The Prophets Stir the People to Build
Study note
After years of delay, God sent two prophets to stir the people back to action. Haggai challenged them for living in nice houses while God's temple lay in ruins. Zechariah gave them visions of hope for the future. Motivated by these messages, Zerubbabel and Jeshua resumed the building work, and the prophets stayed by their side to encourage them.
1 The prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo spoke up. They brought words from Israel's God to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. 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 That got Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak moving again. They restarted the construction of God's house in Jerusalem, and God's prophets were right beside them, helping. 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.
The Governor Investigates
Study note
Tatnai was the Persian governor over the region west of the Euphrates River, which included Judah. When he saw the construction, he asked who had authorized it. But the text says that God was watching over the Jewish elders, so the governor could not force them to stop while the matter was sent to King Darius for a decision.
3 Before long, Tatnai the governor of the territory west of the Euphrates came around. Shethar-bozenai and their officials came too. They asked questions: "Who gave you permission to rebuild this temple and finish these walls?" 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 They also wanted to know, "What are the names of the men doing this construction?" Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
5 But God was looking out for the Jewish leaders, and the officials could not force them to stop working. The whole matter was referred to King Darius, and they waited for his official answer. 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.
The Governor's Letter to King Darius
Study note
Unlike the earlier hostile letter in chapter 4, this letter from Governor Tatnai was more balanced. He simply reported what he found and asked the king to investigate. The Jewish elders explained their history: how Solomon built the first temple, how their ancestors sinned and God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to destroy it, and how King Cyrus later ordered it to be rebuilt. They asked Darius to search the royal archives for Cyrus's original decree.
6 Here is a copy of the letter sent to King Darius. It came from Tatnai the chief, Shethar-bozenai, and their aides. 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 Their report began: "To King Darius -- may you have complete peace! They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8 "We want the king to know that we traveled to the province of Judah and visited the temple of the great God. It is being constructed with massive stones, and timber is being fitted into the walls. The project is moving forward quickly and making solid progress. 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 "We questioned the elders and asked, 'Who gave you permission to rebuild this temple and repair these walls?' 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 also asked for their names so we could write them down and report their leaders' identities to you. We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
11 "They answered: 'We serve the God who made heaven and earth. We are restoring a temple that was originally built and completed by a great king of Israel many years ago.' 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 "'Our ancestors made the God of heaven angry. So he let King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroy this temple. He also let him carry our people off to Babylon as prisoners.' 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 King Cyrus of Babylon's first year, he issued an order to rebuild this temple.' 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 "'Cyrus also took out all the gold and silver items that Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from the Jerusalem temple. He had stored them in Babylon's temple. Cyrus gave these items to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he made governor.' 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 "'Cyrus told Sheshbazzar: Take these items back and put them in the temple in Jerusalem. Rebuild God's house on its original location.' 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 "'Sheshbazzar went and laid the foundation for God's temple in Jerusalem. Construction has been going on ever since, though it is not yet complete.' 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 "If the king is willing, we ask that a search be made in the royal archives in Babylon. Find out whether King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this temple. Then please send us the king's decision." 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.