23 So Darius the emperor ordered a search to be made in the royal records that were kept in Babylon. It was, however, in the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found, containing the following record:
24 “In the first year of his reign Cyrus the emperor ordered the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, where sacrifices are continually offered.
25 The Temple is to be 27 metres high and 27 metres wide. The walls must be built with one layer of new local wood on top of every three layers of shaped stone. All expenses are to be paid by the royal treasury.
26 Also the gold and silver utensils which King Nebuchadnezzar brought to Babylon from the Temple in Jerusalem are to be returned to their proper place in the Jerusalem Temple.”
27 Then Darius gave strict orders to Sisinnes, governor of Greater Syria and Phoenicia, Shethar Bozenai, their fellow-officials, and the local officials to stay away from Jerusalem and let Zerubbabel, the servant of the Lord and governor of Judah, and the other Jewish leaders rebuild the Temple of the Lord where it stood before.
28 “And I also command,” he continued, “that it be completely rebuilt and that, until it is finished, every effort be made to help the Jews who have returned from exile.
29 From the taxes received in Greater Syria and Phoenicia a contribution shall be made on a regular basis to these men, payable to Zerubbabel, the governor, for bulls, sheep, and lambs to be used in their sacrifices to the Lord.