CHAPTER 5
Later, the prophets
Haggai
and Zechariah
son
of Iddo
prophesied
to
the Jews
in Judah
and Jerusalem
in the name
of the God
of Israel,
who was over them.
Then
Zerubbabel
son
of Shealtiel
and Jeshua
son
of Jozadak
rose up
and began
to rebuild
the house
of God
in Jerusalem.
And the prophets
of
God
were with them,
helping them.
At that time
Tattenai
the governor
of the region west
of the Euphrates,
Shethar-bozenai,
and their associates
went
to
the Jews and asked,
“Who
authorized you
to rebuild
this
temple
and restore
this
structure?”
But the eye
of their God
was
on
the elders
of the Jews,
so that they were not
stopped
until
a report
was sent
to Darius
and
written instructions
about
this matter
were returned.
This is the text
of the letter
that
Tattenai
the governor
of the region west
of the Euphrates,
Shethar-bozenai,
and their associates,
the officials
in the region,
sent
to
King
Darius.
Let it be
known
to the king
that
we went
into the province
of Judah,
to the house
of the great
God.
The people
are rebuilding it
with large stones,
and placing
timbers
in the walls.
This
work
is being carried out
diligently
and is prospering
in their hands.
So
we questioned
the
elders
and asked,
“Who
authorized you
to rebuild
this
temple
and restore
this
structure?”
We also
asked for
their names,
so that
we could write down
the names
of their leaders
for your information.
And this
is the answer
they returned:
“We
are
servants
of the God
of heaven
and earth,
and we are rebuilding
the temple
that
was
built
many
years
ago,
which a great
king
of Israel
built
and completed.
But
since
our fathers
angered
the God
of heaven,
He handed them
over to
Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon,
the Chaldean
who destroyed
this
temple
and carried away
the people
to Babylon.
He also
removed
from
the temple
of
Babylon
the gold
and silver
articles
belonging to
the house
of God,
which
Nebuchadnezzar
had taken
and carried
there
from
the temple
in Jerusalem.
King
Cyrus
gave these articles
to a man named
Sheshbazzar,
whom he appointed
governor
and instructed,
‘Take
these
articles,
put
them
in the temple
in Jerusalem,
and let the house
of God
be rebuilt
on
its original site.’
So
this
Sheshbazzar
came
and laid
the foundation
of
the house
of God
in Jerusalem,
and from
that time
until
now
it has been under construction,
but is not
yet completed.”
Now, therefore,
if
it pleases
the king,
let a search be made
of the royal
archives
in Babylon
to see if
King
Cyrus
did indeed
issue
a decree
to rebuild
the
house
of God
in Jerusalem.
Then let the king
send
us
his decision
in
this matter.