“I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-Euphrates the complete costs are to be given to these men, so that there may be no interruption of the work. ¹ 

Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct. ¹ 

We inquired of those elders, asking them, ‘Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?’