Ezra 5

Rebuilding Begins Anew

1 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah 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.2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?"4 Theyt also asked them this: "What are the names of the men who are building this building?"5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.

Tattenai's Letter to King Darius

6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the governors who were in the province Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.7 They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: "To Darius the king, all peace.8 Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.9 Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?'10 We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might write down the names of their leaders.t11 And this was their reply to us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.12 But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.13 However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.14 And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;15 and he said to him, "Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site."16 Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is not yet finished.'17 Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter."

Ezra 5

Tattenai Appeals to Darius

1 Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah sont of Iddot prophesied concerning the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalems in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.

2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak begant to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
3 At that time Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues came to them and asked, “Who gave you authorityt to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?”t4 Theys also asked them, “What are the names of the men who are building this edifice?”

5 But God was watching overt the elders of Judah, and they were not stoppedt until a report could be dispatchedt to Darius and a letter could be sent back concerning this.
6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagues who were the officials of Trans-Euphrates sent to King Darius.

7 The report they sent to him was written as follows:t
“To King Darius: All greetings!t8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones,t and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands.9 We inquired of those elders, asking them, ‘Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?’10 We also inquired of their names in order to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were their leaders.11 They responded to us in the following way: ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great kings of Israel built it and completed it.12 But after our ancestorst angered the God of heaven, he delivered them into the handst of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylon.s13 But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon,s King Cyrus enacted a decree to rebuild this temple of God.14 Even the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had brought to the palacet of Babylon – even those things King Cyrus brought from the palace of Babylon and presentedt to a man by the name of Sheshbazzar whom he had appointed as governor.15 He said to him, “Take these vessels and go deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt in its proper location.”t

16 Then this Sheshbazzar went and laid the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem. From that time to the present momentt it has been in the process of being rebuilt, although it is not yet finished.’

17 “Now if the king is so inclined,t let a search be conducted in the royal archivest there in Babylon in order to determine whether King Cyrus did in fact issue orders for this temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us a decision concerning this matter.”