³ But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel’s families answered them, ‘You may have no part with us in building a house for our God,^(A) since we alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.’^(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 the prophet^(B) Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,^(C) the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:^(D)