The Command to Rebuild the Temple

1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: ² Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. ³ Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: ⁴ Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins? ⁵ Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. ⁶ You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes.

⁷ Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. ⁸ Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured, says the Lord.

Herod’s Perplexity

⁷ Now Herod the ruler^[a] heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸ by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. ⁹ Herod said, ‘John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he tried to see him.