Ezra 5:11

11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and eretz, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Yisra'el built and finished.

Ezra 5:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 5:11

And thus they returned us answer
To the purpose and in the manner following:

saying, we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth;
signifying that they were doing his work, in obedience to his will, and to whom they were accountable:

and build the house that was builded these many years ago;
even five hundred years ago, or thereabout; so that they were not erecting a building where there was none before, but were rebuilding what was in ruins:

which a great king of Israel builded and set up;
King Solomon, who was a great king for wisdom, honour, riches, peace, prosperity, and extent of his kingdom.

Ezra 5:11 In-Context

9 Then asked we those Zakenim, and said to them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?

10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at the head of them.

11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and eretz, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Yisra'el built and finished.

12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nevukhadnetztzar king of Bavel, the Kasdai, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Bavel.

13 But in the first year of Koresh king of Bavel, Koresh the king made a decree to build this house of God.