Ezra 5:1-5·~1 min

Temple Rebuilding Resumes

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah speak over the Jews, and Zerubbabel with Jeshua rises to rebuild the house of God. The prophets stand beside the work, strengthening it.

L¹ater, 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. ²Then 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.

Tattenai and the other officials question who gave authority for the rebuilding and ask for the builders’ names. Yet the elders are not stopped, because God watches over them while the case is sent onward.

³At 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?” ⁴They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?” ⁵But 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.

Section summaryHaggai and Zechariah speak in God’s name, and their words stir Zerubbabel and Jeshua to begin rebuilding the temple again. Local officials question the work, but it continues under God’s watch until the matter can be referred to Darius.

Role in the chapterThis opening section restarts the book’s central work after interruption. It ties the renewed building to prophetic support and introduces the official inquiry that drives the rest of the chapter.