Esdras 5:4

4 Entonces les dijimos en orden a esto, ¡cuáles eran los nombres de los varones que edificaban este edificio!

Esdras 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 5:4

Then said we unto them after this manner
In answer to their questions; namely, Ezra and other Jews replied; for though Ezra is said after this to come from Babylon in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, he might go thither on some business, and then return again at that time; some indeed think these are the words of Tatnai and those with him; so Ben Melech, which seems to be favoured by ( Ezra 4:10 ) , and by reading the words with an interrogation, as we do; Aben Ezra says they are either the words of the builders, or of the scribes, the secretaries that came to question them; but they are the words of the former, as order requires, or otherwise no answer would be returned, at least as expressed; and the next clause may be read without an interrogation, and the sense be, that they told them not only that they acted according to an edict of Cyrus king of Persia, for this was said, as appears from ( Ezra 5:13 ) , but they declared

what were the names of the men that did make this building;
or employed them in it, namely, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the chief men of the Jews; they made no scruple of telling them who they were; neither ashamed of their masters nor of their work, nor afraid of any ill consequences following hereafter.

Esdras 5:4 In-Context

2 Entonces se levantaron Zorobabel hijo de Salatiel, y Jesúa hijo de Josadac; y comenzaron a edificar la Casa de Dios que estaba en Jerusalén; y con ellos los profetas de Dios que les ayudaban.

3 En aquel tiempo vino a ellos Tatnai, capitán de este lado del río, y Setar-boznai y sus compañeros, y les dijeron así: ¿Quién os dio mandamiento para edificar esta Casa, y fundar estos muros?

4 Entonces les dijimos en orden a esto, ¡cuáles eran los nombres de los varones que edificaban este edificio!

5 Mas los ojos de su Dios fueron sobre los ancianos de los judíos, y no les hicieron cesar hasta que el negocio viniese a Darío; y entonces respondieron por carta sobre esto.

6 Traslado de la carta que Tatnai, capitán de este lado del río, y Setar-boznai, y sus compañeros los afarsaqueos, que estaban a este lado del río, enviaron al rey Darío.