Rebuilding the Temple

⁸ In the second month of the second year after they arrived at God’s house in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak,^(A) and the rest of their brothers, including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began to build. They appointed the Levites who were 20 years old or more to supervise the work on the Lord’s house.^(B)

² Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak^(A) began to rebuild God’s house in Jerusalem. The prophets of God^(B) were with them, helping them.

Command to Rebuild the Temple

1 In the second year of King Darius,^[a](A) on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai^(B) the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,^(C) the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:^(D)

²¹ “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.^(A)

²³ On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like My signet ring,^(A) for I have chosen you.”^(B) This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.