Ezra 6:1-12
Leave This Work Alone
Read the passage
1Thus King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon.
2And a scroll was found in the fortress of Ecbatana, in the province of Media, with the following written on it: Memorandum:
3In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide,
4with three layers of cut stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid from the royal treasury.
5Furthermore, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, must also be returned to the temple in Jerusalem and deposited in the house of God.
6Therefore Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!
7Leave this work on the house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.
8I hereby decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews who are rebuilding this house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the Euphrates, so that the work will not be hindered.
9Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given to them daily without fail.
10Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons.
11I also decree that if any man interferes with this directive, a beam is to be torn from his house and raised up, and he is to be impaled on it. And his own house shall be made a pile of rubble for this offense.
12May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out with diligence.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Darius orders a search of the archives, and a scroll is found at Ecbatana in Media. It records Cyrus's decree to rebuild God's house in Jerusalem, pay the costs from the royal treasury, and return the temple's gold and silver articles. The builders' claim has a written record behind it.
Darius tells Tattenai and his associates to leave the work alone. The Jewish governor and elders are to rebuild on the original site, and the costs must be paid from the region's taxes so the work is not hindered.
The priests are also to receive the animals, grain, salt, wine, and oil they need each day. Darius wants them to offer sacrifices and pray for him and his sons. His decree joins protection of the building with provision for its worship.
The penalty for interfering is execution by impalement and destruction of the offender's house. Darius also calls on God to overthrow anyone who destroys His house. These are severe terms of an ancient royal decree, not instructions for Christian leaders to punish opposition. Here the officials who questioned the project are ordered to support it.
Questions
1 What did Darius discover in the archives?
AnswerDarius found Cyrus's decree concerning the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem. The written record confirmed that the work had an earlier royal authorization.
2 What did Darius tell Tattenai to do?
AnswerHe told Tattenai to stay away and leave the work on God's house alone. The governor who had questioned the project was now ordered not to interfere.
3 How was the work to be funded?
AnswerThe cost was to be paid from the royal treasury using taxes from the region. The decree supplied material support instead of requiring the builders to survive on goodwill alone.
4 Why did Darius want supplies provided for the sacrifices?
AnswerHe wanted the priests to offer sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the lives of the king and his sons.
What This Means for Us
Look for one needless obstacle you can remove from another person's faithful work. Darius does not simply authorize the temple; he orders that the costs be paid from public revenue and that interference be treated as a serious offense.
Your obstacle may be a missing supply, an unclear responsibility, or a habit of second-guessing. Good leadership does not only issue expectations; it makes obedience more possible. Ask whether your authority is being used to protect a worthy task or merely to make people serve your preferences.
Prayer
God, give leaders wisdom and restraint. Help us remove obstacles rather than create them, and provide what is needed for good work. Keep our authority under your care. Amen.