Bible Study Ezra 5
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Ezra 5 · WEB

The Temple Work Resumes

Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.

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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, who was over them.
2Then 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.
3At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar Bozenai and their companions came to them and said this to them: "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?"
4Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were who were making this building.
5But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn't make them cease until the matter came to Darius and then an answer was returned by letter concerning it.
6This is the copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor beyond the River, and Shethar Bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.
7They sent a letter to him in which was written thus: "To Darius the king, all peace.
8Be 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.
9Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?'
10We also asked them their names, in order to inform you, that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.
11They 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.
12But after 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.
13But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
14Also Cyrus the king brought out from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver vessels of God's house which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was at Jerusalem and had brought them into the temple of Babylon; and these were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
15He said to him, "Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is at Jerusalem, and let God's house be built in its place."
16Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of God's house which is at Jerusalem; and since that time even until now it has been in building, and yet it is not completed.'
17Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house there at Babylon, to see whether a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king's pleasure be sent to us concerning this matter."
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Summary

After years of inactivity, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah stir up Zerubbabel and Jeshua to resume building. When the Persian governor Tattenai investigates and challenges their authority, the Jewish elders calmly explain: Cyrus authorized this project, we are servants of the God of heaven, and if you check the archives you'll find proof. Crucially, "the eye of their God was on the elders" — Tattenai did not stop the work while he waited for Darius's answer. The builders keep building.

Themes

  • Prophetic encouragement as the catalyst for renewed action
  • God's protecting hand allowing work to continue despite challenge
  • Bold, confident testimony when questioned about God-given work

Key verses

  • Ezra 5:1-2 — “The prophets... prophesied to the Jews... Then Zerubbabel... and Jeshua... rose up and began to build.”
  • Ezra 5:11 — “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago.”
  • Ezra 5:5 — “But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn't make them cease.”

Context & background

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah both date their prophecies to the second year of Darius (520 BC) — after a roughly 16-year stoppage of temple building following the events of chapter 4. Haggai 1 records God's rebuke that the people were building their own houses while God's house lay in ruins. Tattenai was the Persian governor of the Trans-Euphrates satrapy — a higher official than local governors. His letter to Darius is preserved in Aramaic (Ezra is bilingual: Hebrew chs. 1-4:7; Aramaic 4:8-6:18; then Hebrew again). The elders' response (vv. 11-16) is a masterpiece of diplomatic history: they appeal to Cyrus, place their project within Persian imperial authorization, and do not stop working while the case is reviewed.

Cross-references

  • Acts 5:38-39 — Gamaliel: "If it is of God, you won't be able to overthrow it" — the same principle at work here
  • Ezra 1:1-4 — Cyrus's original decree, now cited by the Jewish elders as their authority
  • Haggai 1:2-14 — The prophetic rebuke that prompted this renewal; "Is it time for you to dwell in your paneled houses?"
  • Proverbs 21:1 — "The king's heart is in Yahweh's hand" — God is working through Darius just as he did through Cyrus
  • Zechariah 4:6 — "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit" — the prophetic word behind the renewed effort

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    Who prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, prompting the renewed building effort?

  2. Observe

    What did the Jewish elders tell Tattenai when he challenged their authority to build?

  3. Interpret

    What does the phrase "the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews" reveal theologically?

  4. Interpret

    Why was the elders' transparent and honest response to Tattenai, including admitting their ancestors' sin, more effective than defensiveness?

  5. Apply

    What might God be prompting you to restart after a long pause, as Haggai and Zechariah called the people back to building?

  6. Apply

    How should we respond when God-given work is questioned or challenged by authorities?

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