The Decree of Darius and the Resumption of the Temple's Construction
After eighteen years of a construction ban, the archive scroll of Cyrus's decree is found and Darius orders the Temple completed at royal expense.
Cyrus's decree of 3390 had permitted return and rebuilding, but the work stalled almost at once. The Samaritans and officials of the province Beyond the River first offered to build jointly, and when refused, sent denunciation after denunciation to the capital. Under Ahasuerus the work was formally banned, and the foundation stood exposed for eighteen years.
In the second year of Darius the prophets Haggai and Zechariah confronted the people: 'Is it a time for you to dwell in your panelled houses while this House lies in ruins?' Their preaching moved Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, a descendant of David, and the High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak; building resumed without new authorization.
The governor Tattenai demanded an explanation and wrote to the court. In the archives of Ecbatana the original scroll of Cyrus's decree was found. Darius confirmed it and went further: he ordered the builders paid from the province's royal revenue, supplied with bulls, rams, wheat, wine and oil for the offerings, and threatened severe punishment for anyone who interfered. Four years later the House was finished—what began as the initiative of a handful of returnees was now backed by the power of an empire.
How we know
On the chronology
The traditional Seder Olam chronology of the Persian period differs from the accepted academic one by about 165 years. On this timeline the event may therefore fall earlier or later relative to parallel world events than it does in standard history books.
Sources
Tanakh
- Ezra 4–6 — the denunciations, the ban, the scroll found in the archive, and the decree of Darius
- Chaggai 1–2 — the word that roused the people to build
- Zechariah 4 — the vision of the menorah: “not by might nor by power”
Chazal: Mishnah, Talmud, midrash, Zohar
- Vayikra Rabbah 13:5 — Darius as Esther’s son: “fit on his mother’s side”
- Rosh Hashanah 3b — “Artachshasta” as a title rather than a name: reconciling the count
Rishonim
- Tosafot, Rosh Hashanah 3b — the same chronology discussed in Tosafot
Basis: accounts differ.
People and places
Esther · Mordecai · Shushan (Susa) · The Twelve Prophets · Esther · Ezra–Nehemiah · Purim · Haggai the Prophet · Zechariah son of Berechiah · Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel · Joshua son of Jehozadak