Cyrus, the king who sent the Jews back to Jerusalem has died and now the Jews are being questioned as to what they are doing. Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" They also asked, "What are the names of the men constructing this building?" But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received. - Ezra 5:3-5 NIV
When the request reached Darius, he had the archives searched, and there was the Decree from Cyrus. Included in the decree were these words. Furthermore, I decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. - Ezra 6:11-12 NIV
Harsh words from a king who was not a Jew. But Darius had observed the power of the Israelites God and he was not the only one to do so. Years later, when Ezra and Nehemiah went to Jerusalem with the blessing of another king, Artaxerxes, the following words were in Artaxerxes decree: Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and of his sons? - Ezra 7:23 NIV
Artaxerxes decree earned this response from Ezra. Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way. - Ezra 7:27 NIV
The eye of God had been watching over his people from the very beginning. It was obvious to anyone who had the eyes to see it. It was obvious to the kings of Persia. It was obvious to Ezra.
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