712 Sacrifices: Welcome to the Second Temple
Ezra 6:15-17
It took twenty years, and two kings later for the Jerusalem Temple, verbally promised by King Cyrus, to go through the paperwork and be finally approved by King Darius.
Or that is at least the official version of the Book of Ezra. Scholars question the validity of this narrative though there is no doubt that at some point, and for various reasons - the second temple was granted permission to be rebuilt.
Today’s chapter describes how the original dikrona or memorandum of King Cyrus - with the order for the temple's construction, was found in the royal Persian summer palace archives.
With this proof in hand, the Persian authorities, despite Samaritan resistance, agreed to provide support. The building resumes. This chapter celebrates the completion of construction - the second temple is up. It’s not as big as the first one - but it is a big deal.
But by carefully reading the memorandum that is quoted in Aramaic - important differences emerge. When we follow the money trail - two different narratives emerge.
The original declaration that opens the Book of Ezra and gives it its purpose, calls upon the Jews ascending to the land to participate in building it with their own hands, while those remaining in the Persian mainland are asked to contribute financially to the Temple’s construction. The stated reason for the declaration is the command of the “God of Heaven”—impressive enough for the Persian king to obey.
In contrast, the written memorandum mentioned here contains a royal decree to build the Temple - stating that the funding will come from the king's treasury, and that even the sacrifices will be financed from that same source.
Which is it? A Jewish Temple dreamed, initiated, built by and for the Judean people or a shrine built with sponsorship of the Persian king—initiated and funded by him?
The truth may be somewhere in between, contain both versions, and others that we may never know. Either way, the construction of the Temple was a major political achievement, born of a shared interest with the Persian Empire and a vision of the Temple as part of a network of shrines where sacrifices would be offered for the king’s welfare and prayers said for his and the empire’s peace. It quickly became a symbol of national identity, a religious emblem in the absence of sovereignty and monarchy. If Haggai and Zecharia were the prophetic voices that motivated the people to commit to the temple’s construction as a sacred national symbol - King Darius wisely takes hold of the project, making sure that it is built and maintained thanks to his generosity- thereby eliminating the suggestion of independent sovereignty.
The official dedication was celebrated with ceremony and pomp, just in time for the celebration of Passover. Unlike the lavish chapter in the Book of Kings that describes the inauguration of Solomon’s temple - there are only three verses here, with little joy and a list of details. The temple is up, but there is no mention of ark or menorah, or even the divine presence. The temple is up because the king wants the local religious order to be maintained and the ongoing sacrificial prayers for the wellbeing of the kingdom to continue uninterrupted.
Four years after giving the green light, on the sixth year since he sat on the throne, King Darius is notified that this project is complete:
וְשֵׁיצִיא֙ בַּיְתָ֣ה דְנָ֔ה עַ֛ד י֥וֹם תְּלָתָ֖ה לִירַ֣ח אֲדָ֑ר דִּי־הִ֣יא שְׁנַת־שֵׁ֔ת לְמַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּֽא׃ וַעֲבַ֣דוּ בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל כָּהֲנַיָּ֨א וְלֵוָיֵ֜א וּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּנֵי־גָלוּתָ֗א חֲנֻכַּ֛ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דְנָ֖ה בְּחֶדְוָֽה׃ וְהַקְרִ֗בוּ לַחֲנֻכַּת֮ בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣א דְנָה֒ תּוֹרִ֣ין מְאָ֔ה דִּכְרִ֣ין מָאתַ֔יִן אִמְּרִ֖ין אַרְבַּ֣ע מְאָ֑ה וּצְפִירֵ֨י עִזִּ֜ין לְחַטָּאָ֤ה עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ תְּרֵֽי־עֲשַׂ֔ר לְמִנְיָ֖ן שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
The Temple was finished on the third of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
The Israelites, the priests, and the Levites, and all the other exiles celebrated the dedication of the House of God with joy.
And they sacrificed for the dedication of this House of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve goats as a purification offering for all of Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Ezra 6:15-17
712 animals are offered up on the newly dedicated altar.
But even with all the celebration, we can discern the cracks of dissent and the gaps between the official version presented here and what may have been the facts on the ground.
With mounting tensions between Judeans and Samaritans, as well as the other local ‘people of the land’ even this momentous milestone hints at discord.
Twelve ceremonial goats are offered up as sacrifices - for the twelve tribes of Israel, as was done in the first temple.
But where are the twelve tribes by this time? Only parts of three tribes are part of this national revival - Judah, Benjamin, and Levi.
The others - lost to the Assyrian empire, back in Babylon, or mingled with the people of the north - are not part of the story. Or are they? The official agenda lists the national number but reality is likely much more modest.
The temple is up, likely a modest construction, but the cracks in the social fabric are already beginning to show.
And that’s when the stage is set for this book’s namesake - coming next - Ezra arrives in Jerusalem.
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