Ezra 6:22
And kept the feast of vnleauened bread seuen dayes, with ioy: for the Lord had made them ioyfull, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria vnto them, to strengthen their handes in the worke of the house of God, the God of Israel. Ezra 6:22 (KJV)
The Book of Ezra records the period after the Babylonian exile when the Jewish people, under the decree of King Cyrus of Persia, returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Ezra 6 describes the completion of that reconstruction and the dedication ceremony that followed. Central to the celebration was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a seven‑day festival that commemorated the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land. The observance required the removal of leaven from homes and the consumption of unleavened bread throughout the period.
With the temple finished, the community observed the feast for seven days with great joy. The verse attributes this joy to the LORD, who “made them joyful,” and notes that He turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward the people, strengthening their hands in the work of the house of God. This divine intervention ensured that the rebuilding effort proceeded without major hindrance and that the people received favor from the ruling authority.
Historical records also show that Persian rulers such as Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes provided official support for the temple project, a fact reflected in the broader biblical narrative. Their assistance helped secure the resources and protection needed for the work, reinforcing the verse’s theme of divine and royal backing.
The passage concludes by emphasizing that the house being built was dedicated to the God of Israel, underscoring the purpose of the people’s labor and the centrality of worship. Ezra 6:22 thus highlights the completion of the temple, the joyous celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the combined divine and political support that enabled the Jewish community to honor the God of Israel through their restored place of worship.
