1. In the second year of Darius’ rule, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Iddo’s son) prophesied to the Judeans who were in Judea and in Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel, who is ruler over them.
2. Then Zerubbabel, Shealtiel’s son, and Jeshua, Jozadak’s son, went up and began to build the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, assisted by the Lord’s prophets.
3. At the same time, Sisinnes, the commander of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes and their associates came to them and said,
4. "By whose order are you building this house and this roof and finishing all the other things? Who are the builders who are doing all of these things?"
5. Yet the elders of the Judeans enjoyed the gracious protection of the Lord on the exiles,
6. and they weren’t prevented from building until Darius could be informed about them and return an answer.
7. Here is a copy of the letter that Sisinnes, the commander of Syria and Phoenicia, Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, the local officials in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote to Darius:
8. To King Darius. Greetings.Our master the king, may you know that when we came to the country of Judea and entered the city of Jerusalem, we found the elders of the Jews, who had been in captivity, building in the city of Jerusalem a large new house for the Lord, of polished stone with costly beams set in the walls.
9. These projects are proceeding swiftly, and the overall work is succeeding. They are completing it with brillance and precision.
10. So we asked these elders, "By whose command are you building this house and laying the foundations of this project?"
11. In order that we might inform you, we questioned them about who the leaders are and demanded a list of the names of the troublemakers.