Ezra 6:7 is a direct command from King Darius of Persia to those who were hindering the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down what it means:
"Leave the work of this house of God alone...": This is an order to cease any interference with the temple construction. It's a clear message that the people trying to stop the rebuilding effort should stop their actions immediately.
"...let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews...": This identifies Zerubbabel (the governor appointed by the Persian empire) and the Jewish elders as the legitimate leaders in charge of the temple project. It acknowledges their authority and right to oversee the rebuilding.
"...build this house of God in its place.": This reinforces the legitimacy of the rebuilding effort. It explicitly authorizes Zerubbabel and the elders to rebuild the temple on its original site. "In its place" suggests that the intent was to reconstruct the temple as it had been before its destruction.
In essence, the verse is a royal decree of non-interference and support for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. King Darius is commanding that the Jewish leaders be allowed to carry out the work without obstruction.
This verse is significant because it demonstrates the Persian Empire's policy of allowing conquered peoples to practice their own religions and rebuild their places of worship. Darius was continuing the policy started by Cyrus the Great, who initially allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. This also shows a respect for the religious beliefs of the Jews.
This verse also highlights the role of leadership. Zerubbabel and the elders were entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the rebuilding. Their leadership was crucial in ensuring that the temple was rebuilt according to God's plan and the desires of the Jewish people.
Ezra 6:7 is a direct command from King Darius of Persia to those who were hindering the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down what it means:
"Leave the work of this house of God alone...": This is an order to cease any interference with the temple construction. It's a clear message that the people trying to stop the rebuilding effort should stop their actions immediately.
"...let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews...": This identifies Zerubbabel (the governor appointed by the Persian empire) and the Jewish elders as the legitimate leaders in charge of the temple project. It acknowledges their authority and right to oversee the rebuilding.
"...build this house of God in its place.": This reinforces the legitimacy of the rebuilding effort. It explicitly authorizes Zerubbabel and the elders to rebuild the temple on its original site. "In its place" suggests that the intent was to reconstruct the temple as it had been before its destruction.
In essence, the verse is a royal decree of non-interference and support for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. King Darius is commanding that the Jewish leaders be allowed to carry out the work without obstruction.
This verse is significant because it demonstrates the Persian Empire's policy of allowing conquered peoples to practice their own religions and rebuild their places of worship. Darius was continuing the policy started by Cyrus the Great, who initially allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. This also shows a respect for the religious beliefs of the Jews.
This verse also highlights the role of leadership. Zerubbabel and the elders were entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the rebuilding. Their leadership was crucial in ensuring that the temple was rebuilt according to God's plan and the desires of the Jewish people.