Zerubbabel, Leader in Rebuilding the Temple

“ ‘But now be strong, O Zerubbabbel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” (Haggai 2:4-5, NIV)

Three key leaders play a very important role in the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple after the Jews were captive in Babylon. Zerubbabel means “offspring of Babylon,” or “born in Babylon.” The other two who were leaders in the reconstruction and restoration were Ezra and Nehemiah. Zerubbabel restored the altar and then led in the reconstruction of the Temple. Nehemiah led in rebuilding the walls around the city of Jerusalem. Ezra led in restoring worship in Jerusalem. All three had an important role in the Lord’s work at a most difficult time in Israel’s history.

In Ezra 2 a list of those who returned to Israel is given, a total of 42,360, plus male and female servants and singers. In Ezra 3:2-3 we learn of Zerubbabel’s work: “Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests joined Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and began to build the altar of the God of Israel where they could offer burnt offerings, just as it is written in the teachings of Moses, the man of God. Even though they were afraid of the people living around them, they built the altar where it had been before. And they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord morning and evening.”

Scholars hold that Zerubbabel was given a place in King Darius’s service while still in Babylon and was recognized as “a prince of Judah,” and head of the tribe of Judah. He was also given an Aramaic name, Sheshbazzar, and appointed a governor of Judea by Cyrus (see Haggai 1:1). Times were hard and work took more than twenty years from the time Zerubbabel was released to return from Babylon to Judea. Much opposition came from enemies who did not want to see the Temple restored. Zerubbabel himself was distracted for a time by the building of his own house (see Haggai 1:2-4). Does this not remind us of how human we are, and how we can be led to neglect the Lord’s work for pursuits of our own? But God persisted with Zerubbabel, and finally the Temple was finished in 516 B. C. and dedicated with the observance of the Passover (see Ezra 6:19). This temple lacked the splendor of Solomon’s Temple, but it was a reminder to the people that they had a house of worship. As a result of his work, God blessed Zerubbabel: “ ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you as a signet ring; for I have chosen you.” (Haggai 2:23). Historians designate the second temple as “Zerubbabel’s Temple”.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, August 25, 2010