Chapter 6

Darius orders a search of the archives.  In Ecbatana, the citadel in the province of Media, they find a scroll paraphrasing Cyrus' order that the temple not only be rebuilt, but that the cost be paid from the royal treasury.  This order from Cyrus is very lengthy  and very specific.  So the "current" governor of the Province Beyond the River, Tattenai, receives orders from Darius to not only begin financing and aiding in every way the rebuilding and use of this temple, but he tells what the penalty will be on anyone who refuses to obey his orders.  This verse struck me:

10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. [Ezr 6:10 ESV]

This is one of the reasons that Darius, King of Persia, wanted the temple rebuilt.  So the Jews could pray for he and his sons!  He asked them to pray for him!

With this edict, progress was made and the Temple was finished on the 3rd of Adar, the sixth year of the reign of Darius.  Per MSB, this was the twelfth month of 516 BC.

All Israel - those who had returned, those still there - celebrated the completion of this temple with sacrifices.  They also set up the priestly offices and orders again, "...as it is written in the Book of Moses."  So they must still have had a preserved copy of the Pentateuch.

2024 - This:

17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. [Ezr 6:17 ESV].  This is how far they have fallen.  12 goats for the sin offering.  Here is the offering when the first temple was completed:

63 Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. [1Ki 8:63 ESV]. 

Great nations going against God are not great for very long.

Next, they kept the Passover.  Interesting that in this case, they didn't wait until time for the Passover to dedicate the temple.