And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
The Jewish elders continued building, and they succeeded because of the encouraging messages from the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (the son of Iddo). They built and completed the work, following both God's command and the orders of the Persian kings Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes.
The writer is showing how God's people successfully rebuilt the temple by following both God's direction and working within the political system He had arranged.
📚 Historical Context
This describes the completion of the second temple in Jerusalem around 516 BC, after the Jews returned from Babylonian exile. The Persian kings had given permission and resources for this rebuilding project, while the prophets Haggai and Zechariah provided spiritual encouragement when the work had stalled due to opposition and discouragement.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.