Temple Rebuilding Resumes (Haggai 1:1–11)
1 ULT Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over 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 ULT Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, arose and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting 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 ULT At that time, Tattenai, the governor of Beyond- the- River, and Shethar- Bozenai, and their companions came to them and spoke to them thus,“Who set for you a decree to build this house and to complete this structure?” 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 ULT Then accordingly we said to them,“What are the names of the men who are building this building?” BSB BSB: They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”
5 ULT But the eye of God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report came to Darius, and then they returned the letter concerning this matter. 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 ULT A copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor of Beyond- the- River, and Shethar- Bozenai and his companions, the officials who were in Beyond- the- River, sent to Darius the king. 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 ULT They sent a report to him and thus was written within it:“To Darius the king: All peace. BSB BSB: The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace.
8 ULT Let it be known to the king that we went to Judah, the province, to the house of the great God, and it is being built of large stones, and timber is being placed in the walls. And this work is being done diligently and is succeeding in their hand. 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 ULT Then we asked these elders, we said thus to them,‘Who set a decree for you to build this house and to complete this structure?’ BSB BSB: So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
10 ULT And also we asked of them their names, to let you know, so that we could write down the names of the men who were at their head. BSB BSB: We also asked for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
11 ULT And thus is the answer they returned us, saying,‘We are servants of him who is the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house that was built many years before this, and a great king of Israel built it and completed it. 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 ULT However, because of this, that our fathers caused the God of heaven to be angry, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, and he destroyed this house and caused the people to be exiled 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 ULT But in year one of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, Cyrus the king set a decree to build this house of God. BSB BSB: In the first year of his reign, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.
14 ULT And also the vessels of the house of God, of gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar had taken out from the temple that was in Jerusalem and had brought them to the temple of Babylon— Cyrus the king took them out from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had set as governor. 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 ULT Then he said to him,“Take away these vessels. Go deposit them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built on its 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 ULT Then that Sheshbazzar came; he laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. And from then even until now it is being built, but it is not complete.’ 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 ULT And now, if it is good to the king, let a search be made in the house of the treasures of the king which is there in Babylon, if it is that a decree was set by Cyrus the king to build this house of God in Jerusalem. And let him send to us the will of the king concerning this.” 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.