Ezra 6:4
“With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.”
Certainly! Let’s do a Bible study on Ezra 6:4 from the King James Version (KJV).
First, let’s read the verse itself:
“With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.”
Ezra 6:4 is part of the Book of Ezra, which recounts the story of the Jewish people returning from exile in Babylon and rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. In this verse, we see a specific instruction given by King Darius of Persia, allowing the Jews to continue the rebuilding of the temple.
To understand the verse in context, let’s examine the surrounding verses and the historical background:
In Ezra chapter 5, we learn that the Jews faced opposition from their neighbors who sought to halt the construction of the temple. They wrote a letter to King Darius, informing him of the Jews’ activities and questioning their authority to rebuild. The king ordered a search to be conducted to verify the legitimacy of the Jewish claim.
In Ezra 6:1-3, we see that a scroll was found in the archives of Achmetha, which contained a decree issued by King Cyrus, the predecessor of Darius. The decree, written during the time of the Persian Empire’s conquest of Babylon, stated that the Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Upon discovering this decree, Darius confirmed its validity and issued his own decree to support and enforce it.
Now let’s focus on Ezra 6:4:
“With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.”
This verse provides specific instructions from King Darius regarding the temple construction. The phrase “with three rows of great stones” likely refers to the foundation or structure of the temple, indicating that it should be built with a solid and durable foundation. The phrase “a row of new timber” suggests the use of high-quality wood for the construction of the temple.
Additionally, the verse mentions that the expenses for the construction should be given out of the king’s house. This means that the financial resources required for the temple’s rebuilding were to be provided from the treasury of the Persian king, Darius. This provision served as both a financial assistance and an affirmation of the king’s support for the project.
Overall, Ezra 6:4 demonstrates the approval and support of King Darius for the rebuilding of the temple. It provides specific instructions regarding the materials and funding for the construction, ensuring that the temple would be built with excellence and in accordance with the initial decree of King Cyrus.
