Ezra 3 · a question people ask
Who laid the foundation: Zerubbabel, or Sheshbazzar?
This chapter says "Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work" (3:8), and "the builders laid the foundation of the LORD’s temple" (3:10). The book of Zechariah says, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house" (Zechariah 4:9). Later in Ezra, in the letter Tattenai the governor sent to Darius (Ezra 5:6), the elders' answer is reported: "Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 5:16). Ezra doesn't say whether Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel are one man or two; Ezra 1's honest question on who Sheshbazzar was sets the verses side by side, and these notes don't fit them together either.
The verses
“Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the LORD’s house.”
“When the builders laid the foundation of the LORD’s temple, they set the priests in their vestments with trumpets, with the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel.”
““The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you.”
“The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king follows.”