那時,先知哈該和易多的子孫撒迦利亞奉以色列上帝的名,向猶大和耶路撒冷的猶大人宣講上帝的話。 於是,撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯和約薩達的兒子耶書亞開始在耶路撒冷重建上帝的殿,上帝的先知在他們身邊幫助他們。

當時,河西總督達乃、示他·波斯乃及其同僚來問他們:「誰批准你們重建這殿、修復這牆的?」 又問道:「建造這殿的人們叫什麼名字。」 然而,上帝看顧猶太人的長老,工程沒有被叫停,直到事情呈報給大流士王、收到王的回諭後才停止。

河西的官員們——河西總督達乃、示他·波斯乃及其同僚上奏大流士王, 奏章如下:

「願大流士王一切平安! 王該知道,我們去了猶大省,到了偉大上帝的殿。人們正在用大石建殿,木料已經安在牆裡,工程進展迅速、順利。 我們問那些長老,『誰批准你們重建這殿、修復這牆的?』 10 我們又問他們的名字,好記下他們首領的名字稟告王。

11 「他們回答說,『我們是天地之上帝的僕人,我們正在重建這座多年前由以色列的一位偉大君王建造的殿。 12 但因為我們的祖先觸怒了天上的上帝,上帝把他們交在迦勒底人——巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒的手中,他摧毀了這殿,把他們擄到巴比倫。 13 然而,巴比倫王塞魯士在其統治元年,降旨重建這座上帝的殿。 14 尼布甲尼撒王曾擄去耶路撒冷上帝殿裡的金銀器皿,放在巴比倫神廟裡,塞魯士王從巴比倫神廟取出這些器皿,交給他委派做省長的設巴薩, 15 吩咐他把這些器皿帶去,重新陳設在耶路撒冷的殿裡,在舊址上重建上帝的殿。 16 於是,這位設巴薩就在耶路撒冷為上帝的殿立了根基,從那時到如今,殿一直在重建中,還沒有竣工。』

17 「現在,王若願意,請查閱巴比倫的王室記錄,看看塞魯士王是否降旨重建耶路撒冷的上帝之殿。王對此事如何決斷,請告知我們。」

Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah son [grandson] of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, Whose [Spirit] was upon them.

Then rose up Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel [heir to the throne of Judah] and Jeshua son of Jozadak and began to build the house of God in Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God [Haggai and Zechariah], helping them.(A)

Then Tattenai, governor on the west side of the [Euphrates] River, and Shethar-bozenai and their companions came to them and said, Who [a]authorized you to build this house and to restore this wall?

Then we told them [in reply] the names of the men who were building this building.

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so the enemy could not make them stop until the matter came before Darius [I] and an answer was returned by letter concerning it.

This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor on this side of the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the Apharsachites who were on this [west] side of the River, sent to Darius [I] the king.

They wrote: To Darius the king: All peace.

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, with timber laid in the walls; this work goes on with diligence and care and prospers in their hands.

Then we asked those elders, Who authorized you to build this house and restore these walls?

10 We asked their names also, that we might record the names of the men at their head and notify you.

11 They replied, We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, rebuilding the house which was erected and finished many years ago by a great king of Israel.

12 But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, the same King Cyrus made a decree to rebuild this house of God.

14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and delivered to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.

15 And King Cyrus said to him, Go, take these vessels to Jerusalem and carry them into the temple, and let the house of God be built upon its site.

16 Then came this Sheshbazzar and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem; and since that time until now it has been in the process of being rebuilt and is not completed yet.

17 So now, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon to see if it is true that King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 5:3 Seventeen or eighteen years had elapsed since Cyrus issued his decree. One other king had succeeded him. The second, Darius [I], was just assuring his position upon the throne after two years of incessant warring, and it was entirely possible that during this interval the affairs of a comparatively unimportant city... may well have been almost forgotten (The Cambridge Bible).

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.

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.

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?

Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

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.

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:

They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

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.

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.

Restoration of the Temple Resumed(A)

Then the prophet (B)Haggai and (C)Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. So (D)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of [a]Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and (E)the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

At the same time (F)Tattenai the governor of the region beyond [b]the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: (G)“Who has commanded you to build this [c]temple and finish this wall?” (H)Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building. But (I)the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a (J)written answer was returned concerning this matter. This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai sent:

The governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, (K)and his companions, the Persians who were in the region beyond the River, to Darius the king.

(They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus.)

To Darius the king:

All peace.

Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the [d]temple of the great God, which is being built with [e]heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.

Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: (L)“Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?” 10 We also asked them their names to inform you, that we might write the names of the men who were chief among them.

11 And thus they returned us an answer, saying: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the [f]temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built (M)and completed. 12 But (N)because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of (O)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and (P)carried the people away to Babylon. 13 However, in the first year of (Q)Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this [g]house of God. 14 Also, (R)the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of Babylon—those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to (S)one named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. 15 And he said to him, ‘Take these articles; go, carry them to the temple site that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former site.’ 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and (T)laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem; but from that time even until now it has been under construction, and (U)it is not finished.”

17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, (V)let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 5:2 Jehozadak, 1 Chr. 6:14
  2. Ezra 5:3 The Euphrates
  3. Ezra 5:3 Lit. house
  4. Ezra 5:8 Lit. house
  5. Ezra 5:8 Lit. stones of rolling, stones too heavy to be carried
  6. Ezra 5:11 Lit. house
  7. Ezra 5:13 Temple