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Ezra 5:9

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ezra 5:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
Ezra 5:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezra 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king;
7they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands.
9Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
10We asked them their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.
11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.
12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
← Ezra 5:8Ezra 5:10 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then asked we those elders, etc.] The elders of the province of Judea; the chief men of it: who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? (see <150503> Ezra 5:3).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Who commanded: Ezr 5:3, Ezr 5:4 Ezra 5:10”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Hereupon the royal officials asked the elders of the Jews who had commanded them to build, and inquired concerning their names, that they might write to the king the names of the leading men (see the remark on 3 and 41). בראשׁהם דּי does not mean, who are at the head of them: but, who act in the capacity of heads. Ezra 5:11”
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Sources and verification