Ezra 5: The Prophets Stir the Work
Haggai and Zechariah rouse the builders, the work resumes, and God's watching eye keeps it going while officials inquire.
Ezra 5 (WEB)
1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel they prophesied to them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
4 Then we told them in this way, what the names of the men were who were making this building.
5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king;
7 they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.
9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.
11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
14 The gold and silver vessels also of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
15 and he said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’
16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed.
17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”
Ezra 5 (KJV)
1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar–boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar–boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Ezra 5 (ASV)
1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel prophesied they unto them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
4 Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building.
5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king;
7 they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands.
9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
10 We asked them their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
14 And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
15 and he said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not completed.
17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Summary
After years of standstill, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah begin to prophesy to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, speaking in the name of the God of Israel. Stirred by their words, Zerubbabel and Jeshua rise and resume building the house of God, with the prophets of God at their side, helping them. At once Tattenai, the governor of the region beyond the River, and his companions come and demand to know who authorized the building and the work. Yet the eye of their God is on the elders of the Jews, so the officials do not force them to stop while the matter is referred to Darius. Tattenai sends a careful letter to the king reporting the diligent progress and recording the Jews' own answer: they are servants of the God of heaven and earth, rebuilding a house first built by a great king of Israel long ago. They explain that their fathers' sin led to exile under Nebuchadnezzar, but that Cyrus had decreed the temple be rebuilt and the vessels restored. They ask the king to search the royal archives in Babylon to verify Cyrus's decree and to send his decision. The chapter shows God's word reviving the work and his eye protecting it.
Key Figures
- Haggai and Zechariah — The prophets who speak in God's name to stir the discouraged people to take up the rebuilding of the temple again.
- Zerubbabel and Jeshua — The leaders who, moved by the prophets, rise and resume the work on God's house in Jerusalem.
- Tattenai — The Persian governor beyond the River who questions the rebuilding and writes to Darius to verify its authorization.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God whose watching eye is upon the elders of the Jews, so that the work is not stopped while the matter goes to the king.
Key Verse
Ezra 5:5 (WEB)
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
Lessons Learned
- God's word, spoken through his prophets, reignites work that fear had stalled.
- Faithful leaders respond to God's word by taking up their tools again.
- God's watchful care protects his people even when authorities investigate them.
- We can give honest testimony about our God to those who question our faith.
- God's word revives stalled work. When Haggai and Zechariah "prophesied to the Jews," Zerubbabel and Jeshua "rose up... and began to build" (Ezra 5:1-2, WEB). A faithful word stirs weary hands to action.
- God's eye watches over his people. "The eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews" (Ezra 5:5, WEB), so the work was not stopped. His protective care surrounds those who obey him.
- Faith confesses God openly. The elders answered, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth" (Ezra 5:11, WEB). God's people can testify boldly when questioned.
- Honesty owns the past. They admitted their fathers "had provoked the God of heaven to wrath" and were exiled (Ezra 5:12, WEB). True testimony tells the whole truth, including judgment and mercy.
- What finally moves the people to resume the work after years of delay?
- How do Haggai and Zechariah "help" the builders besides simply preaching?
- What does it mean that "the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews"?
- How do the Jews answer the officials' questions about their God and their work?
- Where do you need God's word to stir you back to a good work you have set aside out of fear or discouragement?
- It is the prophetic word of Haggai and Zechariah that rouses Zerubbabel and Jeshua to build again (5:1-2). Human encouragement and willpower had not been enough; God's word does what fear had paralyzed. Help the group see preaching and Scripture as means God uses to move us.
- The prophets prophesy in God's name and stand with the builders, "helping them" (5:1-2). Faithful proclamation is itself practical help, lending courage and conviction to the work. Encouragement grounded in God's word strengthens hands as truly as labor does.
- Even under official scrutiny, God's protective gaze rested on his people so the work continued while the case went to Darius (5:5). God's providence does not always remove opposition but often holds it back. Invite the group to recall times God quietly shielded them.
- They confess plainly that they serve "the God of heaven and earth" and rebuild his house, owning even their fathers' sin and the exile (5:11-12). Their testimony is humble and bold at once. It models honest witness that neither hides God nor hides the truth about ourselves.
- This is a personal-application question. The prophets' words restarted a stalled work. As leader, invite members to name a good thing they have abandoned and to seek God's word as the spark to begin again, with the assurance that his eye is upon them.