“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 Shetharboznai, 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 Shetharboznai, 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.” (Ezra 5:1-17 AV)
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