Darius Decrees That Anyone Who Hinders the Temple Work Will Be Impaled on a Beam from His Own House

When the governors and officials challenge the returned exiles' right to rebuild, the community appeals to Darius. He finds Cyrus's original decree in the archives and issues a new one — not just reaffirming the right to build, but commanding that the regional governor fund the rebuilding entirely from the royal treasury. Then the threat: '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.' The enemies of Israel's rebuilding are now building its temple whether they want to or not.