Who are Tatnai and Shethar-boznai in this passage?

Tatnai is the governor over the region west of the river, the area that includes Judea under the Persian empire. Shethar-boznai is one of his chief officials, along with their companions. Their job is to watch over that part of the empire and report anything important to the king. When they see the temple in Jerusalem being rebuilt with large stones and timber, they investigate. They ask who gave the order to build and then write a careful letter to King Darius, passing on the Jews’ answer and asking the king to check the records.

Why did Tatnai write a letter to King Darius about the temple?

Tatnai saw that the temple in Jerusalem was being rebuilt quickly and with large stones and timber. As a governor, he wanted to know whether this building work was allowed by the empire. He asked the Jewish elders who gave them permission and took down their names. Then he wrote to King Darius, greeting him and explaining what he had seen. He honestly reported that the Jews claimed a decree from King Cyrus and asked that the royal archives be searched to confirm whether such an order existed.

What does it mean that the Jews called themselves servants of the God of heaven and earth?

When the elders answer Tatnai, they do not begin with politics or their own rights. They say, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.” This means they see themselves first as belonging to the one true God who rules everything. Their main reason for rebuilding the temple is that they are doing God’s work, not simply following their own plans. They show respect to the king, but they make it clear that their deepest loyalty is to God, whose command and honor stand above all human rulers.

Why do the elders mention Solomon’s temple and the exile to Babylon?

The elders give Tatnai a short history to explain why the temple is in ruins and why they are now rebuilding it. They say that a great king of Israel, Solomon, first built and set up this house long ago. Then they confess that their fathers provoked the God of heaven to anger through sin, so God handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar. He destroyed the temple and carried the people away to Babylon. This shows they do not blame God, but admit their guilt. It also shows that rebuilding now is part of God’s mercy after discipline.

What is the decree of Cyrus that the Jews appeal to in this passage?

The elders say that in the first year that Cyrus ruled Babylon, he made a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. According to their report, Cyrus not only allowed the temple to be rebuilt, he also ordered that the gold and silver vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar be returned. These vessels were given to a governor named Sheshbazzar, with the command to carry them back and rebuild the temple. This decree is the legal basis for the Jews’ work, so Tatnai asks Darius to search the treasure house in Babylon to see if this record can be found.

Who is Sheshbazzar and what did he do in the rebuilding of the temple?

Sheshbazzar is named as a governor appointed by King Cyrus. He received the gold and silver vessels from the temple that had been taken to Babylon. Cyrus told him to carry these vessels back to Jerusalem and to see that the house of God was rebuilt in its place. The passage says that Sheshbazzar came to Jerusalem and laid the foundation of the house of God. From that time until the days of Darius, the temple had been in the process of being built, though with many delays and opposition, and it was still not finished when this letter was written.

What does this passage teach about God’s providence in the face of opposition?

This passage shows that even when God’s people are questioned and watched, God is still guiding events. The Jews are inspected by powerful officials, yet they are able to keep building while the matter is being checked. Their answer is calm and truthful, and their history, including exile, is seen as God’s just response to sin, not as a failure on his part. The mention of Cyrus’s earlier decree shows that God can move kings to support his purposes. Even a letter of inquiry, which could have stopped the work, becomes part of how God confirms their right to continue.

Why do the officials call the temple the house of the great God?

In the letter, Tatnai and his companions refer to the building in Jerusalem as the house of the great God. This shows that, even as outsiders, they recognize that the God worshipped there is not just a local idol. They see the size and care of the work and they have heard how the Jews speak about their God. Their wording hints that people around them had some sense that there is one higher God above all others. It also makes their report more respectful and fair, since they do not belittle the faith of the builders.

Why do the elders ask for the royal records to be searched?

At the end of the letter, Tatnai suggests that Darius order a search in the king’s treasure house in Babylon. The elders had claimed that Cyrus made a decree to rebuild the temple, and the officials want this checked. This shows that the Jews are not afraid of the truth; they know such a decree exists and are willing for it to be tested. It also shows proper respect for the king’s authority. By appealing to written records, the matter can be settled in a clear way, and the work can go on with a firm legal foundation if the decree is confirmed.

How can this passage shape how believers respond to questions about their faith and work?

The Jewish elders give a good example of how to answer when faith and obedience are questioned. They speak respectfully to human rulers, but clearly about their identity as servants of the God of heaven and earth. They tell the truth about their past sins and about God’s discipline, and they explain what God is now doing through a king’s decree. Their answer is humble, honest, and confident. For believers today, this encourages giving clear and gentle reasons for what they do in God’s service, trusting that God watches over his work even when others are checking or doubting it.

Ezra.5.6

Ezra 5:6

KJV

¶ The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

Cross References

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