Ezra5

Encouraged by prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua resumed building the Temple in Jerusalem. This activity prompted Tatnai, the Persian governor, to question their authority and report the matter to King Darius. The Jews' God protected them, preventing the work from stopping until a formal inquiry was sent to the king.
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Prophets Encourage Temple Rebuilding

1
Later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. ​
2
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them. ​

Persian Officials Challenge the Work

3
At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?” ​
4
They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”
5
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned. ​

Tatnai's Report to King Darius

6
This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius. ​
7
The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace.
8
Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones, and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands. ​
9
So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
10
We also asked for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
11
And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed. ​
12
But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this temple and carried away the people to Babylon. ​
13
In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. ​
14
He also removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken and carried there from the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus gave these articles to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed governor ​
15
and instructed, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.’
16
So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.” ​
17
Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter. ​

Study Notes for Ezra 5

Verse 1

This verse bridges the historical gap between the previous chapter (stoppage under Artaxerxes, c. 522 BC) and the resumption of work, attributing the renewed effort directly to the ministries of Haggai and Zechariah (c. 520 BC).

Verse 2

Zerubbabel (the political governor) and Jeshua (the high priest) represent the necessary partnership between civil and religious leadership. The prophets actively assisted the rebuilding efforts, providing crucial spiritual and moral support.

Verse 3

Tatnai was the governor of the vast Persian province 'Beyond the River' (Transeuphrates), encompassing the territory west of the Euphrates. His inquiry was a standard administrative procedure to verify imperial authorization for large public projects.

Verse 5

This verse highlights divine providence. The phrase 'the eye of their God was upon the elders' signifies that God actively protected the builders, preventing the local officials from immediately halting the construction until the matter could be referred to King Darius.

Verse 6

Verses 6–17 are written in Aramaic, the official language of the Persian administration, suggesting this is a copy of the actual administrative correspondence sent to Darius I (Hystaspes).

Verse 8

Tatnai’s report is notably objective, confirming that the work was progressing rapidly and successfully. He notes the quality of construction, specifying 'great stones' and timber framework.

Verse 11

By calling themselves 'servants of the God of heaven and earth,' the elders assert the supremacy of their deity and establish the historical legitimacy of the temple, linking it back to King Solomon.

Verse 12

The elders demonstrate theological humility by acknowledging that the destruction of the first temple was not due to military defeat alone, but was divine judgment resulting from the sins of their ancestors.

Verse 13

The reference to the decree of Cyrus (538 BC) provides the necessary legal defense. This moves the justification for the building project from a local religious claim to an established imperial policy.

Verse 14

The return of the sacred vessels was crucial evidence, proving that Cyrus's permission was an official, recognized state act involving the transfer of imperial property back to Jerusalem.

Verse 16

Sheshbazzar (likely the first post-exilic governor) laid the foundation shortly after the first return. The officials accurately report that the project had been stalled but was now actively underway again.

Verse 17

Tatnai requests that the king search the royal archives (specifically those in Babylon or Ecbatana) to verify the existence of the original decree, ensuring that any subsequent action aligns with established Persian law.

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