Ezra 5:1-10

1 At that time two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, began to speak in the name of the God of Israel to the Jews who lived in Judah and Jerusalem. 1
2 When Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak heard their messages, they began to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and the two prophets helped them. 2
3 Almost at once Governor Tattenai of West-of-Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and their fellow officials came to Jerusalem and demanded: "Who gave you orders to build this Temple and equip it?"
4 They also asked for the names of all the men who were helping build the Temple.
5 But God was watching over the Jewish leaders, and the Persian officials decided to take no action until they could write to Emperor Darius and receive a reply.
6 This is the report that they sent to the emperor:
7 "To Emperor Darius, may you rule in peace.
8 "Your Majesty should know that we went to the province of Judah and found that the Temple of the great God is being rebuilt with large stone blocks and with wooden beams set in the wall. The work is being done with great care and is moving ahead steadily.
9 "We then asked the leaders of the people to tell us who had given them authority to rebuild the Temple and to equip it.
10 We also asked them their names so that we could inform you who the leaders of this work are.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 5.1Haggai 1.1;Zechariah 1.1.
  • 2. 5.2Haggai 1.12;Zechariah 4.6-9.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Some ancient translations] They; [Aramaic] We.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.