Ezra 5:3

THE GOVERNOR TATTENAI INVESTIGATES

"At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said unto them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building. But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it."

"At the same time ... came Tattenai" (Ezra 5:3). "The Persian Empire at that time was divided into twenty satrapies, presided over by governors under the authority of Darius. The territory ruled by Tattenai included Syria, Palestine, Phoenicia and Cyprus."[4] This satrapy was called Syria, and Tattenai's capital was Damascus. We do not have to wonder how he happened to appear at that particular time when the Jews had taken up work on the temple. That evil racial mix of ten strains of people under the title of Samaritans had run like the tattletales they were to inform the governor against Israel. They found a governor who was fair-minded and who refused to become their instrument of hatred against Israel. He allowed the work to proceed until he could consult Darius the king.

"The governor beyond the River" (Ezra 5:3). "Beyond the River" in Ezra is always a reference to the territory west of the Euphrates. The perspective is from that of Darius' capital in Babylon, or Shushan.

"Shethar-bozenai" (Ezra 5:3). This man was apprently the secretary of Tattenai, just as, at a later time, Shimshai was the secretary of Rehum.

"The eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews" (Ezra 5:4). The providence of God most certainly entered into this new development; however, God's instrument of blessing Israel here was in His appointment of Tattenai, a governor who would not be controlled or manipulated by the evil Samaritans.