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: