Temple Rebuilding Resumes (Haggai 1:1–11)
1 Brenton And Aggæus the prophet, and Zacharias the son of Addo, prophesied a prophecy to the Jews in Juda and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even to them. BSB BSB: Later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.
2 Brenton Then rose up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began to build the house of God that was in Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God assisting them. BSB BSB: Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
3 Brenton At the same time came there upon them Thanthanai, the governor on this side the river, and Satharbuzanai, and their fellow-servants, and spoke thus to them, Who has ordained a decree for you to build this house, and to provide this preparation? BSB BSB: At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
4 Brenton Then they spoke thus to them, What are the names of the men that build this city? BSB BSB: They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”
5 Brenton But the eyes of God were upon the captivity of Juda, and they did not cause them to cease till the decree was brought to Darius; and then was sent by the tribute-gatherer concerning this BSB BSB: But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.
Tattenai’s Letter to Darius 6 Brenton the copy of a letter, which Thanthanai, the governor of the part on this side the river, and Satharbuzanai, and their fellow-servants the Apharsachæans who were on this side of the river, sent to king Darius. BSB BSB: This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.
7 Brenton They sent an account to him, and thus it was written in it: All peace to king Darius. BSB BSB: The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace.
8 Brenton Be it known to the king, that we went into the land of Judea, to the house of the great God; and it is building with choice stones, and they are laying timbers in the walls, and that work is prospering, and goes on favourably in their hands. BSB BSB: Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.
9 Brenton Then we asked those elders, and thus we said to them, Who gave you the order to build this house, and to provide this preparation? BSB BSB: So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
10 Brenton And we asked them their names, in order to declare them to thee, so as to write to thee the names of their leading men. BSB BSB: We also asked for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
11 Brenton And they answered us thus, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house which had been built many years before this, and a great king of Israel built it, and established it for them. BSB BSB: And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.
12 Brenton But after that our fathers provoked the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nabuchodonosor the Chaldean, king of Babylon, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people captive to Babylon. BSB BSB: But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this temple and carried away the people to Babylon.
13 Brenton And in the first year of king Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be built. BSB BSB: In the first year of his reign, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.
14 Brenton And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nabuchodonosor brought out from the house that was in Jerusalem, and carried them into the temple of the king, them did king Cyrus bring out from the temple of the king, and gave them to Sabanasar the treasurer, who was over the treasure; BSB BSB: He also removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken and carried there from the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus gave these articles to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed governor
15 Brenton and said to him, Take all the vessels, and go, put them in the house that is in Jerusalem in their place. BSB BSB: and instructed, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.’
16 Brenton Then that Sabanazar came, and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem: and from that time even until now it has been building, and has not been finished. BSB BSB: So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”
17 Brenton And now, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the treasure-house of the king at Babylon, that thou mayest know if it be that a decree was made by king Cyrus to build that house of God that was in Jerusalem, and let the king send to us when he has learnt concerning this matter . BSB BSB: Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.