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3. Tatnai. The satrap of “Beyond the River” was Ushtani, in Greek, Hystanes. He had been appointed in the spring of 520 by Darius, and resided in Babylon, inasmuch as he was concurrently satrap of Babylonia. Until recently it was thought that Ushtani was only another name for Tatnai, but a recently published cuneiform document mentions “Tattanni, governor of Ebir-naÌ‚ri.” We know now that Tatnai was the deputy of Ushtani for the satrapy “Beyond the River.” Being in charge of two satrapies, Ushtani could not devote sufficient time to both; the satrapy of Babylonia required most of his attention. It is noteworthy that the Biblical report calls Tatnai a pachath, “governor,” exactly the same word (pahat) the cuneiform inscription uses to designate Tatnai.

Shethar-boznai. According to Herodotus (iii. 128), every satrap had a royal secretary, and this was probably the office held by Shethar-boznai. The name is attested in Old Iranian as Shêthrabûzana, and in cuneiform documents in the form of Shatabarzana, Ushtabuzana.

Their companions. The complement of assistants and servants that formed the regular retinue of a satrap.

Who hath commanded you? The reason for this visit seems to have been another complaint made by the enemies of the Jews. Tatnai, apparently a conscientious Persian official, had decided to make a personal investigation before passing on the complaint. It is also possible, however, that Tatnai came to Jerusalem, not as the result of a complaint concerning the renewed building activities at the site of the Temple, but on a routine tour of inspection, perhaps his first, following appointment to the office of deputy satrap of “Beyond the River.” Arriving in Jerusalem and observing the building program in progress, he demanded to know the authority for it. It may seem strange today that he asked for the “command” for rebuilding the Temple rather than the “permit, ” but in the official language of the times a “permit” was a “command.”

This house. See on ch. 1:2.

This wall. The Aramaic word translated here and in v. 9 as “wall” is also used repeatedly in Aramaic documents from Elephantine (see pp. 79-83), but its meaning is nevertheless obscure. In those documents it can have the meaning “outfit,” “decoration,” “detail,” in three instances, but in another document seems to mean “specification.” It is certain, however, that it does not mean “wall,” a translation derived from the LXX and the Vulgate. In the light of the Elephantine texts the question of Tatnai should probably be translated, “Who has commanded you to build this temple, and to design these details [or, decorations]?”