The Second Temple Completed
The first returnees lay the foundation and hold a dedication at which the noise is impossible to sort out: the young shout for joy while the old men who had seen the first temple weep aloud, and no one can distinguish the two sounds.
Then the work stops for around sixteen years — local opposition, an appeal to the Persian court, and, as Haggai bluntly puts it, a people busy panelling their own houses while the house of God lies in ruins. Haggai and Zechariah preach the project back into motion, and a search of the royal archives at Ecbatana turns up Cyrus's original decree, which Darius upholds and funds from provincial taxes.
Zechariah's word to Zerubbabel — not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit — and his question about who despises the day of small things speak directly to a building visibly poorer than the one it replaced.
Where in scripture
[1] When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. [2] Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. [3] In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings on it to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening. [4] They kept the feast of tents, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required; …
Ezra 3:1–13 — opening verses
[1] Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel. [2] Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up 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 Tattenai, the governor beyond the River came to them, with Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and asked them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?” [4] They also asked for the names of the men were who were making this building. …
Ezra 5:1–17 — opening verses
[1] Then Darius the king made a decree, and the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, was searched. [2] A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record: [3] In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; with its height sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits; [4] with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. …
Ezra 6:1–22 — opening verses
[1] In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, Yahweh’s word came by Haggai, the prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, [2] “This is what Yahweh of Armies says: These people say, ‘The time hasn’t yet come, the time for Yahweh’s house to be built.’” [3] Then Yahweh’s word came by Haggai, the prophet, saying, [4] “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies waste? [5] Now therefore this is what Yahweh of Armies says: Consider your ways. …
Haggai 1:1–15 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
