Ezra 5:6-17

Ezra 5:6-17

[6] 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:  [7] They sent  a letter  unto  him, wherein  was written  thus;  Unto Darius  the king,  all  peace.  [8] Be it known  unto the king,  that we went  into the province  of Judea,  to the house  of the great  God,  which is builded  with great  stones,  and timber  is laid  in the walls,  and this  work  goeth  fast  on, and prospereth  in their hands.  [9] Then  asked  we those  elders,  and said  unto them thus,  Who  commanded  you to build  this  house,  and to make up  these  walls?  [10] We asked  their names  also,  to certify  thee, that we might write  the names  of the men  that were the chief  of them. [11] And thus  they returned  us answer,  saying,  We  are  the servants  of the God  of heaven  and earth,  and build  the house  that was  builded  these  many  years  ago,  which a great  king  of Israel  builded  and set up.  [12] But  after  that our fathers  the God  of heaven  unto wrath,  he gave  them  into the hand  of Nebuchadnezzar  the king  of Babylon,  the Chaldean,  who destroyed  this  house,  the people  away  into Babylon.  [13] But  in the first  year  of Cyrus  the king  of Babylon  the same king  Cyrus  made  a decree  to build  this  house  of God.  [14] And the vessels  also  of  gold  and silver  of the house  of God,  which Nebuchadnezzar  took  out of  the temple  that was in Jerusalem,  and brought  them into the temple  of Babylon,  those  did Cyrus  the king  take  out of  the temple  of Babylon,  and they were delivered  unto one, whose name  was Sheshbazzar,  whom he had made  governor;  [15] And said  unto him, Take  these  vessels,  go,  carry  them  into the temple  that is in Jerusalem,  and let the house  of God  be builded  in  his place.  [16] Then  came  the same  Sheshbazzar,  and laid  the foundation  of the house  of God  which is in Jerusalem:  and since  that time  even until  now  hath it been in building,  and yet it is not  finished.  [17] Now  therefore, if  it seem good  to  the king,  let there be search  made in the king's  treasure  house,  which is there  at Babylon,  whether  it be  so, that a decree  was made  of  Cyrus  the king  to build  this  house  of God  at Jerusalem,  and let the king  send  his pleasure  to us concerning  this matter. 

What does Ezra 5:6-17 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In contrast to Rehum and Shimshai"s letter to Artaxerxes ( Ezra 4:11-16), Tattenai"s letter to Darius was fair and objective. He gave no indication of wanting to stop the Jews" project. He only wanted to know if Cyrus had really given permission for the Jews to rebuild the temple and if Darius wanted that edict to stand.
The record of this letter in the text shows that high-ranking government officials had observed God"s care of His chosen people. This would have encouraged the original readers of Ezra with the assurance that what they had done was honest, and that God was moving governors and kings to accomplish His will (cf. Proverbs 21:1).
Opposition to Temple ConstructionEzra 4-5ScriptureThe form it tookWhat it testedHow they reacted Ezra 4:1-2 (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14)Israel"s enemies offered to help.Their wisdomZerubbabel declined the offer. Ezra 4:4-5 (cf. 2 Timothy 1:7)They discouraged and frightened the builders.Their faithThe Jews trusted God and pressed on. Ezra 4:6-23 (cf. Matthew 16:18)They tried legal action and red tape.Their patienceGod gave a favorable decision through Artaxerxes, and Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Jews. Ezra 5:3 (cf. Matthew 28:19-20)They demanded proof of authority to build.Their perseveranceThe builders kept on working.
". . . against the background of rampant polytheism or even the dualism of newly emerging Zoroastrianism it was important to affirm that Yahweh is Lord of all in heaven and on earth. To their enemies the Jews affirmed this when they announced that they were building the second Temple as the "servants of the God of heaven and earth" ( Ezra 5:11)." [1]
"The God of heaven is probably an attempt by the Jews to create sympathy for their cause in the Persian court, because Ahuramazda, the Persian god, was also regarded as "god of the heaven," and was known as the creator of heaven and earth." [2]