Tattenai did not stop the people of Israel from carrying on with the work of rebuilding. Even though the Jews did not provide official documentation testifying to the fact that they had permission from Cyrus, Tattenai still allowed them to carry on until he would receive a reply from King Darius. We should recognize God’s hand in this. Normally, when a project is considered to be unauthorized, people will not be allowed to continue until they have permission. The fact that the people of Israel continued to rebuild even though there was a big chance the work could be stopped and reversed by King Darius shows their trust in God.1
5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.