Ezra

6a Below is a copy of the letter 6c sent to King Darius. 7a They sent him a report written like this:

Report to King Darius

6b From: Tattenai, the governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, Our associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates 7b To King Darius:

Greetings of All Peace, 8 Let it be known to the king that we have come to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being rebuilt with stone blocks, and timbers are being placed in the walls. That work is being done diligently and is progressing in capable hands. 9 So we asked their elders and said to them as follows: “Who issued a decree for you to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?” 10 We also asked their names so that we could inform you. Then we wrote down the names of their leaders. 11 They answered as follows: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding this temple that was built long ago by a great king of Israel, who built and finished it. 12 But our ancestors angered the God of heaven, who handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean. He destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this temple of God. 14 He also removed the articles of gold and silver taken from the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon. King Cyrus took them out of the temple in Babylon and gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15 He told him to take the articles and go and set them down on the temple site in Jerusalem, and let the temple of God be rebuilt on its place. 16 Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the temple of God in Jerusalem. From then until now it has been under construction, but it is not finished. 17 And now, if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the royal depository there in Babylon to see if there was a decree issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this temple of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.