Ezra 5:9 - Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
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What does "Ezra 5:9" mean?
This verse (Ezra 5:9) is part of a larger inquiry by Tattenai, the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, and his associates into the authority behind the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down what the verse means:
"Then we asked those elders...": Tattenai and his officials directly questioned the Jewish elders who were overseeing the reconstruction. This highlights the direct confrontation and investigation happening.
"...and said to them thus...": This emphasizes the formal nature of the question. They weren't just casually chatting; they were making an official inquiry.
"Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?": This is the crucial part of the question. It boils down to:
"Who gave you...a decree": They wanted to know who authorized the rebuilding. Decrees were official edicts from a king. This was a matter of authority and legality.
"...to build this house...": "House" refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was being rebuilt.
"...and to finish this wall?": The wall likely refers to the protective structure surrounding the Temple complex or perhaps around the city itself. This implies the scope of the rebuilding project was larger than just the Temple itself.
In essence, the verse shows the officials challenging the Jewish elders to provide proof that they had the legal right (a decree from a ruling king, likely the Persian king) to rebuild the Temple and its walls. They were essentially asking, "On what authority are you doing this? Do you have permission from a king to be rebuilding this important structure?"
Why was this question important?
Legality: Rebuilding was a significant undertaking. If the Jews were doing it without proper authorization, they could be seen as rebels, and the work could be halted (as it had been before).
Political Implications: The rebuilt Temple and city walls could be seen as a sign of renewed Jewish independence and power, potentially challenging Persian control.
Religious Concerns: The temple's revival would reestablish religious traditions and a distinct identity, potentially posing challenges to other local religions and governance in the region.
The response to this question, and the subsequent actions, are detailed in the following verses of Ezra chapter 5 and beyond, and they lead to the discovery and confirmation of Cyrus's original decree authorizing the rebuilding.
Ezra 5:9 - Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
What does "Ezra 5:9" mean?
This verse (Ezra 5:9) is part of a larger inquiry by Tattenai, the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, and his associates into the authority behind the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down what the verse means:
"Then we asked those elders...": Tattenai and his officials directly questioned the Jewish elders who were overseeing the reconstruction. This highlights the direct confrontation and investigation happening.
"...and said to them thus...": This emphasizes the formal nature of the question. They weren't just casually chatting; they were making an official inquiry.
"Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?": This is the crucial part of the question. It boils down to:
"Who gave you...a decree": They wanted to know who authorized the rebuilding. Decrees were official edicts from a king. This was a matter of authority and legality.
"...to build this house...": "House" refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was being rebuilt.
"...and to finish this wall?": The wall likely refers to the protective structure surrounding the Temple complex or perhaps around the city itself. This implies the scope of the rebuilding project was larger than just the Temple itself.
In essence, the verse shows the officials challenging the Jewish elders to provide proof that they had the legal right (a decree from a ruling king, likely the Persian king) to rebuild the Temple and its walls. They were essentially asking, "On what authority are you doing this? Do you have permission from a king to be rebuilding this important structure?"
Why was this question important?
Legality: Rebuilding was a significant undertaking. If the Jews were doing it without proper authorization, they could be seen as rebels, and the work could be halted (as it had been before).
Political Implications: The rebuilt Temple and city walls could be seen as a sign of renewed Jewish independence and power, potentially challenging Persian control.
Religious Concerns: The temple's revival would reestablish religious traditions and a distinct identity, potentially posing challenges to other local religions and governance in the region.
The response to this question, and the subsequent actions, are detailed in the following verses of Ezra chapter 5 and beyond, and they lead to the discovery and confirmation of Cyrus's original decree authorizing the rebuilding.