WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.920 Emily: welcome to immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.020 --> 00:00:04.560 Day 300 and 49 00:00:05.025 --> 00:00:08.805 The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a 00:00:08.805 --> 00:00:11.205 temple to the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:00:11.955 --> 00:00:16.545 So they approached Abel and the other leaders and said, let us build with you, 00:00:16.875 --> 00:00:18.945 for we worship your God just as you do. 00:00:19.635 --> 00:00:21.465 We have sacrificed to him ever since. 00:00:21.465 --> 00:00:24.375 King Isar, Hadden of Assia brought us here. 00:00:25.395 --> 00:00:29.985 But Sable, JE and the other leaders of Israel replied, you 00:00:29.985 --> 00:00:31.755 may have no part in this work. 00:00:32.535 --> 00:00:36.135 We alone will build the temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:00:36.525 --> 00:00:41.565 Just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us, then the local residents tried to 00:00:41.565 --> 00:00:44.745 discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. 00:00:45.645 --> 00:00:49.095 They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. 00:00:49.385 --> 00:00:54.855 This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia, and lasted until 00:00:54.855 --> 00:00:57.345 King Arias of Persia took the throne. 00:00:59.010 --> 00:01:01.500 Years later, wind Xerxes began his reign. 00:01:01.980 --> 00:01:05.340 The enemies of Judah wrote a letter of accusation against the 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:07.080 people of Judah and Jerusalem. 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:13.380 Even later, during the reign of King Artis Xerxes of Persia, the enemies of Judah 00:01:13.440 --> 00:01:18.900 led by Bili myth, RDA and Tabul sent a letter to Artis Xerxes in the Aramaic 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:24.990 language, and it was translated for the King Reim, the governor, and Shishi, 00:01:24.990 --> 00:01:26.760 the court secretary wrote the letter. 00:01:27.330 --> 00:01:30.180 Telling King Art Es about the situation in Jerusalem. 00:01:31.110 --> 00:01:34.710 They greeted the king for all their colleagues, the judges and local 00:01:34.710 --> 00:01:39.240 leaders, the people of Taral, the Persians, the Babylonians, and 00:01:39.240 --> 00:01:41.130 the people of I, Iraq and Suse. 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:42.150 That is Elam. 00:01:42.590 --> 00:01:47.190 They also sent greetings from the rest of the people whom the great and Noble Asher 00:01:47.190 --> 00:01:51.690 Bpol had deported and relocated in Samaria and throughout the neighboring lands of 00:01:51.690 --> 00:01:53.550 the province, west of the Euphrates River. 00:01:54.420 --> 00:01:56.220 This is a copy of their letter. 00:01:57.660 --> 00:02:02.130 To King Artis Xes from your loyal subjects in the province west of 00:02:02.130 --> 00:02:06.150 the Euphrates River, the king should know that the Jews who came here to 00:02:06.150 --> 00:02:11.070 Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. 00:02:12.090 --> 00:02:16.850 They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls, and the 00:02:16.890 --> 00:02:20.700 king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:23.070 it will be much to your disadvantage. 00:02:23.655 --> 00:02:27.945 For the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute customs and tolls to you. 00:02:28.965 --> 00:02:32.445 Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king 00:02:32.445 --> 00:02:35.835 dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information. 00:02:36.915 --> 00:02:40.545 We suggest that a search be made in your ancestors' records, where 00:02:40.545 --> 00:02:43.965 you will discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past. 00:02:44.775 --> 00:02:48.645 In fact, it was destroyed because of its long and troublesome history 00:02:48.645 --> 00:02:51.465 of revolt against the kings and countries who controlled it. 00:02:52.545 --> 00:02:56.985 We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are 00:02:56.985 --> 00:03:01.395 completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you. 00:03:02.505 --> 00:03:07.845 Then King Artis iis sent this reply to re him the Governor Shishi, the 00:03:07.845 --> 00:03:11.415 court secretary and their colleagues living in Samaria and throughout the 00:03:11.415 --> 00:03:13.155 province, west of the Euphrates River. 00:03:13.905 --> 00:03:18.165 Greetings, the letter you sent has been translated and read to me. 00:03:18.975 --> 00:03:23.355 I ordered a search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been a 00:03:23.355 --> 00:03:25.815 hotbed of insurrection against many kings. 00:03:26.415 --> 00:03:29.325 In fact, rebellion and revolt are normal there. 00:03:30.165 --> 00:03:33.945 Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province 00:03:33.945 --> 00:03:38.325 west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs and tolls. 00:03:39.195 --> 00:03:44.685 Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work, that city must not 00:03:44.690 --> 00:03:47.715 be rebuilt, accepted my express command. 00:03:48.435 --> 00:03:52.515 Be diligent and don't neglect this matter for we must not permit the 00:03:52.515 --> 00:03:54.795 situation to harm the king's interests. 00:03:55.905 --> 00:03:59.865 When this letter from King Arteris was read to Reim Shishi and their 00:03:59.865 --> 00:04:02.025 colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. 00:04:02.655 --> 00:04:06.855 Then with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building. 00:04:08.985 --> 00:04:13.665 So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained 00:04:13.665 --> 00:04:17.655 at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Dar a Persia. 00:04:18.855 --> 00:04:23.145 At that time, the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, son of Ito, prophesied 00:04:23.145 --> 00:04:25.005 to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. 00:04:25.875 --> 00:04:29.445 They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 00:04:30.375 --> 00:04:36.765 Sable son of Alial and Je son of Jeh Dak responded by starting again 00:04:36.765 --> 00:04:40.965 to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem and the prophets of God 00:04:40.995 --> 00:04:42.825 were with them and helped them. 00:04:43.815 --> 00:04:47.235 But tatai governor of the province, west of the Euphrates River. 00:04:47.970 --> 00:04:52.200 And shear Bazani and their colleague soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, 00:04:53.070 --> 00:04:57.120 who gave you permission to rebuild this temple and restore this structure? 00:04:57.840 --> 00:05:02.580 They also asked for the names of all the men working on the temple, but because 00:05:02.585 --> 00:05:07.140 their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented 00:05:07.140 --> 00:05:11.820 from building until a report was sent to Darris and he returned his decision. 00:05:12.870 --> 00:05:17.250 This is a copy of the letter that Tatai the Governor, Shehar Bai, and the other 00:05:17.250 --> 00:05:21.150 officials of the province, west of the Euphrates River, sent to King Darras. 00:05:22.950 --> 00:05:23.700 To King Darras. 00:05:24.690 --> 00:05:28.560 Greetings, the king should know that we went to the construction 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:31.860 site of the temple of the Great God in the province of Judah. 00:05:32.340 --> 00:05:35.850 It is being rebuilt with specially prepared stones and timber 00:05:35.850 --> 00:05:37.320 is being laid in its walls. 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:41.250 The work is going forward with great energy and success. 00:05:42.135 --> 00:05:45.885 We asked the leaders who gave you permission to rebuild this temple 00:05:46.125 --> 00:05:49.755 and restore this structure, and we demanded their names so that we 00:05:49.755 --> 00:05:51.435 could tell you who the leaders were. 00:05:52.485 --> 00:05:53.715 This was their answer. 00:05:55.095 --> 00:05:59.505 We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the 00:05:59.505 --> 00:06:04.575 temple that was built here many years ago by a great king of Israel, but because our 00:06:04.575 --> 00:06:10.185 ancestors angered the God of heaven, he abandoned them to King ne ezr of Babylon. 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:13.830 Who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylonia. 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:19.590 However, king Cyrus of Babylon during the first year of his reign issued a decree 00:06:19.590 --> 00:06:22.050 that the temple of God should be rebuilt. 00:06:23.130 --> 00:06:27.120 King Cyrus returned the gold and silver cups that Nebat Kidnapper had taken 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:31.140 from the temple of God and Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of Babylon. 00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:37.200 These cups were taken from that temple and presented to a man named Shesh Baar, whom 00:06:37.200 --> 00:06:39.330 King Cyrus appointed as governor of Judah. 00:06:40.545 --> 00:06:43.995 The king instructed him to return the cops to their place in Jerusalem 00:06:44.445 --> 00:06:47.715 and to rebuild the temple of God there on its original site. 00:06:48.795 --> 00:06:52.155 So this Shesh Bazzar came and laid the foundations of the 00:06:52.155 --> 00:06:53.745 Temple of God in Jerusalem. 00:06:54.615 --> 00:06:56.805 The people have been working on it ever since. 00:06:57.285 --> 00:06:58.785 No, it has not yet completed. 00:06:59.655 --> 00:07:01.575 Therefore, it pleases the king. 00:07:02.295 --> 00:07:06.015 We request that a search be made in the Royal archives of Babylon. 00:07:06.465 --> 00:07:10.485 To discover whether King Cyrus ever issued a decree to rebuild God's temple 00:07:10.485 --> 00:07:15.075 in Jerusalem, and then let the king send us his decision in this matter. 00:07:16.455 --> 00:07:20.805 So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, 00:07:21.105 --> 00:07:26.175 which restored in the Treasury, but it was at the fortress of Ec, batna and the 00:07:26.175 --> 00:07:28.965 province of media that a scroll was found. 00:07:29.475 --> 00:07:32.745 This is what it said, memorandum. 00:07:33.570 --> 00:07:37.740 In the first year of King Cyrus's reign, a decree was sent out concerning 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:39.240 the temple of God at Jerusalem. 00:07:40.530 --> 00:07:44.820 Let the temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:47.010 using the original foundations. 00:07:47.760 --> 00:07:51.270 Its height will be 90 feet and its width will be 90 feet. 00:07:52.050 --> 00:07:54.840 Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be 00:07:54.840 --> 00:07:56.340 topped by a layer of timber. 00:07:57.030 --> 00:07:59.730 All expenses will be paid by the Royal Treasury. 00:08:00.420 --> 00:08:04.260 Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by 00:08:04.260 --> 00:08:09.150 ne Nesser from the temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:10.800 and put back where they belong. 00:08:11.820 --> 00:08:14.310 Let them be taken back to the temple of God. 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:21.480 So King Doris sent this message Now, therefore, tatai Governor of the province, 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:26.220 west of the Euphrates River and Shehar Bozana, and your colleagues and other 00:08:26.225 --> 00:08:28.170 officials west of the Euphrates River. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:30.000 Stay away from there. 00:08:30.900 --> 00:08:33.840 Do not disturb the construction of the temple of God. 00:08:34.800 --> 00:08:39.480 Let it be rebuilt on its original site and do not hinder the governor of Judah 00:08:39.660 --> 00:08:41.580 and the elders of the Jews in their work. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:46.470 Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews 00:08:46.470 --> 00:08:48.300 as they rebuild this temple of God. 00:08:49.050 --> 00:08:53.940 You must pay the full construction costs without delay from my taxes collected in 00:08:53.940 --> 00:08:58.050 the province, west of the Euphrates River, so that the work will not be interrupted. 00:08:59.160 --> 00:09:02.040 Give the priests in Jerusalem, whatever is needed in the way of 00:09:02.040 --> 00:09:06.930 young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to 00:09:06.935 --> 00:09:09.780 the God of heaven and without fail. 00:09:10.050 --> 00:09:15.540 Provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day. 00:09:16.170 --> 00:09:21.330 Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray 00:09:21.330 --> 00:09:23.430 for the welfare of the king and his sons. 00:09:24.525 --> 00:09:29.145 Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. 00:09:29.715 --> 00:09:33.735 Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it, and their house will 00:09:33.735 --> 00:09:35.655 be reduced to a pile of rubble. 00:09:36.615 --> 00:09:40.695 May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor his name 00:09:41.115 --> 00:09:46.335 destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this temple. 00:09:47.085 --> 00:09:49.665 I dars have issued this decree. 00:09:50.385 --> 00:09:52.335 Let it be obeyed with all diligence. 00:09:54.270 --> 00:09:58.340 Patai governor of the province, west of the Euphrates River and shear 00:09:58.345 --> 00:10:02.250 Boai, and their colleagues complied at once with the command of King Arias. 00:10:03.030 --> 00:10:06.840 So the Jewish elders continued their work and they were greatly encouraged 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:08.130 by the preaching of the prophets. 00:10:08.130 --> 00:10:10.440 Haggai and Zaria, son of Ito. 00:10:11.280 --> 00:10:15.720 The temple was finally finished as had been commanded by the God of 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:20.610 Israel and decreed by Cyrus Dars and Artis Xerxes, the kings of Persia. 00:10:21.810 --> 00:10:25.140 The temple was completed on March 12th during the sixth 00:10:25.140 --> 00:10:27.060 year of King Darion's reign. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:32.610 The temple of God was then dedicated with great joy by the people of Israel, 00:10:33.090 --> 00:10:36.810 the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the people who had returned from 00:10:36.815 --> 00:10:44.280 exile during the dedication ceremony for the Temple of God, 100 young Bulls, 200 00:10:44.280 --> 00:10:47.970 rams, and 400 male lambs were sacrificed. 00:10:48.780 --> 00:10:53.760 And 12 male goats were presented as a sin offering for the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:59.580 Then the priests and Levites were divided into their various divisions to serve 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:01.380 at the temple of God in Jerusalem. 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:04.200 As prescribed in the Book of Moses. 00:11:05.670 --> 00:11:09.480 On April 21st, the returned exile celebrated Passover. 00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:15.240 The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. 00:11:16.215 --> 00:11:20.115 They slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles for their 00:11:20.115 --> 00:11:22.185 fellow priests and for themselves. 00:11:23.325 --> 00:11:27.135 The Passover meal was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile 00:11:27.495 --> 00:11:31.575 and by the others in the land who had turned from their corrupt practices to 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:34.425 worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:11:35.165 --> 00:11:39.585 Then they celebrated the festival of unleavened bread for seven days. 00:11:40.545 --> 00:11:43.965 There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the 00:11:43.965 --> 00:11:48.165 King of Assyria to be favorable to them so that he helped them to rebuild 00:11:48.165 --> 00:11:50.685 the Temple of God, the God of Israel.