Ezra 5

Two Prophets, and the Work Began Again

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The Prophets Support the Renewed Work

5:1Haggai the prophet and Zacharias son of Addo prophesied a prophecy over the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, over them.

5:2Then Zorobabel son of Salathiel and Iesous son of Iosedek arose and began building the house of God in Jerusalem. God’s prophets were with them, helping them.

5:3At that very time Thanthanai, governor beyond the river, Satharbouzana and their fellow slaves came against them and said, “Who issued you a decision to build this house and put this provision in order?”

5:4Then they said these things to them: “What are the names of the men building this city?”

5:5But God’s eyes were upon the captivity of Judah, and they did not stop them until a report had been carried to Darius; then word was sent to the tax collector about this.

The Governors’ Report

5:6An account of the letter that Thanthanai, governor beyond the river, Satharbouzana and their fellow slaves the Apharsachaians beyond the river sent to Darius the king:

5:7They sent him a statement, and this is written in it: “To Darius the king: all peace.

5:8Let it be known to the king that we went to the country of Judea, to the house of the great God. It is being built with selected stones, and timber is being placed in the walls. That work is being done skillfully and is advancing well in their hands.

5:9Then we questioned those elders and said to them, ‘Who issued you a decision to build this house and put this provision in order?’

5:10We also asked them their names to make them known to you, so that we could write to you the names of the men who lead them.

The Elders’ Answer and the Request for a Search

5:11They answered us with this statement: ‘We are slaves of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house that was built many years before this. A great king of Israel built it and put it in order

5:12for them. But from the time our fathers provoked the God of heaven, He gave them into the hands of Nabouchodonosor king of Babylon, the Chaldean. He dismantled this house and deported the people to Babylon.

5:13But in the first year of Cyrus the king, King Cyrus issued a decision for this house of God to be built.

5:14And the gold and silver vessels of God’s house that Nabouchodonosor took from the house in Jerusalem and carried to the king’s sanctuary—King Cyrus took them from the king’s sanctuary and gave them to Sasabasar, the treasury keeper in charge of the treasury,

5:15and said to him, ‘Take all the vessels, go and place them in the house in Jerusalem, in their own place.’

5:16Then that Sasabasar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that time until now it has been built, but it has not been completed.’

5:17Now, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the treasury house of the king of Babylon, so that you may know that King Cyrus issued a decision to build that house of God in Jerusalem. When the king has learned about this, let him send word to us.”

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.