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[8]
When Cyrus had said this to the Israelites, the rulers of the two
tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with the Levites and priests, went in haste
to Jerusalem; yet did many of them stay at Babylon, as not willing to leave
their possessions; and when they were come thither, all the king's friends
assisted them, and brought in, for the building of the temple, some gold,
and some silver, and some a great many cattle and horses. So they performed
their vows to God, and offered the sacrifices that had been accustomed
of old time; I mean this upon the rebuilding of their city, and the revival
of the ancient practices relating to their worship. Cyrus also sent back
to them the vessels of God which king Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged out of
the temple, and had carried to Babylon. So he committed these things to
Mithridates, the treasurer, to be sent away, with an order to give them
to Sanabassar, that he might keep them till the temple was built; and when
it was finished, he might deliver them to the priests and rulers of the
multitude, in order to their being restored to the temple. Cyrus also sent
an epistle to the governors that were in Syria, the contents whereof here
follow:
“KING CYRUS TO SISINNES AND SATHRABUZANES SENDETH GREETING.
"I have given leave to as many of the Jews that dwell in my country
as please to return to their own country, and to rebuild their city, and
to build the temple of God at Jerusalem on the same place where it was
before. I have also sent my treasurer Mithridates, and Zorobabel, the governor
of the Jews, that they may lay the foundations of the temple, and may build
it sixty cubits high, and of the same latitude, making three edifices of
polished stones, and one of the wood of the country, and the same order
extends to the altar whereon they offer sacrifices to God. I require also
that the expenses for these things may be given out of my revenues. Moreover,
I have also sent the vessels which king Nebuchadnezzar pillaged out of
the temple, and have given them to Mithridates the treasurer, and to Zorobabel
the governor of the Jews, that they may have them carried to Jerusalem,
and may restore them to the temple of God. Now their number is as follows:
Fifty chargers of gold, and five hundred of silver; forty Thericlean cups
of gold, and five hundred of silver; fifty basons of gold, and five hundred
of silver; thirty vessels for pouring [the drink-offerings], and three
hundred of silver; thirty vials of gold, and two thousand four hundred
of silver; with a thousand other large vessels. 1
I permit them to have the same honor which they were used to have from
their forefathers, as also for their small cattle, and for wine and oil,
two hundred and five thousand and five hundred drachme; and for wheat flour,
twenty thousand and five hundred artabae; and I give order that these expenses
shall be given them out of the tributes due from Samaria. The priests shall
also offer these sacrifices according to the laws of Moses in Jerusalem;
and when they offer them, they shall pray to God for the preservation of
the king and of his family, that the kingdom of Persia may continue. But
my will is, that those who disobey these injunctions, and make them void,
shall be hung upon a cross, and their substance brought into the king's
treasury."”
And such was the import of this epistle. Now the number
of those that came out of captivity to Jerusalem, were forty-two thousand
four hundred and sixty-two.
2
1 Of the true number of golden and silver vessels here and elsewhere belonging to the temple of Solomon, see the description of the temples, chap. 13.
2 HOW UPON THE DEATH OF CYRUS THE JEWS WERE HINDERED IN BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE BY THE CUTHEANS, AND THE NEIGHBORING GOVERNORS; AND HOW CAMBYSES ENTIRELY FORBADE THE JEWS TO DO ANY SUCH THING.
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