1 esdras 7:5 - And thus was the house finished by the three and twentieth day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of king Darius.

Generated Verse: 1 esdras 7:5

What does "1 esdras 7:5" mean?


This verse, from 1 Esdras 7:5, is a historical statement noting the completion date of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:

"And thus was the house finished..." This refers to the completion of the rebuilding of the Second Temple. The "house" is a common biblical reference to the Temple.

"...by the three and twentieth day of the month Adar..." This specifies the date. Adar is the twelfth month in the Hebrew calendar, typically falling in February-March of the Gregorian calendar. The 23rd day of Adar marks the day the Temple was completed.

"...in the sixth year of king Darius." This provides the year. King Darius refers to Darius I (also known as Darius the Great), the Achaemenid king of Persia. The sixth year of his reign provides the specific year for the completion.

In essence, the verse states that the rebuilding of the Second Temple was completed on the 23rd day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius I.

Significance:

Historical Marker: This verse serves as a key historical marker for the rebuilding of the Second Temple. It provides a precise date for a significant event in Jewish history.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: The rebuilding of the Temple was prophesied by prophets like Haggai and Zechariah, so its completion was seen as a fulfillment of God's promises.
Restoration and Renewal: The completion of the Temple symbolized the restoration of Jewish religious life and the renewal of their covenant with God after the Babylonian exile.
Relationship with Persia: It also highlights the important role that the Persian Empire played in allowing the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their Temple.
Religious Importance: It shows the importance of the temple in the lives of the Israelites and its importance to their identity.

1 Esdras:

It's worth noting that 1 Esdras is considered an apocryphal book by many Christian denominations. It's included in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) and is accepted as canonical by the Eastern Orthodox Church. It essentially covers the same historical period as the canonical books of Ezra and Nehemiah, with some overlap and variations in detail. The parallel passage in the canonical book of Ezra is Ezra 6:15.

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