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
This is part of King Darius's decree supporting the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem around 520-515 BC. The Persian king was responding to opposition against the Jewish rebuilding project and wanted to ensure his royal command would be obeyed without interference. Such harsh penalties were typical of ancient Near Eastern royal decrees to demonstrate the absolute authority of the king.
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