Ezra 6:13-18--The Temple Finished and Dedicated

Ezra 6:13-18
English Standard Version

The Temple Finished and Dedicated
13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; 15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

​16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.

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Oh, how the tables have turned!  The ones that sent the letter to Darius to try to get the Jews in trouble are now following Darius's orders to make provision for everything that the Jews needed to make their regular offerings, and it was all to be paid out of the treasuries of the province Beyond the River.  The LORD then sent His prophets to encourage the leaders and the Jewish people at large--prophets like Hagai and Zechariah, the son of Iddo (one of the earlier prophets who had given both encouragement and warning to the kings of Judah).

They finished building the Temple as God had decreed (notice that credit is first given to the LORD and then to King Cyrus, King Darius, and King Artaxerxes after this).  The temple was finished in the sixth year of King Darius in the month of Adar (the sixth month of the year, and since the first month is the month of Passover in the Spring, this would put its completion sometime in the Fall close to the time of the Fall feasts and holy days).

The people gathered together and celebrated the dedication of the Temple, much like they had done when Solomon's Temple was built.  It is assumed, but not stated that all the animals that were sacrificed that day for the dedication were provided by the governor of the province Beyond the River and his associates in compliance with the order of King Darius.  As with the dedication of the first Temple, this was also a time to dedicate the priests and Levites to the ministry that the LORD had called them to, and they were split into their divisions and orders and given their work assignments and their schedule for when they were to serve at the Temple in Jerusalem.  Everything was done according to the Law as given through Moses, and following the pattern given to them by David and Solomon of how the LORD wanted the priests and Levites to serve given the permanent location of the Temple.