Ezra 5:9

9 We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”

Ezra 5:9 in Other Translations

9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

9 Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?'

9 “We asked the leaders, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?’

9 We asked the leaders, "Who issued you the permit to rebuild this Temple and restore it to use?"

9 So we questioned the elders and asked, "Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?"

Ezra 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 5:9

Then asked we those elders
The elders of the province of Judea; the chief men of it:

who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
see ( Ezra 5:3 ) .

Ezra 5:9 In-Context

7 The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: Cordial greetings.

8 The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.

9 We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”

10 We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

11 This is the answer they gave us: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished.

Cross References

• 1. S Ezra 4:12