H9002–/וְ–v

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

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

They sent a letter 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 Judea, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work proceedeth rapidly, and prospereth in their hands.

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

Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to erect these walls?

וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א (וְ) ve. “and”

We asked their names also, to certify 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 heaven and earth, and build the house that was erected these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up.

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 heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into 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 in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

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

And said to him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in 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, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

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

Now therefore, if it seemeth good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus the king 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 Darius the king made a decree, 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 palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and in it was a record thus written:

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

In the first year of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid; the hight of it sixty cubits, and the breadth of it sixty cubits;

וְאֻשּׁ֖וֹהִי (וְ) ve. “and”

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 which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place, and place 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”

Now 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 make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be 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 of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given to 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 offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

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

Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged upon it; 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 hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall attempt to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

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

Then Tatnai governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

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 finished 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”