This verse from Ezra 5:10 is part of a letter written by Tattenai, the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, to King Darius of Persia. It's a report on the Jewish people's rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down the meaning:
"We asked them their names also...": Tattenai and his officials (Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues) are reporting that they questioned the Jewish elders who were supervising the Temple reconstruction. One of the questions was their names.
"...to inform you...": The purpose of gathering this information was to pass it on to King Darius.
"...that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.": Specifically, Tattenai wanted to identify and record the names of the leaders or elders overseeing the rebuilding project.
In essence, the verse means:
Tattenai and his officials asked the Jewish elders their names so that they could send King Darius a list of the names of the men leading the Temple rebuilding effort.
Why was this information important?
Accountability: Knowing the leaders allowed Darius to hold specific individuals responsible for the Temple construction.
Investigation: It enabled Darius to further investigate the situation. He could contact these leaders directly for more information, verify their claims, or potentially bring them to his court to explain their actions.
Political Context: By identifying the leadership, Darius could better understand the scope and potential implications of the rebuilding project within his empire.
Potential Verification of Decree: Darius may have needed to verify if the elders were working under the authority of a decree from a previous king (Cyrus), as they claimed. Knowing their identities was a step in confirming this.
In short, this verse shows Tattenai's due diligence in investigating the Temple rebuilding and providing a comprehensive report to King Darius. It was a strategic move to keep the king informed and allow him to make an informed decision about the project.
This verse from Ezra 5:10 is part of a letter written by Tattenai, the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, to King Darius of Persia. It's a report on the Jewish people's rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down the meaning:
"We asked them their names also...": Tattenai and his officials (Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues) are reporting that they questioned the Jewish elders who were supervising the Temple reconstruction. One of the questions was their names.
"...to inform you...": The purpose of gathering this information was to pass it on to King Darius.
"...that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.": Specifically, Tattenai wanted to identify and record the names of the leaders or elders overseeing the rebuilding project.
In essence, the verse means:
Tattenai and his officials asked the Jewish elders their names so that they could send King Darius a list of the names of the men leading the Temple rebuilding effort.
Why was this information important?
Accountability: Knowing the leaders allowed Darius to hold specific individuals responsible for the Temple construction.
Investigation: It enabled Darius to further investigate the situation. He could contact these leaders directly for more information, verify their claims, or potentially bring them to his court to explain their actions.
Political Context: By identifying the leadership, Darius could better understand the scope and potential implications of the rebuilding project within his empire.
Potential Verification of Decree: Darius may have needed to verify if the elders were working under the authority of a decree from a previous king (Cyrus), as they claimed. Knowing their identities was a step in confirming this.
In short, this verse shows Tattenai's due diligence in investigating the Temple rebuilding and providing a comprehensive report to King Darius. It was a strategic move to keep the king informed and allow him to make an informed decision about the project.