Ezra 5:6
The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king: The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
This verse opens the copy of the formal report dispatched to Darius the king by Tattenai, governor of the territory beyond the river, together with Shethar-boznai and their Apharsachite associates on that side of the river. It belongs to the period of the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, when those officials challenged the builders about their authority and chose to refer the whole question to the king for a ruling rather than stopping the work by force. While the case was pending before Darius, divine protection rested over the builders so that they were permitted to continue laboring until the matter came before the king. Once the inquiry reached him, Darius caused search to be made, the original decree of Cyrus was found, and he then commanded that the temple work proceed, further directing that it be sustained from the royal revenues and furnished with needed supplies.