When the prophets, aHaggai
the prophet
and bZechariah
the son
of Iddo
, prophesied
to the Jews
who
were in Judah
and Jerusalem
in the name
of the God
of Israel
, who was over
them,
then aZerubbabel
the son
of Shealtiel
and Jeshua
the son
of Jozadak
arose
and began
to rebuild
the house
of God
which
is in Jerusalem
; and bthe prophets
of God
were with them supporting
them.
At that time aTattenai
, the governor
of the province beyond
the 1River
, and Shethar-bozenai
and their colleagues
came
to them and spoke
to them thus
, " bWho
issued
you a decree
to rebuild
this
2temple
and to finish
this
structure
?"
aThen we told
them accordingly
what
the names
of the men
were who
were reconstructing
this
building
.
But athe eye of their God
was on the elders
of the Jews
, and they did not stop
them until
a report
could come
to Darius
, and then
a written
reply
be returned
concerning
it.
This is the copy of the letter
which
aTattenai
, the governor
of the province beyond
the River
, and Shethar-bozenai
and his colleagues
bthe officials
, who
were beyond
the River
, sent
to Darius
the king
.
They sent a report
to him in which it was written
thus
: "To Darius
the king
, all
peace
.
"Let it be known to the king
that we have gone
to the province
of Judah
, to the house
of the great
God
, which
is being built
with huge
stones
, and 1beams
are being laid
in the walls
; and this
work
is going
on with great
care
and is succeeding
in their hands
.
"Then we asked
those
elders
and said
to them thus
, `Who
issued
you a decree
to rebuild
this
temple
and to finish
this
structure
?'
"We also asked
them their names
so as to inform
you, and that we might write
down
the names
of the men
who
were at their head
.
"Thus they 1answered
us, saying
, `We are the servants
of the God
of heaven
and earth
and are rebuilding
the temple
that was built
many
years
ago
, awhich a great
king
of Israel
built
and finished
.
`But abecause our fathers
had provoked
the God
of heaven
to wrath
, bHe gave
them into the hand
of Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon
, the Chaldean
, who destroyed
this
temple
and deported
the people
to Babylon
.
`However, ain the first
year
of Cyrus
king
of Babylon
, King
Cyrus
bissued
a decree
to rebuild
this
house
of God
.
`Also athe gold
and silver
utensils
of the house
of God
which
Nebuchadnezzar
had taken
from the temple
1in Jerusalem
, and brought
them to the temple
of Babylon
, these
King
Cyrus
took
from the temple
of Babylon
and they were given
to one bwhose name
was Sheshbazzar
, whom
he had appointed
governor
.
`He said to him, "Take
these
utensils
, go
and deposit
them in the temple
1in Jerusalem
and let the house
of God
be rebuilt
in its place
."
`Then that Sheshbazzar
came
and alaid
the foundations
of the house
of God
1in Jerusalem
; and from then
until
now
it has been under
construction
and it is bnot yet completed
.'
"Now if
it pleases
the king
, alet a search
be conducted
in the king's
treasure
house
, which
is there
in Babylon
, if
it be that a decree
was issued
by King
Cyrus
to rebuild
this
house
of God
at Jerusalem
; and let the king
send
to us his decision
concerning
this
matter."