I.
The rebuilding work continuing through the encouragement and help of the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah
5:1-2
Ezra 5
:1
5:1
Now the
1prophets,
aHaggai the prophet and
bZechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.
Ezra 5
:2
5:2
Then aZerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to
bbuild the house of God, which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
J.
The confirmation of the decree of Darius the king of Persia
5:3—6:12
Ezra 5
:3
5:3
At the same time Tattenai the governor beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their companions came to them and spoke to them in this way, Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?
Ezra 5
:4
5:4
Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were constructing this building.
Ezra 5
:5
5:5
But the
aeye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them, until a report went to Darius; and then
an answer was returned by letter concerning it.
Ezra 5
:6
5:6
This is the copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his companions the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king;
Ezra 5
:7
5:7
They sent a report to him in which was written as follows, To Darius the king, all peace.
Ezra 5
:8
5:8
Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with large stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work is being conducted with diligence and prospers in their hands.
Ezra 5
:9
5:9
Then we asked those elders, speaking to them in this way, Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?
Ezra 5
:10
5:10
We also asked them their names in order to inform you, so that we might write down the names of the men who were at their head.
Ezra 5
:11
5:11
And they returned us an answer in this way, saying, We are the servants of the
aGod of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the
bhouse that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
Ezra 5
:12
5:12
But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to anger, He gave them into the hand of
aNebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away to Babylon.
Ezra 5
:13
5:13
But in the first year of
aCyrus the king of Babylon, King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
Ezra 5
:14
5:14
And also the gold and silver
avessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one whose name was
bSheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
Ezra 5
:15
5:15
And he said to him, Take these vessels, go
and put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the
ahouse of God be rebuilt in its place.
Ezra 5
:16
5:16
Then the same Sheshbazzar came
and laid the foundations of the house of God, which is in Jerusalem; and since that time even until now it has been under construction and has not
yet been finished.
Ezra 5
:17
5:17
Now therefore if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon,
to see whether it is the case that a decree was made by King Cyrus for the building of this house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this.
