A potential crisis is averted. A very important Persian official, Tattenai, approaches the Jews to investigate whether or not they have permission to rebuild the temple. He asks them very specific questions, he gets a list of their names, and he plans on sending a report to the Persian king Darius. This is a nervous situation because if Tattenai or Darius should say no to the work of rebuilding, the temple will not be rebuilt. But God was watching over the Jews and as a result, Tattenai did not stop them from carrying on with building work while he waited for King Darius’ reply.
3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?”