Ezra 5:6 - Forerunner Commentary

Ezra 5:6

4 ^aThen, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building.

5 But ^athe eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a ^bwritten answer was returned concerning this matter.

6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai sent:
The governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, ^aand his companions, the Persians who were in the region beyond the River, to Darius the king.

7 (They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus)
To Darius the king:
All peace.

8 Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the¹ temple of the great God, which is being built with² heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.

9 Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: ^a“Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?”

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

11 And thus they returned us an answer, saying: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the¹ temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built ^aand completed.

12 But ^abecause our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of ^bNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and ^ccarried the people away to Babylon.

13 However, in the first year of ^aCyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this¹ house of God.

14 Also, ^athe gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of Babylon—those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to ^bone named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.

15 And he said to him, ‘Take these articles; go, carry them to the temple site that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former site.’

16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and ^alaid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem; but from that time even until now it has been under construction, and ^bit is not finished.”

17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, ^alet a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.

Verse Comparison: Ezra 5:6

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American Standard Version
The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king;

Amplified® Bible
This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor on this side of the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the Apharsachites who were on this [west] side of the River, sent to Darius [I] the king.

Contemporary English Version
Governor Tattenai, Shethar Bozenai, and their advisors sent a report to Darius,

Darby English Version
The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side the river, sent to Darius the king.

Good News Bible
This is the report that they sent to the emperor:

King James Version
The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

New American Standard Bible
{This is} the copy of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of {the province} beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.

New International Version
This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius.

New King James Version
This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai sent: The governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and his companions, the Persians who were in the region beyond the River, to Darius the king.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
6This constitutes the copy of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues the officials, who lived beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.

Revised Standard Version
The copy of the letter which Tat'tenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and She'thar-boz'enai and his associates the governors who were in the province Beyond the River sent to Darius the king;

Young's Literal Translation
The copy of a letter that Tatnai, governor beyond the river, hath sent, and Shethar-Boznai and his companions, the Apharsachites who `are' beyond the river, unto Darius the king.

New English Translation
This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagues who were the officials of Trans-Euphrates sent to King Darius.

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