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.
