The Temple, which Solomon built centuries prior to the building of the second Temple, was completed in seven- and one-half years (1Kings 6:37-38). This second Temple took forty-eight years to build, due to the fact that it was built during times of much trouble. In Daniel 9:25 the days of the rebuilding process both of the city and the Temple are described as troublous times (KJV), distressful times (NET), difficult times (CEV). The Samaritans and the other nations surrounding Judah didn’t want either the city of Jerusalem or the Temple of God to be rebuilt. Therefore, they caused trouble by actively undermining the work at Jerusalem, by bribing governmental officials (Ezra 4:5) and by letters written to the kings of Persia.
Cyrus, who decreed that Jerusalem and the Temple would be rebuilt wasn’t moved by any letters that may have been written to him, but his son Cambyses was, and he stopped the rebuilding process from the beginning of his reign (Ezra 4:6). After Cambyses committed suicide, his successor, Darius Hystaspes, permitted Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and renew the building process, but still efforts were made to discourage the Jews, even to the point of threatening Nehemiah’s life. Nevertheless, another letter from Samaria accusing Nehemiah of having aspirations to become king caused the work at Jerusalem to cease once more. However, it may be that Darius Hystaspes, who had to put down a number of insurrections during his reign, was under political pressure to stop the building process due to accusations in the Samaritan letter. Hystaspes had a close relationship with Nehemiah before he was sent to resume the work at Jerusalem. Thus, Hystaspes seems to have hinted that the rebuilding process would continue at a more prudent time (Ezra 4:21).
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Historical King of Persia |
Years Reigned During the Rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple |
Years of Reign Used in Rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple |
| Cyrus | 1-2 years | 1-2 years |
| Cambyses | 7-8 years | None |
| Darius Hystaspes | 33 years | 12 years |
| Xerxes | 7 years | 5 years |
| Total = 49 years | Total = 18-19 years |
It is with this background that Darius, king of Persia (Xerxes), searched the king’s palace in the Province of the Medes for the decree made by Cyrus (Ezra 6:1-2). When the document was found, Darius had his scribe send Tatnai a memorandum of the contents of Cyrus’ decree (Ezra 6:3-5). This would have been enough to give Tatnai a sense of what he should do. However, Darius attached his own directive to Tatnai, personally, which seems to add emphasis to the king’s will. Darius specifically told Tatnai and his companions to keep themselves from hindering the building process underway at Jerusalem (Ezra 6:6-7).
Yet, permitting the building process to continue at Jerusalem wasn’t the only directive Darius made in his letter to Tatnai. He also commanded him by decree, which no one had authority to contradict (Daniel 6:8), to provide for the expenses of the building process and the sacrifices made at the Temple, and this revenue should be taken out of the king’s tribute money exacted from the provinces, over which Tatnai was governor, west of the Euphrates. Moreover, sacrifices were to be made at the Temple of God for the king’s life and prosperity of his family (Ezra 6:8-10).
A second decree was made against anyone who troubled the Jews during the building process. In it, Darius cursed anyone who disobeyed him, saying his house would be torn down, and the rebel’s gallows would be built from its lumber, and he would be hanged thereon (probably crucified), and the place of his former house would be made a dunghill (cp. 2Kings 10:27; Daniel 2:5). Furthermore, he called upon God, who caused his name to be placed upon Jerusalem to destroy all kings and nations who would seek to altar this decree by destroying the House of God at Jerusalem (Ezra 6:11-12).
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