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)

The People’s Response

¹² Then Zerubbabel^(A) son of Shealtiel, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the entire remnant of the people^(B) obeyed the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. So the people feared the Lord.^(C)

¹⁴ The Lord roused the spirit^(A) of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the spirit of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. They began work on the house of the Lord of Armies, their God,

⁴ Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel—this is the Lord’s declaration.^(A) Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land—this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you^(B)—the declaration of the Lord of Armies.

²¹ “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.^(A)

²³ On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like my signet ring,^(A) for I have chosen you.”^(B) This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.

From the Exile to the Messiah