Ezra 5:1

Tattenai Sends a Letter to King Darius

1 The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They spoke to them in the name of the God of Israel. He had spoken to those prophets. Zechariah belonged to the family line of Iddo.

Ezra 5:1 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 1. Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the
Ezra 5:2

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the
son of Jozadak
Whose spirits were stirred up and quickened by the ministry of the prophets, the Lord accompanying it by his Spirit, ( Haggai 1:12 Haggai 1:14 ) ,

and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem;
to go on with the building of it; for they had laid the foundation before, and perhaps had carried it up to some little height, at least, before they ceased from it, ( Ezra 3:10 )

and with them were the prophets of God helping them;
with words of counsel, comfort, and exhortation, directing and encouraging them, and promising them protection and success: these are the prophets before named.

Ezra 5:1 In-Context

1 The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They spoke to them in the name of the God of Israel. He had spoken to those prophets. Zechariah belonged to the family line of Iddo.

2 Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, began to work. So did Jeshua, the son of Jehozadak. They began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were right there with them. They were helping them.

3 At that time Tattenai was governor of the land west of the Euphrates River. He and Shethar-Bozenai and their friends went to the Jews. They asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple? Who told you that you could make this building like new again?"

4 They also asked, "What are the names of the men who are putting up this building?"

5 But the God of the Jews was watching over their elders. So they didn't have to stop their work. First a report would have to be sent to Darius. Then they would have to receive his answer in writing.