Ezra 5

Temple Rebuilding Resumes

(Haggai 1:1–11)

1Later, the prophetsH5029 HaggaiH2292 and ZechariahH2148 sonH1247 of IddoH5714 prophesiedH5013 toH5922 the JewsH3062 in JudahH3061 and JerusalemH3390 in the nameH8036 of the GodH426 of IsraelH3479, who was over themH5922. 2ThenH116 ZerubbabelH2217 sonH1247 of ShealtielH7598 and JeshuaH3443 sonH1247 of JozadakH31361 rose upH6966 and beganH8271 to rebuildH1124 the houseH1005 of GodH426 in JerusalemH3390. And the prophetsH5029H1768 ofH1768 GodH426 were with themH5974, helpingH5583 them.

3At that timeH2166 TattenaiH8674 the governorH6347 of the region westH5675 of the EuphratesH5103,2 Shethar-bozenaiH8370, and their associatesH3675H3652 wentH858 toH5922 the Jews and askedH560, “WhoH4479 authorized youH7761 to rebuildH1124 thisH1836 templeH1005 and restoreH3635 thisH1836 structureH846?”

4They alsoH116H3660 askedH560,3 “WhatH4479 areH581 the namesH8036 of the menH1400 whoH1768 are constructingH1124 thisH1836 buildingH1147?”

5But the eyeH5870 of their GodH426 wasH1934 onH5922 the eldersH7868 of the JewsH3062, so that they were notH3809 stoppedH989 untilH5705 a reportH2941 was sentH1946 to DariusH1868 andH116 written instructionsH5407 aboutH5922 this matterH1836 were returnedH8421.

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

6This is the textH6573 of the letterH104 thatH1768 TattenaiH8674 the governorH6347 of the region westH5675 of the EuphratesH5103, Shethar-bozenaiH8370, and their associatesH3675, the officialsH671H1768 in the regionH5675H5103, sentH7972 toH5922 KingH4430 DariusH1868. 7The reportH6600 they sentH7972 himH5922 read as followsH3790H1459H1836:

To KingH4430 DariusH1868:

AllH3606 peaceH8001.

8Let it beH1934 knownH3046 to the kingH4430 thatH1768 we wentH236 into the provinceH4083 of JudahH3061, to the houseH1005 of the greatH7229 GodH426. The people are rebuilding itH1124 with large stonesH69H1560 and placingH7761 timbersH636 in the wallsH3797. ThisH1791 workH5673 is being carried outH5648 diligentlyH629 and is prosperingH6744 in their handsH3028.

9SoH116 we questionedH7593 theH479H3660 eldersH7868 and askedH560, “WhoH4479 authorizedH7761H2942 you to rebuildH1124 thisH1836 templeH1005 and restoreH3635 thisH1836 structureH846?”

10We alsoH638 asked forH7593 their namesH8036, so thatH1768 we could write downH3790 the namesH8036 of their leadersH1400H1768H72174 for your informationH3046.

11And thisH3660 is the answerH6600 they returnedH8421H560:

“WeH586 areH1994 servantsH5649 of the GodH426 of heavenH8065 and earthH772, and we are rebuildingH1124 the templeH1005 thatH1768 wasH1934 builtH1124 manyH7690 yearsH8140 agoH6928H1836, which a greatH7229 kingH4430 of IsraelH3479 builtH1124 and completedH3635. 12ButH3861 sinceH4481H1768 our fathersH2 angeredH7265 the GodH426 of heavenH8065, He deliveredH3052 themH1994 into the handH3028 of NebuchadnezzarH5020 kingH4430 of BabylonH895, the ChaldeanH3679 who destroyedH5642 thisH1836 templeH1005 and carried awayH1541 the peopleH5972 to BabylonH895.

13In the firstH2298 yearH8140 of his reign, howeverH1297, CyrusH3567 kingH4430 ofH1768 BabylonH895 issuedH7761 a decreeH2942 to rebuildH1124 thisH1836 houseH1005 of GodH426. 14He alsoH638 removedH5312 fromH4481 the templeH19655 ofH1768 BabylonH895 the goldH1722 and silverH3702 articlesH3984 belonging toH1768 the houseH1005 of GodH426, whichH1768 NebuchadnezzarH5020 had takenH5312 and carriedH2987 there fromH4481 the templeH1965 in JerusalemH3390. KingH4430 CyrusH3567 gaveH3052 these articles to a man namedH8036H1768 SheshbazzarH8340, whom he appointedH7761 governorH6347 15and instructedH560, ‘TakeH5376H236 theseH429 articlesH3984, putH5182 themH1994 in the templeH1965H1768 in JerusalemH3390, and let the houseH1005 of GodH426 be rebuiltH1124 onH5922 its original siteH870.’

16SoH116 thisH1791 SheshbazzarH8340 cameH858 and laidH3052 the foundationH787 ofH1768 the houseH1005 of GodH426 in JerusalemH3390, and fromH4481 that timeH116 untilH5705 nowH3705 it has been under constructionH1124, but it has not yetH3809 been completedH8000.”

17Now, thereforeH3705, ifH2006 it pleasesH2869 the kingH4430, let a search be madeH1240 of the royalH1768H4430H8536 archivesH1005H1596 in BabylonH895 to see ifH2006H383H1768 KingH4430 CyrusH3567 did indeed issueH7761 a decreeH2942 to rebuildH1124 theH1791 houseH1005 of GodH426 in JerusalemH3390. Then let the kingH4430 sendH7972 usH5922 his decisionH7470 inH5922 thisH1836 matter.