We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
The inquiry came from provincial officers confronting the Jews engaged in rebuilding the temple, who demanded the names of the chief men among the builders in order to certify their report of who had authorized the work. The demand for names was part of a broader harassment of the builders during the work, yet divine oversight rested upon the elders so that the officers were unable to halt the building. The Jews met the interrogation with wise answers, neither yielding to intimidation nor giving cause for forcible interference. Unable to stop the work on their own authority, the officers carried the matter up and reported it to Darius for decision.
The inquiry came from provincial officers confronting the Jews engaged in rebuilding the temple, who demanded the names of the chief men among the builders in order to certify their report of who had authorized the work. The demand for names was part of a broader harassment of the builders during the work, yet divine oversight rested upon the elders so that the officers were unable to halt the building. The Jews met the interrogation with wise answers, neither yielding to intimidation nor giving cause for forcible interference. Unable to stop the work on their own authority, the officers carried the matter up and reported it to Darius for decision.