rd

Ezra 5

1 Haggái and Zechariáh do prophesy. 3 The work of the Temple goeth forward contrary to the mind of Tatnái. 6 His letters to Darius.
1.Then ^*Haggái a Prophet and Zechariáh the son of Iddó a Prophet prophecied unto the Jewes that were in Judáh, and Jerusalém, in the Name of the God of Israél, even unto them.
2.Then Zerubbabél the son of Shealtiél, and Jeshúa the son of Jozadák arose, & began to build the house of God at Jerusalém, and with them were the Prophets of God, which ahelped them.
3.¶ At the same time came to them Tatnái, which was captain beyond the River, and Shether-boznái and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath given you commandment to build this house, and to lay the foundations of these walls?
4.bThen said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that build this building?
5.But the ceye of their God was upon the Elders of the Jewes, that they could not cause them to cease, til the matter came to Darius: and then they answered by letters thereunto.
6.The copy of the letter, that Tatnái captain beyond the River, and Shether-boznái and his companions Apharsechaié, (which were beyond the River) sent unto King Darius.
7.They sent a letter unto him, wherein it 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 beams are laid in the walls, and this work is wrought speedily, and prospereth in their hands.
9.Then asked we those Elders, and said unto them thus, Who hath given you commandment to build this house, and to lay the foundation of these walls?
10.We asked their names also, that we might certify thee, and that we might write the names of the men that were their rulers.
11.But they answered us thus, and said, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built of old and many years ago, which a dgreat King of Israél *builded, and founded it.
12.But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, *he gave them over into the hand of Nebuchadnezzár King of Babél the Caldean, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people away captive unto Babél.
13.But in the efirst year of Cyrus King of Babél, King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
14.And the vessels of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzár took out of the Temple, that was in Jerusalém, and brought them into the Temple of Babél, those did Cyrus the King take out of the Temple of Babél, and they gave them unto one fSheshbazzár by his name, whom he had made captain.
15.And he said unto him, Take these vessels and go thy way, and put them in the Temple that is in Jerusalém, and let the house of God be built in his place.
16.Then came the same Sheshbazzár and laid the foundation of the house of God, which is in Jerusalém, and since that time even until now, hath it been in building, yet is it not finished.
17.Now therefore if it please the King, let there be search made in the house of the King’s gtreasures, which is there in Babél, whether a decree hath been made by King Cyrus, to build this house of God in Jerusalém, and let the King send his mind concerning this.

Notes

1-*.
Hag. 1.1, 1 Esdr. 6.6.
1-^.
Or, Haggeus.
2-a.
Which encouraged them to go forward and accused them that they were more careful to build their own houses, then zealous to build the Temple of God.
4-b.
That is, the enemies asked this, as verse 10.
5-c.
His favour and spirit of strength.
8-^.
Or, marble.
11-*.
1 King 6.2, 2 Chron. 3.2.
11-d.
To wit, Solomon.
12-*.
2 Kings 24.2 and 25.9.
13-e.
Read Ch. 1.1.
14-f.
Read Ch. 1.8.
17-g.
Meaning, in the libraries, or places where lay the registers, or records of times.