2. When Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak heard their messages, they began to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and the two prophets helped them.
3. Almost at once Sisinnes, governor of Greater Syria and Phoenicia, with Shethar Bozenai and their fellow-officials, came to Jerusalem and demanded:
4. “Who gave you orders to build this temple and complete this roof and everything else? Who is doing this work?”
5. But the Lord was with the people who had returned from exile and was watching over the Jewish leaders,
6. and they were allowed to continue building until Darius could be informed and his reply received.
7. This is the report that the Persian officials sent to the emperor:
8. “To Emperor Darius, greetings.“Your Majesty should know that we went to Judah and to Jerusalem and there we found the leaders of the Jews who had returned from exile
9. building a large new temple for the Lord with expensive, shaped stone blocks and with wooden beams set in the walls.