The house that was about to be rebuilt had been the subject of many prophecies concerning the favor that God desired to show Zion, and all who were present at the laying of the cornerstone should have entered heartily into the spirit of the occasion. Yet mingled with the music and the shouts of praise that were heard on that glad day, was a discordant note. "Many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice." Verse 12. 564

Dette hus, som var ved at blive genopbygget, var omtalt i mange profetier, som omhandlede Guds velvilje over for Zion. Derfor burde alle de, der var til stede ved grundstensnedlæggelsen, også have taget del i feststemningen. Men det gjorde de ikke. Ind imellem musikken og jubelråbene hørtes der en mislyd. "Mange af præsterne, levitterne og overhovederne for fædrenehusene, de gamle, der havde set det første tempel, græd højt, da de så grunden blive lagt til dette tempel." 12. vers.