The Temple is Dedicated
September 30, 2021
Commentary
Governor Tattenai, Shethar Bozenai, and their advisors carefully obeyed King Darius (v. 13). With great success the Jewish leaders continued working on the temple, while Haggai and Zechariah encouraged them by their preaching (v. 14). And so, the temple was completed at the command of the God of Israel and by the orders of kings Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes of Persia. The Temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius (v. 15). The Israelites–the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles–celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy (v. 16).
One hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs were offered as sacrifices at the dedication (v. 17). Also twelve goats were sacrificed as sin offerings for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then the priests and Levites were assigned their duties in God’s temple in Jerusalem, according to the instructions Moses had written (v. 18). The returned exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month (v. 19). For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean (v. 20). So they killed the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their brother priests, and for themselves.
The sacrifices were eaten by the Israelites who had returned and by the neighboring people who had given up the sinful customs of other nations in order to worship the LORD God of Israel (v. 21). For seven days they celebrated the Festival of Thin Bread. Everyone was happy because the LORD God of Israel had made sure that the king of Assyria would be kind to them and help them build the temple (v. 22).
Application
Ezra carefully pointed out that rebuilding the temple was commanded first by God then by the kings, who where His instruments. God’s will is supreme over all rulers, all historical events and all hostile forces. If I trust in His power and love, with complete dedication to Him, no opposition can stop me.
Ezra 6:13– 22 (NET)
13 Then Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues acted accordingly—with precision, just as Darius the king had given instructions. 14 The elders of the Jews continued building and prospering, while at the same time Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo continued prophesying. They built and brought it to completion by the command of the God of Israel and by the command of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 They finished this temple on the third day of the month Adar, which is the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
16 The people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles —observed the dedication of this temple of God with joy. 17 For the dedication of this temple of God they offered 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and 12 male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 They appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their divisions over the worship of God at Jerusalem, in accord with the book of Moses. 19 The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, every last one, and they all were ceremonially pure. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues the priests, and for themselves. 21 The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the Lord God of Israel. 22 They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the Lord had given them joy and had changed the opinion of the king of Assyria toward them so that he assisted them in the work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.