But will God indeed dwell on the earth?*

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain you, much less this house which I have built. "<< 1 Kings 8:27 >>". _________________________________________________ Said Ezra 5-6; Restarts the reconstruction of the temple _________________________________________________ 5 The prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who watched over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak prepared to continue the rebuilding of the temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets were helping them. __________________________________________________ 3 At the same time, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Setar Bosnay and his companions, were presented to the Jews and asked them, "Who authorized them to rebuild this temple and restore its structure? '4 They added: [a] 'What do you call those who are rebuilding that building?' 5 But God was watching over the * Jewish leaders, not forced to stop work until he consulted Darius and respond in writing. _________________________________________________ 6 Then Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Setar Bosnay and his companions, who were government officials of that province, sent a letter to King Darius, 7 which said: _________________________________________________ When King Darius: Kind regards. _________________________________________________ 8 We inform Her Majesty that went into the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God, and saw that is being rebuilt with large stones, and their walls are coated with wood. The work is done with care and advancing rapidly. __________________________________________________ 9 For the leaders asked who had authorized them to rebuild this temple and restore its structure, 10 and how they are called direct the work, to communicate in writing to His Majesty. _________________________________________________ 11 They answered us: _________________________________________________ "We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built and completed long ago by a great king of Israel. 12 But as our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the Chaldean * destroyed this temple and took the people captive to Babylon. __________________________________________________ 13 "But later, in the first year of his reign, Cyrus king of Babylon, ordered the temple of God was rebuilt. 14 also made out of the temple of Babylon the vessels of gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of Babylon, and handed them to Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15 Ciro therefore Sheshbazzar ordered to take those tools and return to the temple in Jerusalem, and they will rebuild in the same place the temple of God. 16 Then Sheshbazzar came to Jerusalem and laid the foundations of the temple of God. Since then he has been working on its reconstruction, but has not yet been completed. " _________________________________________________ 17 Now if Your Majesty sees fit, ask for an investigation files where the history of the kings of Babylon, to see if it is true that King Cyrus ordered rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem. We also ask that you make known the decision of His Majesty regarding this matter. Decree of Darius __________________________________________________ 6 Then King Darius ordered the investigation in the archives where the treasures of Babylon. 2 And in the palace of Ecbatana in the province of Media, a scroll was found containing the following specification: _________________________________________________ 3 In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus issued the following edict concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: _________________________________________________ That will throw the foundation and rebuilt the temple, for which he offered burnt offerings. Will twenty-seven meters [b] both high wide, 4 three rows of great stones, and timber. All expenses will be borne by the royal treasury. 5 For the vessels of gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, to return them to Jerusalem, and to get in the temple of God, where they belong. _________________________________________________ 6 Then King Darius issued the following order [c] to Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Setar Bosnay and his companions, the officials of that province: _________________________________________________ Away from Jerusalem 7 and not hinder the work of rebuilding the temple of God. Let the governor of the province of Judah and the * Jewish leaders rebuild the temple in its former site. ________________________________________________ 8 And I have decided that you should provide assistance, covering the costs of rebuilding the temple with the taxes the province west of the Euphrates River pays the treasury. Do not take time to pay all costs, so they do not interrupt the work. 9 In addition, every day, without fail, will provide them calves, sheep and lambs to be offered in sacrifice to the God of heaven, along with wheat, salt, wine and oil, and all they need, according to the instructions of the priests who are in Jerusalem. 10 So they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. _________________________________________________ 11 I have given himself that, who disobeys this order, impale him on a beam taken from her own home, and that the house collapse. 12 May the God who dwell in Jerusalem decided to tear down any king or nation that attempts to modify this decree or to destroy this house of God! I Darius issued this decree. Publication and enforcement to the letter. Completion and dedication of the temple _________________________________________________ 13 Then Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Setar Bosnay and his companions met at exactly what King Darius had commanded. * 14 So the Jewish leaders were able to continue and complete the work of reconstruction, according to the word of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished therefore the reconstruction, as mandated by the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 15 The reconstruction of the temple was completed on day three of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius. __________________________________________________ 16 Then the Israelites-that is, the priests, the Levites and others who returned from captivity-jubilant dedicated the temple of God. 17 As an offering of devotion, offered to God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs and twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, for atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Then, according to what is written in the book of Moses, they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their duties, for worship offered to God in Jerusalem. Celebration of Easter _______________________________________________ 19 Those who returned from captivity kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 The priests and Levites were purified and bound to * as being ceremonially clean, they killed the Passover lamb for all who had returned from captivity, his fellow priests, and for themselves. 21 The Israelites who returned from captivity ate the Passover with those who had separated themselves from the impurity of their neighbors to follow the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 For seven days celebrated with great joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had returned the joy and made the king of Persia [d] and let's help rebuild the temple of the God of Israel. Footnotes: _______________________________________________    a. Ezra 5:4 added (probably reading; see LXX and Syriac), we said (TM).    b. Ezra 6:3 twenty-seven meters. * Lit sixty elbows.   c. Ezra 6:6 Then Darius the king made the following order. This phrase has been added to indicate the change of subject.   d. Ezra 6:22 King of Persia. Lit king of Assyria (one of the titles given to the Persian king).

Prophecy. Prophet: TERESA AQUINO.