And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
They celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, because the LORD had filled them with happiness and had changed the king of Assyria's heart toward them, so that he would support their work on God's house, the God of Israel.
The writer is celebrating how God brought joy to His people and even changed a foreign king's heart to help them rebuild the temple.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes the celebration after the Jewish exiles completed rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem around 516 BC. The 'king of Assyria' likely refers to the Persian king Darius I, who controlled the former Assyrian territories and had issued a decree supporting the temple reconstruction. This was part of God's promise to restore His people after their 70-year exile in Babylon.
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