So we questioned the elders and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" Context 9Then we asked those elders and said to them thus, Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure? 10We also asked them their names so as to inform you, and that we might write down the names of the men who were at their head. 11Thus they answered us, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon. 13However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15He said to him, Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem and let the house of God be rebuilt in its place. 16Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is not yet completed. 17Now if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the kings treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter. Links Ezra 5:9 NIVEzra 5:9 NLT Ezra 5:9 ESV Ezra 5:9 NASB Ezra 5:9 KJV Ezra 5:9 Commentaries Bible Hub |



