With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:
Build it with three layers of large stones and one layer of new timber, and let all the costs be paid from the king's treasury.
This verse describes King Cyrus's detailed instructions for rebuilding the temple, including specific construction materials and his promise to fund the entire project from his royal treasury.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of King Cyrus of Persia's original decree around 538 BC authorizing the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The decree was discovered in the royal archives when opponents of the rebuilding tried to stop the work by questioning its legitimacy. Cyrus's generous funding of the project reflected the Persian policy of supporting local religious practices to maintain stability in their vast empire.
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