^{3 Ref} In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

^{4 Ref} with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house.