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.

Prophets Encourage Temple Rebuilding

1
The prophets Hagai and Z'kharyah the son of 'Iddo prophesied to the Judeans in Yerushalayim and Y'hudah; they prophesied to them in the name of the God of Isra'el. ​
2
Then Z'rubavel the son of Sh'alti'el and Yeshua the son of Yotzadak began rebuilding the house of God in Yerushalayim; with them were the prophets of God, helping them. ​

Persian Officials Challenge the Work

3
No sooner had they begun, when Tatnai the governor of the territory beyond the [Euphrates] River, Sh'tar-Boznai and their colleagues came and asked them, "Who gave you permission to rebuild this house and finish this wall? ​
4
What are the names of the men putting up this building?"
5
But the eye of their God was on the leaders of the Judeans, so they didn't stop them until the matter could come before Daryavesh and a reply in writing be received. ​

Tatnai's Report to King Darius

6
Here is the text of the letter which Tatnai the governor of the territory beyond the River, Sh'tar-Boznai and their fellow officials beyond the River sent to Daryavesh the king; ​
7
they sent him a letter in which it was written: "To Daryavesh the king, "Complete shalom!"
8
"Let the king know that we went to the province of Y'hudah, to the house of the great God. It is being rebuilt with large stones, and timber is being set in the walls. This work is being done energetically, and it is making good progress under the direction ​
9
of their leaders. We asked them, 'Who gave you permission to rebuild this house and finish this wall?'
10
We also asked them their names, so that we could write you the names of the men in charge of them.
11
"They gave us this answer: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, built and finished by a great king of Isra'el. ​
12
But because our ancestors provoked the God of heaven, he handed them over to N'vukhadnetzar king of Bavel, the Kasdi; he destroyed this house and carried the people off to Bavel. ​
13
But in the first year of Koresh king of Bavel, Koresh the king gave authorization to rebuild this house of God. ​
14
Moreover, the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which N'vukhadnetzar had removed from the temple in Yerushalayim and brought to the temple of Bavel, Koresh the king took out of the temple in Bavel; they were turned over to a man named Sheshbatzar, whom he had appointed governor. ​
15
He said to him, "Take these articles, go, put them in the temple in Yerushalayim, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site."
16
So this same Sheshbatzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Yerushalayim; it has been under construction ever since, and it isn't finished yet. ​
17
"'Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the royal treasury there in Bavel to determine whether a decree was issued by Koresh the king to rebuild this house of God in Yerushalayim; and let the king send us his decision concerning 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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