Ezra 6:6-12

Ezra 6:6-12

[6] Now  therefore, Tatnai,  governor  beyond  the river,  Shetharboznai,  and your companions  the Apharsachites,  which are beyond  the river,  be ye  far  from  thence:  [7] Let the work  of this  house  of God  alone;  let the governor  of the Jews  and the elders  of the Jews  build  this  house  of God  in  his place.  [8] Moreover I  make  a decree  what  ye shall do  to  the elders  of these  Jews  for the building  of this  house  of God:  that of the king's  goods,  even of  the tribute  beyond  the river,  forthwith  expenses  be  given  unto these  men,  that they be not  hindered.  [9] And that which  they have need of,  both young  bullocks,  and rams,  and lambs,  for the burnt offerings  of the God  of heaven,  wheat,  salt,  wine,  and oil,  according to the appointment  of the priests  which are at Jerusalem,  let it be  given  them day  without  fail:  [10] That they may offer  sacrifices of sweet savours  unto the God  of heaven,  and pray  for the life  of the king,  and of his sons.  [11] Also  I have made  a decree,  that whosoever  shall alter  this  word,  let timber  be pulled down  from  his house,  and being set up,  let him be hanged  thereon;  and let his house  be made  a dunghill  for  this.  [12] And the God  that hath caused his name  to dwell  there  destroy  all  kings  and people,  that shall put  to their hand  to alter  and to destroy  this  house  of God  which is at Jerusalem.  I  Darius  have made  a decree;  let it be done  with speed. 

What does Ezra 6:6-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Evidently Darius also saw the Jerusalem temple as a monument to his own success. He instructed Tattenai to allow the Jewish governor, Zerubbabel, and his people to proceed unobstructed. Darius seems to have viewed Zerubbabel as the ruler of the Jews living in the jurisdiction of Tattenai, who governed the whole province that included Palestine and Jerusalem. Darius further specified that the provincial treasury should pay all costs ( Ezra 6:8), and that the provincial governor should provide the items required for sacrifices in the temple. The king also wanted the Jews to pray for him and his family ( Ezra 6:10).
"Although Darius revered Ahuramazda especially, it is understandable that in a world of polytheism he would want to make sure that he was in the favor of every god in his empire." [1]
One wonders if stories about Daniel (ca605-536 B.C.), who served under Cyrus ( Daniel 6:28), might have had some influence on Darius. The Darius that the book of Daniel mentions, however, was Darius the Mede, not this Darius, who was a Persian.
". . . Darius [2] himself was a monotheist and an adherent of the new faith of Zoroastrianism, but it is not known whether this religious orientation had any effect on his policies this early in his reign." [3]
Impaling ( Ezra 6:11) was a common method of execution in the Persian Empire (cf. Esther 7:9-10), and Darius practiced it. After he subdued a rebellion in Babylon, Darius impaled3 ,000 rebels there. [4]
"Impalement was a well-known kind of punishment in the ancient Near East for grave offenses. One side [5] of a beam was sharpened and the other side planted in the ground. The sharp point was inserted under the chest of a person and pushed through his esophagus and lungs. He was then left to hang until he died." [6]
The king closed his decree by calling down Yahweh"s curse on anyone who might attempt to change it ( Ezra 6:12).
"Darius" curse on anyone who would destroy the temple was fulfilled in: (a) Antiochus Epiphanes, who desecrated it in167 B.C, and died insane three years later; (b) Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.), who added extensively to the temple to glorify himself, and who had domestic trouble and died of disease; and (c) the Romans , who destroyed the temple in A.D70 , and later had their empire destroyed." [7]