Chapter Five
5–1–2. The coming forth of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah and the resumption of the temple construction. 3–5. The intervention of the trans-river regional governor Tattenai. 16–17. Letters of Tattenai to Darius.
Ezra 5:1. Then the prophet Haggai and the prophet Zechariah, son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judea and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel. “Then the prophet Haggai and the prophet Zechariah, son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews.” Some researchers (especially Meyer, Entstechung Iudenthums. p. 80) attribute the cause of the coming forth of the prophets at the beginning of the reign of Darius to the political turmoils in Persia, expressed in the uprising of many provinces. These turmoils supposedly gave the Jews the hope of obtaining complete independence. The prophet Haggai and Zechariah come forth as heralds of this hope, as political agitators. However, the Bible says nothing about political ferment that seized Judea. From the book of the prophet Haggai, it is clearly evident that the motive for his coming forth was the stopping of the construction of the temple. This motive cannot be considered unimportant, since the temple had extremely important significance in the theocratic life of the people.
Ezra 5:2. Then Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, son of Jozadak, arose and began to build the house of God in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, strengthening them. The encouragement of the prophets, as is evident also from Hag 1:1, was successful, and the construction of the temple began again. The statement of verse 2 that alongside Zerubbabel and Jeshua “the prophets of God began to build the house of God and strengthened them” must be understood not so much as an indication of the physical participation of the prophets in the construction, as of their moral support for it.
Ezra 5:3. At that time Tattenai, the governor of the region beyond the river, and Shethar-Bozenai and his associates came to them and said: Who gave you a decree to build this house and to complete this wall? The narrative begins of the opposition to the construction on the part of the Persian regional governor. “At that time.” The works for the restoration of the temple began in the middle of the 2nd year of Darius and ended in the 6th year (Ezra 6:15), and thus continued no more than 4 1/2 years; within this period Tattenai sent word to the king about what was happening in Jerusalem, received a response order, and managed to take part in the construction of the temple. Therefore, the writer’s statement “at that time” should point to the moment nearest to the beginning of the construction. Instead of the name Tattenai in 2 Ezra the names Σισίννης and in the LXX Θανθαναι are read. Apparently, Tattenai held authority over the entire region west of the Euphrates, and Zerubbabel, to whom was entrusted the administration only of Judea, was subject to him. “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to complete this wall.” Apparently, the Jews did not have a written decree from Cyrus. However, it is difficult to suppose that Tattenai, the chief governor of the region, did not know of the permission given to the Jews for the construction. As can be concluded from what follows, Tattenai’s question concerns precisely the lawfulness of the construction in this particular form rather than another form. Clarifying this passage, Josephus says that the officials “asked the rulers of the Jews who permitted them to build the temple in such a way that it resembles a fortress more than a sanctuary.”
Ezra 5:5. But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned concerning this matter. Suspecting the Jews of anti-governmental intentions, Tattenai turned to the king for clarification. But since he was aware of the existence of permission for the construction, he apparently did not consider himself authorized to stop it.
Ezra 5:6. A copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor of the region beyond the river, and Shethar-Bozenai and his associates, the Apharsachites who were in the region beyond the river, sent to King Darius. The Apharsachites were probably identical with the Apharsathchites mentioned in Ezra 4:9.
Ezra 5:8. Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judea, to the house of the great God; and it is being built with large stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. “To the house of the great God.” This expression represents nothing unnatural even in the mouths of Persian officials, since Jehovah was honored by many. “Timber is laid in the walls.” The reference is probably to the laying of beams.
Ezra 5:13. But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God; “But in the first year of Cyrus, King of Babylon.” The designation of Persian kings as Babylonian kings from the time of Cyrus is encountered also in other, non-biblical documents. Apparently, the title of King of Babylon sounded to the peoples of western Asia the same as the title “Roman Emperor” sounded to the peoples of the Middle Ages.
Ezra 5:16. Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it is being built and is not yet completed. “And from then until now it is being built.” By these words the Jews wish to show that the newly begun construction is only a continuation of the work permitted by Cyrus.
Ezra 5:17. Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the house of the treasuries of the king that are there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by King Cyrus for the building of this house of God in Jerusalem, and let the will of the king concerning this matter be sent to us. “Let search be made in the house of treasures.” 1 Esd 6:21 the same expression is conveyed as “let search be made in the royal archives.” If there is no error in the text of verse 17, from it we can conclude that important documents were kept in the house of treasures by the Persians.