The Completion & Dedication of the

Temple

A Lesson By: Tam Walls

Time to Start Again During the second year of

Darius the king of Persia, two men, Zerubbabel and Jeshua, began to build the house of God. The prophets of God helped them too and the work of the men prospered. After a certain amount of time, Israel was questioned by Tatnai, a governor in the land, asking who commanded them to build. But the eye of God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they did not stop working.

Tatnai, the governor, and his companions decided to write a letter to Darius the king regarding this matter. The letter informed the king that the children of Israel were successfully rebuilding the house of God. The letter continued by stating that the chief of the children of Israel spoke of their history of being taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and how Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the house of God and took all the vessels of gold, silver out of it.

Another Letter Is Sent

Tatnai was sure to write that the children of Israel told him that it was Cyrus king of Persia who gave them commandment to build the house of God and restored unto them all the vessels taken out of it by Nebuchadnezzar. In closing, Tatnai asked Darius to make a search of the records to see if such a decree was made by Cyrus for the rebuilding of the house of God at Jerusalem.

Another Letter Is Sent

Darius made a search in the house of rolls and found a record of the decree made by Cyrus. Darius then made a decree that Tatnai and his companions were to let the Jews be in peace and allow them to continue their work in building the house of God. Darius ordered Tatnai to make sure the Jews had all that they needed from money, to building materials, and even the animals and other items needed for burnt offerings of the God of heaven.

Darius Makes a Decree

Finally, Darius commanded that whosoever shall alter the decree he made would be subject to death by hanging. After receiving the king’s word, Tatnai and his companions made haste to fulfill the king’s commandment. The elders of the Jews continued building the house of God and their work prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah.

Darius Makes a Decree

The house of God was completed on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. All of the people of Israel celebrated the dedication of the house of God with much joy. Many animals were offered for the celebration. Bullocks, rams, lambs, and twelve he goats according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

God’s House Is Complete!

The End!

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