¹Now 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 .

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 , 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?”

⁴They also asked for the names of the men 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 should come to Darius , and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it .

⁶The copy of the letter that Tattenai , the governor beyond the River , and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River , sent to Darius the king follows.

⁷They sent a letter to him , in which was written :