Book 36 : KETUVIM - EZRA - Chapter 005
05:001
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 G-d of Israel prophesied they unto them
05:002
Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua
the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of G-d which is at Jerusalem;
and with them were the prophets of G-d, helping them
05:003
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 structure?
05:004
'Then spoke we unto them after this manner ,wrote they:
What are the names of the men that build this building?
05:005
But the eye of their G-d 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
05:006
The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond
the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharesachites, who were
beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king
05:007
they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus:
'Unto Darius the king, all peace
05:008
Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province
of Judah, to the house of the great G-d, 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
05:009
Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus: Who
gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall
05:010
We asked them their names also, to announce to thee, that
we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them
05:011
And thus they returned us answer, saying: We are the
servants of the G-d of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded
these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished
05:012
But because that our fathers had provoked the G-d of
heaven, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the
Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon
05:013
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the
king made a decree to build this house of G-d
05:014
And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of G-d,
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
05:015
and he said unto him: Take these vessels, go, put them in
the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of G-d be builded in its
place
05:016
Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations
of the house of G-d which is in Jerusalem; and since that time even until now
hath it been in building, and yet it is not completed
05:017
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let search be
made in the king's treasure-house there, which is at Babylon, whether it be so,
that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of G-d at
Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Book 36 : KETUVIM - EZRA - Chapter 005
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