1 THEN 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 God of Israel, even unto them.

2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. [ And if the prophets of God are helpping them then so is God. ]

3 ¶ At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? [ You were told to stop and yet you continue, who is giving you authority to do so? ]

4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

5  But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, [ I guess the proper answer to the question of who commanded you to continue to build would be God. God has told us he wants it done, and God is watching us to see that we do as he has asked us to do. ] till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

6 ¶ The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. [ They send another tattle tale letter to the king saying that they are still building this temple, and it is moving along at a good pace. Do you know what is still happening here. We thought that you had stopped it but no it has not stopped at all. ]

9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. [ We are commanded of God to do this and we are just picking up where soloman left off many years ago. ]

12  But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, [ This is still the Elders of the jews response. We are trying to fix where we went wrong many years ago. Our father's did not worship God as they were instructed as a result they we made captives, and the temple was destroyed, It's our history and we own our mistakes and now we are trying to make things right. We were destroyed not because we were bad by the standards of the world, but we were bad by the standards of God. As a result we were lead away as we no longer had the protection for God. ] the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. [ Then they respond if you look at the history since we are taking about it. Have you not looked at the history to see that it was your own king who declared that the temple should be rebuild. He encouraged us to do it we are doing as he wanted. Have you forgotten what Cyrus did at the very start of his reign. Remember he said see verse 17. ]

14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, 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;

15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, [ Please while you are checking the history, the records will you look and see what the records say about us rebuilding the temple here in Jerusalem. If you do you will see a decree from Cyrus to do so. ] which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter. [ And when you check those records you will see that we were doing as we were instructed, so if it's still ok we would like to proceed, and if not then just let us know. So the Jews have turned things around on the Samaritans. The Samaritans suggested for the kings to read the history, now the Jews are suggesting please do. But make sure you read all of the history including the parts that suggest that we are doing as we were directed by king Cyrus. When you do all will be well we know it. ]