Zerubbabel (1 Chronicles 3:17–19; Ezra 2:1–2; Ezra 3:2; Ezra 3:8–13; Ezra 4:1–5; Ezra 5:1–2; Nehemiah 7:5–7; Nehemiah 12:1; Nehemiah 12:47; Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:12–15; Haggai 2:2–4; Haggai 2:20–23; Zechariah 4:6–10; Matthew 1:12–13; Luke 3:27)

Governor of Judah who began to build the house of God

Named first among those who came up out of the captivity, he and Jeshua built the altar, began the house of God, refused the adversaries a share in it, obeyed the word of the LORD by Haggai when the work had ceased, and is the one of whom the LORD says, “I have chosen thee” (Haggai 2:23).

He is listed in 1 Chronicles among the descendants of Jeconiah, and his father is given in two ways: “And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei” (1 Chronicles 3:19), and “Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel” (Ezra 3:2). Matthew writes, “Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel” (Matthew 1:12), and Luke has “the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel” (Luke 3:27). Ezra and Nehemiah name him first among those who came up out of the captivity: “who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah … ” (Ezra 2:2). Haggai gives him the title “governor of Judah” (Haggai 1:1).

Ezra tells that “Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel” (Ezra 3:2), and that in the second year of their coming he and Jeshua began the house, whose foundation was laid (Ezra 3:8-11). When the adversaries asked to build with them, he, Jeshua and the heads of fathers’ houses answered, “Ye have nothing to do with us” (Ezra 4:3); the work then ceased until the second year of Darius (Ezra 4:24). In that year the word of the LORD came by Haggai to him and to Joshua the high priest, and he “obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God” (Haggai 1:12); “Then rose up Zerubbabel … and began to build the house of God” (Ezra 5:2).

The word that follows is addressed to him by name: “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah” (Haggai 2:4), and “will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant … and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee” (Haggai 2:23). Zechariah is told, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it” (Zechariah 4:9). Nehemiah speaks of “the days of Zerubbabel” (Nehemiah 12:47). Scripture does not record his death. The New Testament names him only in the genealogies of Matthew and Luke.

Strengths

• Obeyed the voice of the LORD

Themes

• Return from captivity
• The altar and the house
• Obedience to the word
• The day of small things
• A signet chosen by the LORD

Named first among those who came up (Ezra 2:1–2; Nehemiah 7:5–7)

The list of those who went up out of the captivity to Jerusalem and Judah names Zerubbabel first, and Nehemiah finds the same list written in the book of the genealogy.

The altar built (Ezra 3:1–7)

The people gather to Jerusalem; Jeshua and Zerubbabel and their brethren build the altar of the God of Israel and offer burnt-offerings, though the foundation of the temple is not yet laid.

The foundation laid (Ezra 3:8–13)

In the second year of their coming, Zerubbabel and Jeshua begin the work of the house of the LORD; the foundation is laid amid praise, shouting and weeping.

The foundation laid

“Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem” (Ezra 3:8).

“And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah” (Ezra 3:10). “And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid” (Ezra 3:11).

“But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, the old men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy” (Ezra 3:12).

The adversaries refused and the work ceases (Ezra 4:1–5; Ezra 4:24)

The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin ask to build with them; Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the heads of fathers' houses refuse, the people of the land weaken their hands, and the work ceases until the second year of Darius.

The adversaries refused and the work ceases

“Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel; then they drew near to Zerubabbel, and to the heads of fathers’ houses, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither” (Ezra 4:1-2).

“But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us” (Ezra 4:3).

“Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building” (Ezra 4:4). “Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia” (Ezra 4:24).

The word by Haggai and the obedience (Haggai 1:1–15)

In the second year of Darius the word of the LORD comes by Haggai to Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest; they obey, the LORD stirs up their spirit, and they come and work on the house.

The word by Haggai and the obedience

“In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (Haggai 1:1).

“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah” (Haggai 1:12).

“And Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work on the house of Jehovah of hosts, their God” (Haggai 1:14).

Rose up and began to build (Ezra 5:1–2)

Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesy to the Jews; Zerubbabel and Jeshua rise and begin to build the house of God, with the prophets of God helping them.

The word to Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:1–4; Haggai 2:20–23; Zechariah 4:6–10)

The LORD bids Zerubbabel be strong and work, calls him my servant, to be made as a signet, and tells Zechariah that his hands have laid the foundation and shall finish it.

The word to Zerubbabel

“Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people” (Haggai 2:2). “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work: for I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts” (Haggai 2:4).

In the ninth month the word came again to Haggai: “In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts” (Haggai 2:23).

To Zechariah the angel that talked with him said, “This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6), and the word of the LORD came: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it” (Zechariah 4:9).

In the days of Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 12:1; Nehemiah 12:47)

Nehemiah lists the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and says all Israel gave the portions of the singers and the porters in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah.

Jeshua the high priest (Ezra 3:2; Ezra 3:8; Haggai 1:12; Ezra 5:2)

Called Jeshua the son of Jozadak in Ezra and Joshua the son of Jehozadak in Haggai, he stood up with Zerubbabel to build the altar and began the house with him.

Haggai (Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:12)

The word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel obeyed the words of Haggai.

Zechariah the prophet (Ezra 5:1; Zechariah 4:6–9)

Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied with Haggai, and the angel gave him the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel.

Cyrus (Ezra 4:3)

Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' houses answered the adversaries that they would build as king Cyrus the king of Persia had commanded them.

Shealtiel (Ezra 3:2; Haggai 1:1; Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27; 1 Chronicles 3:19)

Zerubbabel is called the son of Shealtiel in Ezra, Haggai, Matthew and Luke, while 1 Chronicles reads, “And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei” (1 Chronicles 3:19).

Jehoiachin (1 Chronicles 3:17–19; Matthew 1:12)

1 Chronicles lists “the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son, and Malchiram, and Pedaiah” (1 Chronicles 3:17-18), then “the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel” (1 Chronicles 3:19).

The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin (Ezra 4:1–5)

They asked to build with him and were refused, and the people of the land then weakened the hands of the people of Judah.

The LORD (Haggai 1:14; Haggai 2:4; Haggai 2:23)

His word came to Zerubbabel by Haggai, stirred up his spirit, and called him my servant, chosen as a signet.

Major sections

• Ezra 2:1–2
• Ezra 3:1–13
• Ezra 4:1–5
• Ezra 5:1–2
• Haggai 1–2
• Zechariah 4:1–14
• Nehemiah 12:1
• Nehemiah 12:47

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