Now in the second year of the reign of Darius: Now translates a weak conjunction in Greek; it indicates a change of direction or emphasis in the narrative. Translators may use such a word, or they may follow Good News Bible in simply beginning this story without such a term. For Darius see the comments on 1 Esd 2.30. This whole phrase may be rendered “During the second year that Darius reigned [or, was king].”

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judea and Jerusalem: In many languages prophets will be translated “God’s messengers [or, spokesmen]” (see 1 Esd 1.20), and the verb prophesied means that these men delivered a message or messages from God that God wanted the Jews to hear. In English the word prophets is often taken to refer to people who predict the future. Prophets sometimes did this, but at other times their messages were warnings, words of comfort, or as in this case, directions as to what people should do. The message that these prophets delivered was that God wanted the people to rebuild the Temple. The only information that we have about Haggai is found in the book of Haggai, which records his prophecies during the second year of the reign of King Darius. Zechariah is identified as a son of Iddo. In Zech 1.1 he is identified as “the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo.” Iddo is listed in Neh 12.4, 16 as the head of a priestly clan that included Zechariah. So Zechariah son of Iddo may be rendered “Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo.”

They prophesied to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel means the messages delivered by these prophets came from God. They were speaking for God. For the Lord God of Israel, see the comments on 1 Esd 1.48 and 5.67-68.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• During the second year that Darius reigned [or, ruled], two prophets [or, two of God’s spokesmen], Haggai and Zechariah son [or, descendant] of Iddo, spoke to the Jews of Judah and Jerusalem, telling them what the Lord God of Israel wanted them to hear.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.