Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The prophets Haggai and Zecharia speak to the returnees, and the Temple’s construction begins. When the governor questions the Jews about the legality of the operation, they tell him to speak to King Darius.
II. Photo
The governor describes the building process: “Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being rebuilt of hewn stone…” (v. 8 )
III. Important Verses
v. 2: Thereupon Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began rebuilding the House of God in Jerusalem, with the full support of the prophets of God.
vv. 7-8: They sent a message to him and this is what was written in it: “To King Darius, greetings, and so forth. Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being rebuilt of hewn stone, and wood is being laid in the walls. The work is being done with dispatch and is going well.
vv. 11-13: This is what they answered us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth; we are rebuilding the house that was originally built many years ago; a great king of Israel built it and completed it. But because our fathers angered the God of Heaven, He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who demolished this house and exiled the people to Babylon. But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus issued an order to rebuild this House of God.
IV. Outline
1-2. The Jews begin to rebuild the Temple
3-17. The governor tells King Darius their plans
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo taken from http://www.dukeconcrete.com/2006images/cutstone_sanfrancisco.jpg
