Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
I have also made a law that if anyone changes this command, a wooden beam should be torn from his house, set up as a gallows, and he should be hanged on it. Then his house should be turned into a pile of garbage.
King Darius is declaring that anyone who disobeys his decree about rebuilding the temple will face severe punishment, including death and the destruction of their property.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Ezra, this verse is part of a decree issued by King Darius of Persia during the period when the Jewish people were rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon. This decree reaffirmed earlier orders from King Cyrus and imposed severe penalties to prevent any interference, reflecting the political support for religious restoration in a time of imperial oversight. It highlights the ancient world's blend of royal authority and divine purposes in maintaining God's house.
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