Ezra 5
Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 1 But when the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo(A) prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them, 2 Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak(B) began to rebuild God’s house in Jerusalem. The prophets of God(C) were with them, helping them.
3 At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues(D) came to the Jews and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?”[a](E) 4 They also asked them, “What are the names of the workers[b] who are constructing this building?” 5 But God was watching[c] over(F) the Jewish elders. These men wouldn’t stop them until a report was sent to Darius, so that they could receive written instructions about this matter.
The Letter to Darius
6 This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius. 7 They sent him a report, written as follows:
To King Darius:
All greetings.
8 Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut[d] stones, and its beams are being set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people’s efforts.(G) 9 So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?”[e] 10 We also asked them for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
11 This is the reply they gave us:
We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.(H) 12 But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He handed them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.(I) 13 However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild the house of God.(J) 14 He also took from the temple in Babylon the gold and silver articles of God’s house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and carried them to the temple in Babylon.(K) He released them from the temple in Babylon to a man named Sheshbazzar, the governor by the appointment of King Cyrus.(L) 15 Cyrus told him, “Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.”(M) 16 Then this same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of God’s house in Jerusalem.(N) It has been under construction from that time until now,(O) yet it has not been completed.
Ezra 5
International Standard Version
Rebuilding Efforts Begin Again(A)
5 At that time, the prophets Haggai and Iddo’s son Zechariah prophesied specifically to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel. 2 So Shealtiel’s son Zerubbabel and Jozadak’s son Jeshua restarted construction of the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were there supporting them.
Government Interference
3 Right about then, Trans-Euphrates[a] Governor Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues approached and challenged them. They asked, “Who authorized you to build this Temple and to reconstruct this wall?” 4 In answer, we responded with a list of[b] the names of the men who were building the structure. 5 But God watched over the Jewish leaders, who could not be forced to stop working until Darius received a report and responded in reply.
A Memorandum
6 Here is a copy of the letter that Trans-Euphrates[c] Governor Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and his colleagues the Trans-Euphrates Persians sent to King Darius. 7 The letter sent to him was written like this:
To: King Darius:
Greetings![d]
8 This is to inform[e] the king that we traveled to the Temple of the great God in the Judean province, which is being built with large stones and reinforced with wooden beams in its walls. The work proceeds diligently and is in capable hands.[f]
9 We asked the elders, “Who authorized you to build this Temple and to reinforce these walls?” 10 We also asked them their names so that we could certify the identities[g] of their leaders to you.
11 In answer they responded, “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the Temple that was built many years ago by a great king of Israel. 12 But because our predecessors provoked the God of Heaven to become angry, he handed them over to the control[h] of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this Temple and transported the people to Babylon.
13 “However, during King Cyrus’ first year—that same King Cyrus of Babylon—issued a decree to reconstruct this Temple of God. 14 He delivered into the care of Sheshbazzar (whom he appointed governor) the gold and silver utensils that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Jerusalem Temple and brought into the Babylonian temple.
15 “And Cyrus[i] told him, ‘Take these utensils, go to Jerusalem, and carry them to the Temple, after the Temple of God has been built[j] in its appropriate place.’
16 “Then this very same Sheshbazzar arrived and laid the foundations for the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Since that time until now the Temple has been under construction and is not yet completed.”
17 Accordingly, with your approval we suggest that[k] a search be conducted within the king’s treasury at Babylon to verify[l] whether or not King Cyrus ever issued such a decree to reconstruct this Temple of God in Jerusalem. Then please notify us concerning the king’s pleasure in this matter.
Footnotes
- Ezra 5:3 Lit. Beyond the River
- Ezra 5:4 Lit. responded thus: “What are
- Ezra 5:6 Lit. Beyond the River
- Ezra 5:7 Lit. All peace!
- Ezra 5:8 Lit. Let it be known to
- Ezra 5:8 Lit. and prospers in their hands
- Ezra 5:10 Lit. could write the names
- Ezra 5:12 Lit. hand
- Ezra 5:15 Lit. he
- Ezra 5:15 Lit. temple, and let the temple of God be built
- Ezra 5:17 Lit. Accordingly, if it seems good to the king, let
- Ezra 5:17 The Aram. lacks to verify
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