Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
Then the prophets ... prophesied ... in the name of the God of Israel. From the recorded writings of Haggai and Zechariah, it appears that the difficulties experienced, and the many obstacles thrown in the way, had first cooled the Jews in the building of the temple, and then led to an abandonment of the work, under a pretended belief that the time for rebuilding it had not yet come (Haggai 1:2-11). For 15 years the work was completely suspended. These two prophets upbraided them with severe reproaches for their sloth, negligence, and worldly selfishness (Haggai 1:4), threatened them with severe judgments if they continued backward, and promised that they would be blessed with great national prosperity if they resumed and prosecuted the work with alacrity and vigour. "Zechariah the son of Iddo" - i:e., grandson (Zechariah 1:1).