Ezra 5: Building Again

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in the name of the God of Israel. Zerubbabel and Jeshua began again to build God's house, and the prophets helped them. Tattenai the governor asked who had given them permission, but the eye of their God was on the elders, and the work was not stopped. Tattenai wrote to King Darius, reporting the Jews' answer that Cyrus had decreed the house should be built, and asking that the royal records be searched.

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Read Ezra 5

World English Bible · 17 verses

¹ Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and asked them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ They also asked for the names of the men who were making this building.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king follows.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Ezra 5 · Preschool

Back to Work!

Name Date

Color the builders and the prophets! God's prophets helped the people build again.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.”

Ezra 5:2 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God sent prophets to cheer on His people. God watched over them while they worked.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Ezra 5 · Grade 4

Prophets and Builders

Name Date

Read and Think

After years of waiting, God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. They prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel. Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build God's house again. The prophets were with them and helped them.

Then Tattenai the governor came. He asked who had told them to build. He asked for the names of the men. But the eye of God was on the elders. The work did not stop while the king was asked.

Tattenai wrote down what the Jews said. They called themselves servants of the God of heaven and earth. They said their fathers had made God angry. So the house had been torn down. But in his first year, Cyrus had decreed that it be rebuilt and had returned the temple vessels. Tattenai asked that the king's treasure house be searched.

Show What You Know

Which prophets did God raise up?
What two things did Tattenai ask?
Why was the work not stopped?
What did the Jews say about why the first house was destroyed?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

HaggaieldersGodbuildprophets

After years of waiting, God sent the prophets and Zechariah.
They prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the of Israel.
The were with them and helped them.
He asked who had told them to .
But the eye of God was on the .

Think About It

God sent prophets to encourage the builders. Who encourages you in your faith, and whom could you encourage?
The eye of God was on the elders. How does it help to know that God watches over you?

Memory Verse

“Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel.”

Ezra 5:1 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for watching over me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How did God restart the work on His house?
How did the builders answer the governor?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Ezra 5 · Grade 5

Under God's Watchful Eye

Name Date

Read and Think

Ezra 5 marks a turning point. The temple work had stood still since the days of Cyrus. God did not send a new decree from a king first; He sent His word through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Their messages, preserved in the books that bear their names, called the people to put God's house first. Zerubbabel and Jeshua responded, and the prophets stood with them.

The renewed work drew attention. Tattenai, the Persian governor beyond the River, came to ask who had authorized it and took the builders' names. Ezra notes that the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so the officials let the work go on while they wrote to Darius.

The letter preserves the Jews' testimony. They said they were servants of the God of heaven and earth, rebuilding a house that a great king of Israel had built. They confessed that their fathers' sin had led to the exile. They pointed to Cyrus's decree and the returned vessels, and they asked that the archives be searched. The builders answered with honesty and humility, trusting God to defend His own work.

Show What You Know

What did God send first to restart the work?
What did Tattenai record?
Why did the officials let the work continue?
What did the Jews confess about the exile?
How did the builders answer?

Crossword

Across

A prophet who helped the builders.
Leaders of the Jews.

Down

What they began to do again.
We are the servants of the God of ____ and earth
the ____ of their God was on the elders of the Jews

Think About It

The builders explained their faith honestly to a powerful official. How can you speak about your faith with honesty and humility?
God restarted the work by His word. How does reading God's word encourage you to obey Him?

Memory Verse

“But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.”

Ezra 5:5 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for watching over me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How does God watch over His people today?
Who could you encourage this week?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All Ezra chapters · All books

Ezra 5: Building Again

Read Ezra 5

Worksheets

Back to Work!

Prayer

Take It Home

God Watches

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God's Eye on Them

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Building Again

Prayer

Take It Home

Start Again!

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Eye of God

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Building Again

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Prophets and Builders

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Under God's Watchful Eye

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options