wrote to them to build the temple； and committed the gifts and
vessels； and whatsoever Nebuchadnezzar had carried out of it； to
Zorobabel； and Mithridates the treasurer； and gave order to have
them carried to Jerusalem； and to have them restored to their own
temple； when it was built； for he had sent to them to have that
done speedily； and commanded Sanabassar to go up to Jerusalem；
and to take care of the building of the temple； who； upon
receiving that epistle from Cyrus； came； and immediately laid its
foundations； 〃and although it hath been in building from that
time to this； it hath not yet been finished； by reason of the
malignity of our enemies。 If therefore you have a mind； and think
it proper； write this account to Darius； that when he hath
consulted the records of the kings； he may find that we have told
you nothing that is false about this matter。〃
5。 When Zorobabel and the high priest had made this answer；
Sisinnes； and those that were with him； did not resolve to hinder
the building； until they had informed king Darius of all this。 So
they immediately wrote to him about these affairs； but as the
Jews were now under terror； and afraid lest the king should
change his resolutions as to the building of Jerusalem and of the
temple； there were two prophets at that time among them； Haggai
and Zechariah； who encouraged them； and bid them be of good
cheer； and to suspect no discouragement from the Persians； for
that God foretold this to them。 So； in dependence on those
prophets； they applied themselves earnestly to building； and did
not intermit one day。
6。 Now Darius； when the Samaritans had written to him； and in
their epistle had accused the Jews； how they fortified the city；
and built the temple more like to a citadel than to a temple； and
said； that their doings were not expedient for the king's
affairs； and besides； they showed the epistle of Cambyses；
wherein he forbade them to build the temple： and when Darius
thereby understood that the restoration of Jerusalem was not
expedient for his affairs； and when he had read the epistle that
was brought him from Sisinnes； and those that were with him； he
gave order that what concerned these matters should be sought for
among the royal records。 Whereupon a book was found at Ecbatana；
in the tower that was in Media； wherein was written as follows：
〃Cyrus the king； in the first year of his reign； commanded that
the temple should be built in Jerusalem； and the altar in height
threescore cubits； and its breadth of the same； with three
edifices of polished stone； and one edifice of stone of their own
country； and he ordained that the expenses of it should be paid
out of the king's revenue。 He also commanded that the vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged ＇out of the temple＇； and had
carried to Babylon； should be restored to the people of
Jerusalem； and that the care of these things should belong to
Sanabassar； the governor and president of Syria and Phoenicia；
and his associates； that they may not meddle with that place； but
may permit the servants of God； the Jews and their rulers； to
build the temple。 He also ordained that they should assist them
in the work； and that they should pay to the Jews； out of the
tribute of the country where they were governors； on account of
the sacrifices； bulls； and rams； and lambs； and kids of the
goats； and fine flour； and oil； and wine； and all other things
that the priests should suggest to them； and that they should
pray for the preservation of the king； and of the Persians； and
that for such as transgressed any of these orders thus sent to
them； he commanded that they should be caught； and hung upon a
cross； and their substance confiscated to the king's use。 He also
prayed to God against them； that if any one attempted to hinder
the building of the temple； God would strike him dead； and
thereby restrain his wickedness。〃
7。 When Darius had found this book among the records of Cyrus； he
wrote an answer to Sisinnes and his associates； whose contents
were these： 〃King Darius to Sisinnes the governor； and to
Sathrabuzanes； sendeth greeting。 Having found a copy of this
epistle among the records of Cyrus； I have sent it you； and I
will that all things be done as is therein written。 Fare ye
well。〃 So when Sisinnes； and those that were with him； understood
the intention of the king； they resolved to follow his directions
entirely for the time to come。 So they forwarded the sacred
works； and assisted the elders of the Jews； and the princes of
the Sanhedrim； and the structure of the temple was with great
diligence brought to a conclusion； by the prophecies of Haggai
and Zechariah； according to God's commands； and by the
injunctions of Cyrus and Darius the kings。 Now the temple was
built in seven years' time。 And in the ninth year of the reign of
Darius； on the twenty…third day of the twelfth month； which is by
us called Adar； but by the Macedonians Dystrus； the priests； and
Levites； and the other multitude of the Israelites； offered
sacrifices； as the renovation of their former prosperity after
their captivity； and because they had now the temple rebuilt； a
hundred bulls； two hundred rains； four hundred lambs； and twelve
kids of the goats； according to the number of their tribes； （for
so many are the tribes of the Israelites；） and this last for the
sins of every tribe。 The priests also and the Levites set the
porters at every gate； according to the laws of Moses。 The Jews
also built the cloisters of the inner temple that were round
about the temple itself。
8。 And as the feast of unleavened bread was at hand； in the first
month； which； according to the Macedonians； is called Xanthicus；
but according to us Nisan； all the people ran together out of the
villages to the city； and celebrated the festival； having
purified themselves； with their wives and children； according to
the law of their country； and they offered the sacrifice which
was called the Passover； on the fourteenth day of the same month；
and feasted seven days； and spared for no cost； but offered whole
burnt…offerings to God； and performed sacrifices of thanksgiving；
because God had led them again to the land of their fathers； and
to the laws thereto belonging； and had rendered the mind of the
king of Persia favorable to them。 So these men offered the
largest sacrifices on these accounts； and used great magnificence
in the worship of God； and dwelt in Jerusalem； and made use of a
form of government that was aristocratical； but mixed with an
oligarchy； for the high priests were at the head of their
affairs； until the posterity of the Asamoneans set up kingly
government； for before their captivity； and the dissolution of
their polity； they at first had kingly government from Saul and
David for five hundred and thirty…two years； six months； and ten
days； but before those kings； such rulers governed them as were
called judges and monarchs。 Under this form of government they
continued for more than five hundred years after the death of
Moses； and of Joshua their commander。 And this is the account I
had to give of the Jews who had been carried into captivity； but
were delivered from it in the times of Cyrus and Darius。
9。 （7） But the Samaritans； being evil and enviously disposed to
the Jews； wrought them many mischiefs； by reliance on their
riches； and by their pretense that they were allied to the
Persians； on account that thence they came； and whatsoever it was
that they were enjoined to pay the Jews by the king's order out
of their tributes for the sacrifices； they would not pay it。 They
had also the governors favorable to them； and assisting them for
that purpose； nor did they spare to hurt them； either by
themselves or by others； as far as they were able。 So the Jews
determined to send an embassage to king Darius； in favor of the
people of Jerusalem； and in order to accuse the Samaritans。 The
ambassadors were Zorobabel； and four others of the rulers； and as
soon as the king knew from the ambassadors the accusations and
complaints they brought against the Samaritans； he gave them an
epistle to be carried to the governors and council of Samaria；
the contents of which epistle were these： 〃King Darius to
Tanganas and Sambabas； the governors of the Sainaritans； to
Sadraces and Bobelo； and the rest of their fellow servants that
are in Samaria： Zorobabel； Ananias； and Mordecai； the ambassadors
of the Jews； complain of you； that you obstruct them in the
building of the temple； and do not supply them with the expenses
which I commanded you to do for the offering their sacrifices。 My
will therefore is this； That upon the reading of this epistle；
you supply them with whatsoever they want for their sacrifices；
and that out of the royal treasury； of the tributes of Samaria；
as the priest shall desire； that they may not leave off offering
their daily sacrifices； nor praying to God for me and the
Persians。〃 And these were the contents of that epistle。
CHAPTER 5。
How Xerxes The Son Of Darius Was Well Disposed To The Jews； As
Also Concerning Esdras And Nehemiah；
1。 Upon the death of Darius； Xerxes his son took the kingdom；
who； as he inherited his father's kingdom； so did he inherit his
piety towards God； and honor of him； for he did all things
suitably to his father relating to Divine worship； and he was
exceeding friendly to the Jews。 Now about this time a son of
Jeshua； whose name was Joacim； was the high priest。 Moreover；
there was now in Babylon a righteous man； and one that enjoyed a
great reputation among the multitude。 He was the principal priest
of the people； and his name was Esdras。 He was very skillful in
the laws of Moses； and was well acquainted with king Xerxes。 He
had determined to go up to Jerusalem； and to take with him some
of those Jews that were in Babylon； and he desired that the king
would give him an epistle to the governors of Syria； by which
they might know who he was。 Accordingly； the king wrote the
following epistle to those governors： 〃Xerxes； king of kings； to
Esdras the priest； and reader of the Divine law； greeting。 I
think it agreeable to that love which I bear to mankind； to
permit those of the Jewish nation that