Ezra

Ezra 5 ©

1 Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, begin again to build in the reign of Darius. 3 Tatnai and Shethar-boznai are not able to prevent them from proceeding. 6 The copy of their letter to Darius concerning the building.

1

THEN the prophets, aHaggai the prophet, and bZechariah the cson of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem din the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

a Hag. 1.1.
b ch. 6.14.
c Zec. 1.1.
d Hag. 1; 2. Zec. 1-4. Mi. 5.4. 2Co. 5.20. Mat. 28.20.
2

Then erose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and fbegan to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God ghelping them.

e ch. 3.2. Hag. 1.12,14; 2.2,4.
f ch. 4.12. Zec. 4.6-9.
g Ec. 12.11. 2Co. 1.24. 3Jn. 8.
3

¶At the same time came to them hTatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, iWho hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

h Ne. 2.7. Mat. 27.1.
i ch. 3.10. v.10.
4

Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that 1make this building?

5

But the jeye 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 kreturned answer by letter concerning this matter.

j 2Ch. 16.9. Phi. 1.28. Ps. 33.18; 34.15. Is. 41.10-16; 43.1,2. He. 13.5,6.
k ch. 6.6-12.
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:

7

They sent a letter unto him, 2wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

8

Be it known unto the king, that we went into lthe province of Judea, to the house of the mgreat God, which is builded with 3great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

l ch. 2.1. Ne. 7.6; 11.3.
m De. 32.31; 10.17. Ex. 18.11. Da. 2.47; 4.2,34,35; 6.26.
9

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, nWho commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

n v.3,4.
10

We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

11

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the oservants 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 pand set up.

o Ps. 119.46. Mat. 10.32. Lu. 12.8. He. 12.14; 3.14; 10.23.
p 1Ki. 6; 7. 2Ch. 3-5.
12

But qafter that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of rNebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

q Is. 59.1,2. 2Ki. 21.15. 2Ch. 36.16,17. De. 28-32.
r 2Ki. 24; 25. Je. 39; 52. Le. 26. De. 28-32. 1Ki. 9.7-9.
13

But sin the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

s ch. 1.1-8; 6.3-5.
14

And tthe 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 was uSheshbazzar, whom he had made 4governor;

t ch. 1.7,8; 6.5. 2Ch. 36.8,18. Da. 5.2. Phi. 1.12. Pr. 21.1.
u ch. 1.8; 2.2; 3.2,8. Hag. 1.14; 2.2,21. Zec. 4.9.
15

And 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.

16

Then vcame the same Sheshbazzar, and wlaid 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 xnot finished.

v ch. 2.2; 3.8. v.2.
w ch. 3.10.
x ch. 6.14.
17

Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let ythere be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a zdecree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send ahis pleasure to us concerning this matter.

a Ex. 9.16. Nu. 10.5,6.
y ch. 4.15,19; 6.1,2.
z ch. 6.3-5.