, that they may regularly offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.  Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall make this command invalid, a beam shall be pulled out from his house, and he shall be impaled upon it, and his house shall for this be made a refuse heap.  And the God who hath caused his name to dwell there shall overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to make invalid the command or to destroy the house of God at Jerusalem.  Exactly will it be executed.

[Sidenote:  Ezra 6:13,14] Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did exactly as Darius the king had given command.  And the elders of the Jews built and prospered.  And they finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and according to the decree of Cyrus and Darius.

I. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah.  The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are the chief sources of information regarding Jewish history during the Persian period.  They fall into nine general divisions:  (1) the return of the Babylonian exiles and the revival of the Judean community, Ezra 1-4;