1 THEN the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

1 Then the Prophets, Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah the sonne of Iddo, prophesied vnto the Iewes that were in Iudah and Ierusalem, in the Name of the God of Israel, euen vnto them.

2 Then rose vp Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel, and Ieshua the sonne of Iozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Ierusalem: and with them were the Prophets of God helping them.

3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, gouernour on this side the Riuer, and Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, and said thus vnto them; Who hath commaunded you to build this house, and to make vp this wall?

4 Then said wee vnto them after this maner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

5 But the eye of their God was vpon the Elders of the Iewes, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answere by letter concerning this matter.

6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, gouernour on this side the Riuer, and Shethar-Boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the Riuer, sent vnto Darius the King:

7 They sent a letter vnto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.

8 Be it knowen vnto the king, that we went into the prouince of Iudea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, & timber is laied in the wals, and this worke goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

9 Then asked we those Elders, and said vnto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make vp these walles?

10 We asked their names also, to certifie thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chiefe of them.

11 And thus they returned vs answere, saying, We are the seruants of the God of heauen and earth, and build the house that was builded these many yeeres agoe, which a great King of Israel builded, and set vp.

12 But after that our fathers had prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath: he gaue them into the hande of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Caldean, who destroyed this house, and caried the people away into Babylon.

13 But in the first yere of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

14 And the vessels also of golde and siluer of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar tooke out of the Temple that was in Ierusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were deliuered vnto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whome he had made gouernour:

15 And said vnto him, Take these vessels, goe, carie them into the temple that is in Ierusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God, which is in Ierusalem. And since that time, euen vntill now, hath it bin in building, & yet it is not finished.

17 Now therefore, if it seeme good to the king, let there be search made in the kings treasure house which is there at Babylon, whether it be so that a decree was made of Cyrus the king, to build this house of God at Ierusalem: and let the king send his pleasure to vs concerning this matter

I == Hag 1:1 ; Zech 1:1

 

 

II == Ezra 3:2

 

 

III == Ezra 5:6 , 9 : 6:6

 

 

 

IV == Ezra 5:10

 

V == Ezra 6:6 ; 7:6 , 28 : Ps 33:18

 

 

VI == Ezra 4:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Ezra 5:3-4

 

 

 

 

XI == 1st Kings 6:1

 

 

XII == 2nd Kings 24:2 ; 25:8-9 , 11 ; 2nd Chr 36:16-17

 

 

XIII == Ezra 1:1

 

 

XIV == Ezra 1:7-8 ; 6:5 ; Hag 1:14 ; 2:2 , 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVI == Ezra 3:8 , 10 ; 6:15

 

 

 

XVII Ezra 6:1-2

1 Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo, began to prophesy to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.

2 Thereupon Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, son of Jozadak, began again to build the house of God in Jerusalem, with the prophets of God giving them support.

3 At that time there came to them Tattenai, governor of West-of-Euphrates, and Shethar-bozenai, and their fellow officials, who asked of them: "Who issued the decree for you to build this house and raise this edifice?

4 What are the names of the men who are building this structure?"

5 But their God watched over the elders of the Jews so that they were not hindered, until a report could go to Darius and then a written order be sent back concerning this matter.

6 A copy of the letter sent to King Darius by Tattenai, governor of West-of-Euphrates, and Shethar-bozenai, and their fellow officials from West-of-Euphrates;

7 they sent him a report in which was written the following: "To King Darius, all good wishes!

8 Let it be known to the king that we have visited the province of Judah and the house of the great God: it is being rebuilt of cut stone and the walls are being reinforced with timber; the work is being carried on diligently and is making good progress under their hands.

9 We then questioned the elders, addressing to them the following words: 'Who issued the decree for you to build this house and raise this edifice?'

10 We also asked them their names, to report them to you in a list of the men who are their leaders.

11 This was their answer to us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house built here long years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

12 But because our fathers provoked the wrath of the God of heaven, he delivered them into the power of the Chaldean, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who destroyed this house and led the people captive to Babylon.

13 However, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree for the rebuilding of this house of God.

14 Moreover, the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and carried off to the temple in Babylon, King Cyrus ordered to be removed from the temple in Babylon and consigned to a certain Sheshbazzar, whom he named governor.

15 And he commanded him: Take these utensils and deposit them in the temple of Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former site.

16 Then this same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. Since that time the building has been going on, and it is not yet completed.'

17 Now, if it please the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether a decree really was issued by King Cyrus for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And may the king's pleasure in this matter be communicated to us."

v 1,2. Haggai and Zechariah were preaching in the Spirit and stirring up the people.  People had become satisfied with things the way they were. The work on the temple had been stopped from 535-520 BC. Zechariah urged them to return to the Lord, not just to the land, Zech. 1:3. In 4:10 he encouraged any old ones, who thought this temple was insignificant compared to Solomon’s, not to despise the day of small things. Haggai chided them for building paneled houses, but letting the Lord’s house lie waste. Judah’s governor, the  high priest and the prophets took the lead in getting the work going again. Leading by example is important.

v 3-5. Tatnai was governor of all Persian land west of the Euphrates and had no problem with them building houses,but he at once took offense at temple building as a sign of rebellion. Satan doesn’t mind if we live at ease, but let us begin to work for the Lord, and he starts throwing up opposition. Tatnai demanded who had commanded the building to be done and the names of those doing the work, so he could report it to the king. The Jews knew they were in the will of God and persisted in building in spite of his opposition till Darius heard of it and replied.

v 6-10. Verses 8-17 are a copy of the letter Tatnai and those associated with him west of the Euphrates sent to Darius 2. He was not a believer, but mentions the great God because He was the one considered so and dominant in the area discussed. He is concerned because great stones, 6:4, are used and construction going at a rapid pace. He reported asking the names of the chief ones responsible for this action.

v 11,12. The leaders indicated to Tatnai that they served a higher God than the gods of Persia, and it was because they had disobeyed Him, that He allowed the people to be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and the temple destroyed. When we face trials it is good to search our hearts to see if it is the chastening of the Lord.

v 13-15. Jeshua and Zerubbabel were no doubt the ones speaking, the latter here called Sheshbazzar. They told him that in his first year (at Babylon), Cyrus had made the decree to build the temple, and he delivered the captured gold and silver vessels to his appointed governor, Zerubbabel, to return them to the new temple.

 

 

 

 

v 16,17. Zerubbabel had laid the foundation years before and the work still continued. (He did not mention the delays that had been caused by opposition.) Tatnai requested that the records be searched to see if Cyrus had made such a decree, and tell him what to do. Such records were not on computer discs, but on scrolls preserved in clay pots, so such a search could take days or weeks. Tatnai was probably waiting in anxious anticipation to go in and put a stop to the building.