Ezra 5:9-11

Expanded Bible

⁹ We asked their elders, “Who gave you ·permission [authority; a decree] to rebuild this ·Temple [^Lhouse] and ·these walls [this structure]?” ¹⁰ We also asked for their names, and we wrote down the names of their leaders so ·you would know who they are [as to inform you].

¹¹ This is the answer they gave to us: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the ·Temple [^Lhouse] that a great king of Israel [^CSolomon] built and finished many years ago [^Ctenth century bc; 1 Kin. 7–8].