Ezra 6: Keep Building

Ezra 6:8 "The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop."

Darius, the King of Persia facilitates a search of the document archives to see if Cyrus really made this decree. I find it amazing. They had document archives. And they were searchable. These people weren't cavemen. Anyway, he found Cyrus' decree, and responded to Tattenai, telling him to lay off the Israelites and let them go ahead and rebuild the temple.

Darius apparently was wither quite tolerant of other's religions, was quite polytheistic, or followed God. I'm guessing it was probably the former two. But he was quite adamant that Israel build this temple, and anyone who interfere's faced grim and gory consequences.

This new temple is not given near the ornate description of the temple Solomon built. I think this can be traced to the preparations that were made by David, who had limitless money to throw at the temple and the workers. Contrast that with Zerubbabel's temple, which basically had volunteers and money from the royal treasury. A treasury that probably devoted a tiny portion of its resources to Israel's little temple.

Just as celebration for the completion of Solomon's temple included sacrifices, so did the celebration of the completion of Zerubbabel's temple. With Passover being celebrated as well, one would be led to think Israel was finally getting their footing in this new kingdom.