Daily Readings

The daily readings for the Eucharistic celebrations.

Fathers

The Fathers of the Church and their explanations of the readings of the day.

History

Historical books of the Old Testament

The Sunday Lectionary

Sermon and homily notes for Sundays

Video

Videos mostly from YouTube

Home » Daily Gospel, Daily Readings, History, Old Testament

King Darius and the Temple

Submitted by on Tuesday, 20 September 2011One Comment

kingdarius

Today’s Readings

  • Reading I:  Ezra 6:7-20 (passim)
  • Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122
  • Gospel Reading: Luke 8:19-21

Darius I and the Temple

After yesterday’s reading about the return of the exiles, we jump several some chapters to read about the decree of another Persian king to continue the work on the second Jerusalem Temple. Below is an outline of Ezra until this point

  • the Return
    • the decree of Cyrus the Great (1,1-11)
    • a census of the returning exiles (2,1-67)
    • the exiles in their dwellings in Jerusalem (2,68-70)
  • the Rebuilding of the Temple
    • restoration of the altar (3,1-6)
    • laying of the foundation (3,7-13)
    • interference of the Samaritans (4,1-23)
    • rebuilding of the Temple stopped (4,24)
  • the work of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (5,1-17)
  • the decree of Darius I
    • discovery of the memorandum of Cyrus I regarding the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem (6,1-5)
    • the command of Darius I to Tattenai the Governor (6,6-12)
    • the Temple rebuilt (6,13-18)
    • the Passover celebration (6,19-22)

The reading from Ezra picks up selections that highlight the decree of Darius I, mentioning the work of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, and the completion of the Temple in the month of Adar, sixth year of Darius.

Read more at AgustinongPinoy’s Bible Notes

King Darius of Persia (522-486 BC)

Darius (Greek form Dareios) is a classicized form of the Old Persian Darayaohumanah, Darayavahush or Darayavaush, which was the name of three kings of the Achaemenid Dynasty of Persia: Darius I (the Great), ruled 522-486 BCE, Darius II (Ochos), ruled 423-405/4 BCE, and Darius III (Kodomannos), ruled 336-330 BCE. In addition to these, the oldest son of Xerxes I was named Darius, but he was murdered before he ever came to the throne, and Darius, the son of Artaxerxes II, was executed for treason against his own father. [Source:Dusharm]

Darius I on the Web

The Family of Jesus

The whole section [including the Parable of the Seed] until this point has given emphasis on the Word. From Luke 8:11 until this section, there are five occurences of "word" (vv. 11,12,13,15,21]. In these occurrences "word" is always an object of the verbs "accept/receive" "hear" and "put (it) into practice" (v.21).

The account of Jesus’ mother and relatives wanting to see him is found also in Mark and Matthew. But in Luke, the reference to what the mother and brothers think of Jesus is omitted. Mark writes that these thought he was out of himself. Luke doesn’t include that detail here. The intent is to emphasize how the Lord looks at those who habitually (the verbs are in the present participle, akouontes and poiountes) listen and do his word.

More from the Bible Journal

Ezra 6:7-20
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
7And let that temple of God be built by the governor of the Jews, and by their ancients, that they may build that house of God in its place.
8I also have commanded what must be done by those ancients of the Jews, that the house of God may be built, to wit, that of the king's chest, that is, of the tribute that is paid out of the country beyond the river, the charges be diligently given to those men, lest the work be hindered.
9And if it shall be necessary, let calves also, and lambs, and kids, for holocausts to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the custom of the priests that are in Jerusalem, be given them day by day, that there be no complaint in any thing.
10And let them offer oblations to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his children.
11And I have made a decree: That if any whosoever, shall alter this commandment, a beam be taken from his house. and set up, and he be nailed upon it, and his house be confiscated.
12And may the God, that hath caused his name to dwell there, destroy all kingdoms, and the people that shall put out their hand to resist, and to destroy the house of God, that is in Jerusalem. I Darius have made the decree, which I will have diligently complied with.
13So then Thathanai, governor of the country beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and his counsellors diligently executed what Darius the king had commanded.
14And the ancients of the Jews built and prospered according to the prophecy of Aggeus the prophet, and of Zacharias the son of Addo: and they built and finished, by the commandment of the God of Israel, and by the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes kings of the Persians.
15And they were finishing this house of God, until the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius.
16And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of the house of God with joy.
17And they offered at the dedication of the house of God, a, hundred calves, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses over the works of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.
19And the children of Israel of the captivity kept the phase, on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20For all the priests and the Levites were purified as one man: all were clear to kill the phase for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and themselves.
Luke 8:19-21
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
19And his mother and brethren came unto him; and they could not come at him for the crowd.
20And it was told him: Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21Who answering, said to them: My mother and my brethren are they who hear the word of God, and do it.
Luke 8:11
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Popularity: 2% [?]

One Comment »

  • Daily Inspirations » Consider your ways! said:

    [...] Ezra 6:7-20 (passim) it was mentioned that due to the interference of the Samaritans, the rebuilding of the second [...]

    - 22 September 2011 at 12:03 am

Leave your response!

You must be logged in to post a comment.