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CHAPTER 4。
How The Temple Was Built While The Cutheans Endeavored In Vain To
Obstruct The Work。
1。 Now in the seventh month after they were departed out of
Babylon； both Jeshua the high priest； and Zorobabel the governor；
sent messengers every way round about； and gathered those that
were in the country together to Jerusalem universally； who came
very gladly thither。 He then built the altar on the same place it
had formerly been built； that they might offer the appointed
sacrifices upon it to God； according to the laws of Moses。 But
while they did this； they did not please the neighboring nations；
who all of them bare an ill…will to them。 They also celebrated
the feast of tabernacles at that time； as the legislator had
ordained concerning it； and after they offered sacrifices； and
what were called the daily sacrifices； and the oblations proper
for the Sabbaths； and for all the holy festivals。 Those also that
had made vows performed them； and offered their sacrifices from
the first day of the seventh month。 They also began to build the
temple； and gave a great deal of money to the masons and to the
carpenters； and what was necessary for the maintenance of the
workmen。 The Sidonians also were very willing and ready to bring
the cedar trees from Libanus； to bind them together； and to make
a united float of them； and to bring them to the port of Joppa；
for that was what Cyrus had commanded at first； and what was now
done at the command of Darius。
2。 In the second year of their coming to Jerusalem； as the Jews
were there in the second month； the building of the temple went
on apace； and when they had laid its foundations on the first day
of the second month of that second year； they set； as overseers
of the work； such Levites as were full twenty years old； and
Jeshua and his sons and brethren； and Codmiel the brother of
Judas； the son of Aminadab； with his sons； and the temple； by the
great diligence of those that had the care of it； was finished
sooner than any one would have expected。 And when the temple was
finished； the priests； adorned with their accustomed garments；
stood with their trumpets； while the Levites； and the sons of
Asaph； stood and sung hymns to God； according as David first of
all appointed them to bless God。 Now the priests and Levites； and
the elder part of the families； recollecting with themselves how
much greater and more sumptuous the old temple had been； seeing
that now made how much inferior it was； on account of their
poverty； to that which had been built of old； considered with
themselves how much their happy state was sunk below what it had
been of old； as well as their temple。 Hereupon they were
disconsolate； and not able to contain their grief； and proceeded
so far as to lament and shed tears on those accounts； but the
people in general were contented with their present condition；
and because they were allowed to build them a temple； they
desired no more； and neither regarded nor remembered； nor indeed
at all tormented themselves with the comparison of that and the
former temple； as if this were below their expectations； but the
wailing of the old men and of the priests； on account of the
deficiency of this temple； in their opinion； if compared with
that which had been demolished； overcame the sounds of the
trumpets and the rejoicing of the people。
3。 But when the Samaritans； who were still enemies to the tribes
of Judah and Benjamin； heard the sound of the trumpets； they came
running together； and desired to know what was the occasion of
this tumult； and when they perceived that it was from the Jews；
who had been carried captive to Babylon； and were rebuilding
their temple； they came to Zorobabel and to Jeshua； and to the
heads of the families； and desired that they would give them
leave to build the temple with them； and to be partners with them
in building it； for they said； 〃We worship their God； and
especially pray to him； and are desirous of their religious
settlement； and this ever since Shalmanezer； the king of Assyria；
transplanted us out of Cuthah and Media to this place。〃 When they
said thus； Zorobabel and Jeshua the high priest； and the heads of
the families of the Israelites； replied to them； that it was
impossible for them to permit them to be their partners； whilst
they ＇only＇ had been appointed to build that temple at first by
Cyrus； and now by Darius； although it was indeed lawful for them
to come and worship there if they pleased； and that they could
allow them nothing but that in common with them； which was common
to them with all other men； to come to their temple and worship
God there。
4。 When the Cuthearts heard this； for the Samaritans have that
appellation； they had indignation at it； and persuaded the
nations of Syria to desire of the governors； in the same manner
as they had done formerly in the days of Cyrus； and again in the
days of Cambyses afterwards； to put a stop to the building of the
temple； and to endeavor to delay and protract the Jews in their
zeal about it。 Now at this time Sisinnes； the governor of Syria
and Phoenicia； and Sathrabuzanes； with certain others； came up to
Jerusalem； and asked the rulers of the Jews； by。 whose grant it
was that they built the temple in this manner； since it was more
like to a citadel than a temple？ and for what reason it was that
they built cloisters and walls； and those strong ones too； about
the city？ To which Zorobabel and Jeshua the high priest replied；
that they were the servants of God Almighty； that this temple was
built for him by a king of theirs； that lived in great
prosperity； and one that exceeded all men in virtue； and that it
continued a long time； but that because of their fathers' impiety
towards God； Nebuchadnezzar； king of the Babylonians and of the
Chaldeans； took their city by force； and destroyed it； and
pillaged the temple； and burnt it down； and transplanted the
people whom he had made captives； and removed them to Babylon；
that Cyrus； who； after him； was king of Babylonia and Persia；
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