ces
that had been accustomed of old time; I mean this upon the rebuilding of
their city, and the revival of the ancient practices relating to their
worship. Cyrus also sent back to them the vessels of God which king
Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged out of the temple, and had carried to
Babylon. So he committed these things to Mithridates, the treasurer, to
be sent away, with an order to give them to Sanabassar, that he might
keep them till the temple was built; and when it was finished, he might
deliver them to the priests and rulers of the multitude, in order to
their being restored to the temple. Cyrus also sent an epistle to the
governors that were in Syria, the contents whereof here follow:

"King Cyrus To Sisinnes And Sathrabuzanes Sendeth Greeting.

"I have given leave to as many of the Jews that dwell in my country as
please to return to their own country, and to rebuild their city, and
to build the temple of God at Jerusalem on the same place where it was
before. I have also sent my treasurer Mithridates, and Zorobabel, the
governor of the Jews, that they may lay the foundations of the temple,
and may build it sixty cubits high, and of the same latitude, making
three edifices of polished stones, and one of the wood of the country,
and the same order extends to the altar whereon they offer sacrifices to
God. I require also that the expenses for these things may be given
out of my revenues. Moreover, I have also sent the vessels which king
Nebuchadnezzar pillaged out of the temple, and have given them to
Mithridates the treasurer, and to Zorobabel the governor of the Jews,
that they may have them carried to Jerusalem, and may restore them to
the temple of God. Now their number is as follows: Fifty chargers of
gold, and five hundred of silver; forty Thericlean cups of gold, and
five hundred of silver; fifty basons of gold, and five hundred of
silver; thirty vessels for pouring [the drink-offerings], and three
hundred of silver; thirty vials of gold, and two thousand four hundred
of silver; with a thousand other large vessels. [3] I permit them to
have the same honor which they were used to have from their forefathers,
as also for their small cattle, and for wine and oil, two hundred and
five thousand and five hundred drachme; and for wheat flour, twenty
thousand and five hundred artabae; and I give order that these expenses
shall be given them out of the tributes due from Samaria. The priests
shall also offer these sac