5:8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, 1 and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands.
5:9 We inquired of those elders, asking them, ‘Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?’
5:10 We also inquired of their names in order to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were their leaders.
5:11 They responded to us in the following way: ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great king 2 of Israel built it and completed it.
1 tnAram “stones of rolling.” The reference is apparently to stones too large to carry.
2 sn This great king of Israel would, of course, be Solomon.