Haggai and Zechariah call to rebuild the Temple, with some encouraging prophecies for the Israel and messianic and end-times prophecies: Haggai 1–2:9; Zechariah 1–6; Haggai 2:10–23; Ezra 5:2; Zechariah 1:7–5:11

The first people to return to Jerusalem were said to be mostly priests. It’s too easy to think that they might not have been the most practical of people and that this might explain why the rebuilding of the Temple went more slowly than expected, even allowing for opposition.

God didn’t seem to give too many excuses, though. After all, it had been 18 years from King Cyrus’ decree (in 538 BC) to the second year of King Darius (520BC).

God’s view on events was:

^{Haggai 1:9} You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.