1 The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo, addressed the Jews who lived in Judea and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was with them.
2 Upon hearing them, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, son of Jozadak, began to rebuild the House of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
3 Then Tattenai, the governor of the province at the other side of the River, and Shethar Bozenai came with their counselors and said to them, "Who has ordered you to build this House and its walls?"
4 And they also asked, "Who are the men working on the construction of this building?"
5 But the favor of God was with the leaders of the Jews, for these people did not oblige the Jews to stop the work while the matter was being referred to King Darius and they were waiting for his answer.
6 This is a copy of the joint letter to King Darius from Tattenai, governor of the province of the other side of the River, Shethar Bozenai and his counselors, the Persians at the other bank of the River:
7 "To King Darius, peace.
8 We wish to inform the king that we went to the province of Judea, to the House of the Great God. They are now building the Temple with hewn stones and timber to reinforce the walls; the work is being done with great care and progresses quickly at their hands.
9 We questioned the Elders, and asked them: Who has ordered you to build this House and finish this Sanctuary?
10 We also asked them their names and wrote down the names of their leaders for your information.
11 They gave us this answer: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the House that was built many years ago. A great king of Israel built and finished it.
12 But then, our fathers angered the God of heaven, so he gave the children into the hands of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed this house and exiled them.
13 However, in the first year of his reign Cyrus, king of Babylon, issued a decree that the House of God should be rebuilt.
14 The gold and silver vessels of the House of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple of Jerusalem, and placed in the temple of Babylon, were taken from there by Cyrus and turned over to Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.
15 He said to him: Take these vessels, and bring them to the temple of Jerusalem, and let the House of God be rebuilt in the same place.
16 Then Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that time until now, it is gradually being rebuilt but is still not finished.
17 Now, if it seems good to the king that inquiries be made into the royal archives there in Babylon, to verify whether a decree was indeed issued by King Cyrus for the rebuilding of the House of God in Jerusalem, then may the king inform us of his will in this matter."
Versículos relacionados com Ezra, 5:
Ezra 5 describes the resumption of the construction of the temple in Jerusalem after being interrupted by a decree of the Persian king. The Prophets Haggai and Zechariah urged the people to continue the work, and the construction of the temple was finally authorized by King Darius.
Ageu 1:8: "I climbed to the mount, and brought wood, and build the house; and I will please me, and I will be glorified, says the Lord." In this verse, he agrees the people to resume the construction of the temple, showing that this is the will of God.
Ageu 2:4: "However, now, strive, Zerubbabel, says the Lord, and strive, Joshua, son of Jozadaque, high priest, and strive, all the people of the earth, say the Lord, and say, and work; for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts. " This verse encourages the people to continue the construction of the temple, showing that God is with them and will support them.
Ageu 2:9: "The glory of this last house will be greater than that of the first, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of hosts." This verse prophesies the glory of the rebuilt temple and encourages the people to continue construction.
Zechariah 4:6: "Then he answered, and spoke to me, saying, This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by force or violence, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." This verse shows that the construction of the temple will not be performed through human strength, but by the power of the Spirit of God.
2 Chronicles 36:23: "Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and in charge of building a house in Jerusalem, who is in Judah. All his people, be it his God with him, and climb Jerusalem, who is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is the God) who is in Jerusalem. " This verse shows that the Persian king Cyrus allowed God's people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
Chapters: