H9002–/וְ–v

The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side the river, sent to Darius the king.

וּשְׁתַ֤ר (וּ) u. “and”וּכְנָ֣וָתֵ֔הּ (וּ) u. “and”

They sent a report to him in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace!

וְכִדְנָה֙ (וְ) ve. “and”

Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work is being carried on with diligence, and prospers in their hand.

וְה֤וּא (וְ) ve. “and”וְאָ֖ע (וְ) ve. “and”וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא (וַ) va. “and”וּמַצְלַ֥ח (וּ) u. “and”

Then asked we those elders: thus we said to them, Who gave you orders to build this house and to complete this wall?

וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א (וְ) ve. “and”

We asked their names also, to inform thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

וְאַ֧ף (וְ) ve. “and”

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of the heavens and the earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago; and a great king of Israel built and completed it.

וּכְנֵ֥מָא (וּ) u. “and”וְאַרְעָ֗א (וְ) ve. “and”וּבָנַ֤יִן (וּ) u. “and”וּמֶ֤לֶךְ (וּ) u. “and”וְשַׁכְלְלֵֽהּ׃ (וְ) ve. “and”

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of the heavens to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people away unto Babylon.

וּבַיְתָ֤ה (וּ) u. “and”וְעַמָּ֖ה (וְ) ve. “and”

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was at Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did king Cyrus take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one Sheshbazzar by name, whom he had appointed governor.

וְ֠אַף (וְ֠) Ve. “and”וְכַסְפָּא֒ (וְ) ve. “and”וְהֵיבֵ֣ל (וְ) ve. “and”וִיהִ֙יבוּ֙ (וִ) vi. “and”

And he said to him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is at Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.

וַאֲמַר־ (וַ) va. “and”וּבֵ֥ית (וּ) u. “and”

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, [ergänzt: and] laid the foundation of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and since that time even until now has it been in building, and it is not completed.

וּמִן־ (וּ) u. “and”וְעַד־ (וְ) ve. “and”וְלָ֥א (וְ) ve. “and”

And now, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that orders were given by king Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

וּכְעַ֞ן (וּ) u. “and”וּרְע֥וּת (וּ) u. “and”

Then king Darius gave orders, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

וּבַקַּ֣רוּ׀ (וּ) u. “and”

And there was found at Achmetha in the fortress that is in the province of Media a roll, and therein was a record thus written:

וְהִשְׁתְּכַ֣ח (וְ) ve. “and”וְכֵן־ (וְ) ve. “and”

In the first year of king Cyrus, king Cyrus made a decree [ergänzt: concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem: Let the house be built for a place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be solidly laid; its height sixty cubits, its breadth sixty cubits,

וְאֻשּׁ֖וֹהִי (וְ) ve. “and”

[ergänzt: with] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:

וְנִדְבָּ֖ךְ (וְ) ve. “and”וְנִ֨פְקְתָ֔א (וְ) ve. “and”

and also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple that is at Jerusalem, in their place; and thou shalt put [ergänzt: them] in the house of God.

וְ֠אַף (וְ֠) Ve. “and”וְכַסְפָּא֒ (וְ) ve. “and”וְהֵיבֵ֣ל (וְ) ve. “and”וִ֠יהָךְ (וִ֠) Vi. “and”וְתַחֵ֖ת (וְ) ve. “so”

Therefore Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

וּכְנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן (וּ) u. “and”

let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.

וּלְשָׂבֵ֣י (וּ) u. “and”

Moreover, I give orders what ye shall do to these elders of the Jews, for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, of the tribute beyond the river, expenses be diligently given to these men, that they be not hindered.

וּמִנִּי֮ (וּ) u. “and”וּמִנִּכְסֵ֣י (וּ) u. “and”

And that which they have need of, both young bullocks and rams and lambs, for the burnt-offerings to the God of the heavens, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests that are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;

וּמָ֣ה (וּ) u. “and”וּבְנֵ֣י (וּ) u. “and”וְדִכְרִ֣ין (וְ) ve. “and”וְאִמְּרִ֣ין׀ (וְ) ve. “and”וּמְשַׁ֗ח (וּ) u. “and”

that they may present sweet odours to the God of the heavens, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.

וּמְצַלַּ֕יִן (וּ) u. “and”וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃ (וּ) u. “and”

Also I have given order that whosoever shall alter this rescript, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon, and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

וּמִנִּי֮ (וּ) u. “and”וּזְקִ֖יף (וּ) u. “and”וּבַיְתֵ֛הּ (וּ) u. “and”

And the God that has caused his name to dwell there overthrow every king and people that shall put forth their hand to alter [ergänzt: or] to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have given [ergänzt: this] order; let it be done diligently.

וֵֽאלָהָ֞א (וֵֽ) ve. “and”וְעַם֙ (וְ) ve. “and”

Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, because of that which king Darius had sent, did so diligently.

וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן (וּ) u. “and”

And the elders of the Jews built; and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and completed [ergänzt: it] according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

וְשָׂבֵ֤י (וְ) ve. “and”וּמַצְלְחִ֔ין (וּ) u. “and”וּזְכַרְיָ֖ה (וּ) u. “and”וּבְנ֣וֹ (וּ) u. “and”וְשַׁכְלִ֗לוּ (וְ) ve. “and”וּמִטְּעֵם֙ (וּ) u. “and”וְדָרְיָ֔וֶשׁ (וְ) ve. “and”וְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא (וְ) ve. “and”