Zerubbabel
Zerubbabel: The Head of Judah
The name "Zerubbabel" means born at Babel, i.e., Babylon.
Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin of Judah (1 Chronicle 3:17) and, therefore, a descendant of David. Born in Babylon during the exile of Judeans, Zerubbabel migrated to Judah after King Cyrus II allowed the banished tribe to return to their home to restore the Temple. The prophet Haggai identifies Zerubbabel as the head of Judah after the exile.
Zerubbabel was the head of the tribe of Judah at the time of the Return from the Babylonian captivity in the first year of Cyrus. According to the story of Zerubbabel in the Scriptures: In the first year of Cyrus, he was living in Babylon, and was the recognized prince of Judah in captivity, what in later times was called "the prince of the captivity," or "the prince." He was probably in the King of Babylon's service, both from receiving a Chaldee name Sheshbazzar, like Daniel and the three children, and from the Persian King appointed him to the office of Governor of Judea. On the issuing of Cyrus' decree, he immediately availed himself of it and placed himself at the head of those of his countrymen "whose spirit God had raised to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem."
Zerubbabel in Jerusalem: Rebuilding the Temple
On arriving at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel's great work, which he set about instantly, was rebuilding the Temple. In the second month of the second year of the Return, the foundation was set with all the magnificence which could be commanded. The efforts of the Samaritans were successful in putting a stop to the work during the seven remaining years of the reign of Cyrus and through the eight years of Cambyses and Smerdis. Nor does Zerubbabel seem quite completely innocent for this long delay.
The foundation of the new Temple revealed that this was going to be significantly smaller than Solomon's original, to the sorrow of those who recalled the former Temple: "Many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid" (Ezra 3:12). The prophet Haggai responded to their displeasure: "'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? However, now be strong, Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord... 'Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty" (Haggai 2:3–4).
The difficulties in building the Temple were not such as the need had stopped the work, but during this long suspension of sixteen years, Zerubbabel and the rest of the people had been busy building costly houses for themselves. However, in the second year of Darius, a light dawned upon the darkness of the colony from Babylon. During that time, the spirit of prophecy suddenly blazed up with a brilliant light among the returned captives. In a moment, Zerubbabel roused from his apathy and threw his whole strength into the work. After much opposition and many hindrances find delays, the Temple was finished in the sixth year of Darius and was dedicated with much pomp and rejoicing.
Although Zerubbabel's Temple was less in size than Solomon's, God affirmed a more incredible honor: "The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house," said the Lord (Haggai 2:9). The glory given onto Zerubbabel's Temple came many years later when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the temple halls.
The Other Works of Zerubbabel
The only other works of Zerubbabel of which we learn from Scripture are the restoration of the courses of priests and Levites and the provision for their maintenance, according to the institution of David (Ezra 6:18; Nehemiah 12:47), the registering of the returned captives according to their genealogies, (Nehemiah 7:5) and the keeping of a Passover in the seventh year of Darius, with which the last event ends all that we know of the life of Zerubbabel.
Bible Verses about Zerubbabel
• On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the Son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts." - Haggai 2:23 ESV
• "Speak now to Zerubbabel the Son of Shealtiel, Governor of Judah, and to Joshua the Son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, - Haggai 2:2 ESV
• In the second month of the second year after they arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel Son of Shealtiel, Joshua Son of Jozadak, and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the LORD. - Ezra 3:8 NIV
• they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here." But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the King of Persia, commanded us." - Ezra 4:2-3 NIV
• Then Zerubbabel, Son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, Son of Jozadak, set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Furthermore, the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. - Ezra 5:2 NIV
Zerubbabel was born to a Judean family exiled in Babylon sometime after the second Jewish deportation of 597 B.C. His name is of Babylonian origin and means "seed or offspring of Babylon." He came from a lineage heir to the Davidic throne since he was the grandson of King Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah, 1 Chr. 3:17–19; cf. Mt. 1:12), second to the last King of Judah.
Zerubbabel is called the "son of Shealtiel" (Ezra 3:2, 8; 5:2; Neh. 12:1; Hag. 1:1), but the genealogy in 1 Chronicle 3:19 identifies him as the Son of Pedaiah, Shealtiel's younger brother. One commentary explains:
This problem is usually resolved by assuming that Pedaiah was the adoptive Father of Zerubbabel or that Shealtiel died childlessly and that Pedaiah married the widow of his brother and had a son with her; this Son, by the law of levirate marriage (Deut. 25:5–10), was legally considered to be a son of Shealtiel.
Years before Babylon destroyed Judah, Jeremiah prophesied that the Jewish people would be in exile for 70 years (Jer. 25:11), after which they would be restored to their land. In 539 B.C. Babylon fell to the Persian Empire under Cyrus II. Cyrus granted the Jewish captives the right to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple (2 Chr. 36:22–23; Ezra 1:2–3). He also funded the project (Ezra 1:2–4; 6:3–5, 8–10).
Construction Troubles
Zerubbabel was selected to lead the first group of returnees in 536 B.C. (Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7; 12:1). Under his leadership, nearly 50,000 people took advantage of Cyrus's offer and returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 2:64–65). When Zerubbabel arrived, he was appointed Governor and given oversight of the Temple construction (Hag. 1:1). Immediately, along with the priests, he restored the altar of burnt offering and, in the second month of the second year, started to lay the Temple's foundation (Ezra 3:2).
Soon after work began on the Temple, opposition arose. Samaritans (a mixed race of Jews and Gentiles from northern Israel, 2 Ki. 17:24–31) volunteered to help. Zerubbabel rejected their offer because they did not follow the God of Israel. An ungodly alliance with them would have weakened or even stopped Israel's resolve to finish the project.
Rejected, the Samaritans wrote to the Persian court, petitioning that the project be stopped. King Artaxerxes shut down the work, and construction ceased for 16 years.
Other factors also contributed to the stoppage:
1. Gentiles hired counselors to intimidate the workers and frustrate construction.
2. Workers grew discouraged because of their poverty; lack of food and shelter; and the deplorable condition of Jerusalem, which lay in rubble.
3. People began building their own houses and businesses (Ezra 4). The prophet Haggai castigated the returnees for their selfishness and negligence in not finishing the Temple.
Sixteen years later, an angel informed the prophet, Zechariah, that Zerubbabel would complete the project (Zech. 4:1, 8). Through Zechariah, the angel told Zerubbabel that the Temple would not be completed through Judah's strength, wisdom, wealth, or military power but exclusively through the power of God's Spirit. This message and others from Haggai and Zechariah inspired Israel to resume construction.
Singing and Weeping
As the Temple foundation was laid, people reacted in two ways. Those who had never seen the grandeur of Solomon's Temple sang, shouted, and praised the Lord. But the older generation wept loudly and profusely because Zerubbabel's Temple could not compare in size or splendor to the Temple they remembered (Ezra 3:8–13). This Temple's Holy of Holies did not possess the Ark of the Covenant or the Shekinah glory of God.
God silenced the critics: "For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the L???, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth" (Zech. 4:10). In other words, while Zerubbabel worked, the Lord watched over the project, making sure it would be completed according to His will. Nothing is hidden from God's infinite intelligence and omniscience. He providentially watches over Israel against its enemies and will accomplish His sovereign program for the Jewish people.
God told Israel, "But from this day I will bless you" (Hag. 2:19). He assured Zerubbabel that Gentile opposition could not stop the completion of the Temple, nor would it destroy Israel. In his final message, Haggai further encouraged Zerubbabel by announcing that Israel will ultimately triumph over all its enemies when the long-expected Messiah comes to judge the Gentiles (vs. 20–23).
Haggai told Zerubbabel he was explicitly "chosen" to be "like a signet ring" (v. 23) before the nation of Israel, not only then but in the future. A signet ring represents a king's royal authority. It was used as the King's signature to validate a sealed document (1 Ki. 21:8) and guarantee its promises would be fulfilled (Gen. 38:18). By making Zerubbabel His signet, God reversed the curse and judgment pronounced on Coniah (also called Jeconiah) the Son of Jehoiakim (Jer. 22:24). It was prophesied of Coniah, "Thus says the L???: 'Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not prosper in his days; for none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah'" (v. 30). This prophecy did not mean the King would be childless, for he was not (1 Chr. 3:17–18). Rather, he would be written childless—that is, none of his descendants would be listed with the kings of Judah.
In other words, God renewed His promise that the Davidic line would not die out but would one day give birth to Israel's Messiah. Zerubbabel is recorded in Christ's genealogy (Mt. 1:12; Lk. 3:27). This promise assured the Governor that blessing would once more flow to Judah in his day and symbolized the blessing yet in store for Judah during the Messiah's reign. Haggai's prophecy to Zerubbabel was irrefutable evidence to Israel and its enemies that God's Spirit would enable the nation to finish reconstructing the Temple. Four years later, Zerubbabel put the capstone in place, signifying the Temple was finished (Ezra 6:13–18; Zech. 4:7–10). The year was 515 B.C., beginning what is commonly called the second Temple period.
