# the first day of the seventh month

This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. The first day is near the middle of September on Western calendars. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]])

# the temple had not been founded

The Jews began the ceremonies of worship even before they started building the temple. AT: "they had not yet laid the foundation for the temple" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# as authorized for them by Cyrus, king of Persia

The letters sent by Cyrus gave the Jews permission to buy materials and build the temple.