them by Jeremiah the prophet； before the destruction of the city；
that after they had served Nebuchadnezzar and his posterity； and
after they had undergone that servitude seventy years； he would
restore them again to the land of their fathers； and they should
build their temple； and enjoy their ancient prosperity。 And these
things God did afford them； for he stirred up the mind of Cyrus；
and made him write this throughout all Asia： 〃Thus saith Cyrus
the king： Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be king of the
habitable earth； I believe that he is that God which the nation
of the Israelites worship； for indeed he foretold my name by the
prophets； and that I should build him a house at Jerusalem； in
the country of Judea。〃
2。 This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which Isaiah
left behind him of his prophecies； for this prophet said that God
had spoken thus to him in a secret vision： 〃My will is； that
Cyrus； whom I have appointed to be king over many and great
nations； send back my people to their own land； and build my
temple。〃 This was foretold by Isaiah one hundred and forty years
before the temple was demolished。 Accordingly； when Cyrus read
this； and admired the Divine power； an earnest desire and
ambition seized upon him to fulfill what was so written； so he
called for the most eminent Jews that were in Babylon； and said
to them； that he gave them leave to go back to their own country；
and to rebuild their city Jerusalem； （2） and the temple of God；
for that he would be their assistant； and that he would write to
the rulers and governors that were in the neighborhood of their
country of Judea； that they should contribute to them gold and
silver for the building of the temple； and besides that； beasts
for their sacrifices。
3。 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。 （3） 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。
CHAPTER 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。
1。 When the foundations of the temple were laying； and when the
Jews were very zealous about building it； the neighboring
nations； and especially the Cutheans； whom Shalmanezer； king of
Assyria； had brought out of Persia and Media； and had planted in
Samaria； when he carried the people of Israel captives； besought
the governors； and those that had the care of such affairs； that
they would interrupt the Jews； both in the rebuilding of their
city； and in the building of their temple。 Now as these men were
corrupted by them with money； they sold the Cutheans their
interest for rendering this building a slow and a careless work；
for Cyrus； who was busy about other wars； knew nothing of all
this； and it so happened； that when he had led his army against
the Massagetae； he ended his life。 （4） But when Cambyses； the son
of Cyrus； had taken the kingdom； the governors in Syria； and
Phoenicia； and in the countries of Amlnon； and Moab； and Samaria；
wrote an epistle to Calnbyses； whose contents were as follow： 〃To
our lord Cambyses。 We thy servants； Rathumus the historiographer；
and Semellius the scribe； and the rest that are thy judges in
Syria and Phoenicia； send greeting。 It is fit； O king； that thou
shouldst know that those Jews which were carried to Babylon are
come into our country； and are building that rebellious and
wicked city； and its market…places； and setting up its walls； and
raising up the temple； know therefore； that when these things are
finished； they will not be willing to pay tribute； nor will they
submit to thy commands； but will resist kings； and will choose
rather to rule over others than be ruled over themselves。 We
therefore thought it proper to write to thee； O king； while the
works about the temple are going on so fast； and not to overlook
this matter； that thou mayst search into the books of thy
fathers； for thou wilt find in them that the Jews have been
rebels； and enemies to kings； as hath their city been also；
which； for that reason； hath been till now laid waste。 We thought
proper also to inform thee of this matter； because thou mayst
otherwise perhaps be ignorant of it； that if this city be once
inhabited and be entirely encompassed with walls； thou wilt be
excluded from thy passage to Celesyria and Phoenicia。〃
2。 When Cambyses had read the epistle； being naturally wicked； he
was irritated at what they told him； and wrote back to them as
follows： 〃Cambyses the king； to Rathumus the historiographer； to
Beeltethmus； to Semellius the scribe； and the rest that are in
commission； and dwelling in Samaria and Phoenicia； after this
manner： I have read the epistle that was sent from you； and I
gave order that the books of my forefathers should be searched
into； and it is there found that this city hath always been an
enemy to kings； and its inhabitants have raised seditions and
wars。 We also are sensible that their kings have been powerful
and tyrannical； and have exacted tribute of Celesyria and
Phoenicia。 Wherefore I gave order； that the Jews shall not be
permitted to build that city； lest such mischief as they used to
bring upon kings be greatly augmented。〃 When this epistle was
read； Rathumus； and Semellius the scribe； and their associates；
got suddenly on horseback； and made haste to Jerusalem； they also
brought a great company with them； and forbade the Jews to build
the city and the temple。 Accordingly； these works were hindered
from going on till the second year of the reign of Darius； for
nine years more； for Cambyses reigned six years； and within that
time overthrew Egypt； and when he was come back； he died at
Damascus。
CHAPTER 3。
How After The Death Of Cambyses And The Slaughter Of The Magi But
Under The Reign Of Darius； Zorobabel Was Superior To The Rest 1n
The Solution Of Problems And Thereby Obtained This Favor Of The
King； That The Temple Should Be Built。
1。 After the slaughter of file Magi； who； upon the death of
Cambyses； attained the government of the Persians for a year；
those families which were called the seven families of the
Persians appointed Darius； the son of Hystaspes； to be their
king。 Now he； while he was a private man； had made a vow to God；
that if he came to be king； he would send all the vessels of God
that were in Babylon to the temple at Jerusalem。 Now it so fell
out； that about this time Zorobabel； who had been made governor
of the Jews that had been in captivity； came to Darius； from
Jerusalem； for there had been an old friendship between him and
the king。 He was also； with two others； thought worthy to be
guard of the king's body； and obtained that honor which he hoped
for。
2。 Now； in the first year of the king's reign； Darius feasted
those that were about him； and those born in his ho