1Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, begin again to build in the reign of Darius. 3Tatnai and Shethar-boznai are not able to prevent them from proceeding. 6The copy of their letter to Darius concerning the building.
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1Then the prophets, 1Haggai the prophet, and 2Zechariah the 3son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem 4in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
2Then 1rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and 2began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God 3helping them.
3¶ At the same time came to them 1Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, 2Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
4Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that amake this building?
5But the 1eye 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 2returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
6¶ The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
7They sent a letter unto him, awherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8Be it known unto the king, that we went into 1the province of Judea, to the house of the 2great God, which is builded with agreat stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
9Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, 1Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
10We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the 1servants 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 2and set up.
12But 1after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of 2Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13But 1in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
14And 1the 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 was2Sheshbazzar, whom he had made agovernor;
15And 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.
16Then 1came the same Sheshbazzar, and2laid 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 3not finished.
17Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let 1there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a 2decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send 3his pleasure to us concerning this matter.