he rulers of the Jews,
by whose grant it was that they built the temple in this manner, since
it was more like to a citadel than a temple? and for what reason it was
that they built cloisters and walls, and those strong ones too, about
the city? To which Zorobabel and Jeshua the high priest replied, that
they were the servants of God Almighty; that this temple was built for
him by a king of theirs, that lived in great prosperity, and one that
exceeded all men in virtue; and that it continued a long time, but that
because of their fathers' impiety towards God, Nebuchadnezzar, king
of the Babylonians and of the Chaldeans, took their city by force,
and destroyed it, and pillaged the temple, and burnt it down, and
transplanted the people whom he had made captives, and removed them to
Babylon; that Cyrus, who, after him, was king of Babylonia and Persia,
wrote to them to build the temple, and committed the gifts and vessels,
and whatsoever Nebuchadnezzar had carried out of it, to Zorobabel,
and Mithridates the treasurer; and gave order to have them carried to
Jerusalem, and to have them restored to their own temple, when it was
built; for he had sent to them to have that done speedily, and commanded
Sanabassar to go up to Jerusalem, and to take care of the building
of the temple; who, upon receiving that epistle from Cyrus, came, and
immediately laid its foundations; "and although it hath been in building
from that time to this, it hath not yet been finished, by reason of the
malignity of our enemies. If therefore you have a mind, and think it
proper, write this account to Darius, that when he hath consulted the
records of the kings, he may find that we have told you nothing that is
false about this matter."

5. When Zorobabel and the high priest had made this answer, Sisinnes,
and those that were with him, did not resolve to hinder the building,
until they had informed king Darius of all this. So they immediately
wrote to him about these affairs; but as the Jews were now under
terror, and afraid lest the king should change his resolutions as to the
building of Jerusalem and of the temple, there were two prophets at that
time among them, Haggai and Zechariah, who encouraged them, and bid them
be of good cheer, and to suspect no discouragement from the Persians,
for that God foretold this to them. So, in dependence on those prophets,
they applied themselves earnestly to building, and did not intermit one
day.

6. Now Darius