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Ezra 5

Ezra 5 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

After the work on the temple had stalled, God sends the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to stir the people again. Zerubbabel and Jeshua lead the rebuilding, while local officials question their authority and begin an official review of the project.

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What happens in Ezra 5?

Ezra 5 describes a renewed push to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Haggai and Zechariah prophesy in God's name, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua respond by resuming the work, with the prophets supporting them. Tattenai and other officials ask who authorized the rebuilding and then send a report to King Darius. In that report, they describe the project, summarize the Jews' answer, and note their claim that Cyrus had issued a decree for the house of God to be rebuilt. The chapter ends with a request to check the royal records and wait for the king's decision.

Ezra 5 comes after opposition has already interrupted the rebuilding effort described earlier in the book. This chapter marks a turning point, showing God's prophets reawakening the work and setting up the legal and political question that will be answered in the next chapter.

Themes to notice

  • Prophetic encouragementGod uses Haggai and Zechariah to prompt the people to resume the work.
  • Obedient rebuildingZerubbabel, Jeshua, and the Jewish elders move forward with the temple despite scrutiny.
  • Official investigationLocal officials question the project and send a formal report to King Darius.

Questions for Ezra 5

  • How do Haggai and Zechariah help restart the temple work in this chapter?
  • Why does Tattenai question the rebuilding, and how do the Jewish leaders answer?
  • What does this chapter show about God's care for his people during opposition?

Read the full text of Ezra 5 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Ezra 5

Temple Rebuilding Resumes

1Later, 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.

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.

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

6This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.7The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace.

8Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones, and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.9So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”10We also asked for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.11And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.12But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this temple and carried away the people to Babylon.13In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.14He also removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken and carried there from the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus gave these articles to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed governor15and instructed, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.’16So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”

17Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

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