Keraia
People

Tattenai

Tattenai was the Persian governor of the province Beyond the River who questioned the Jews' authority to rebuild the temple.
MaleExile and Return eraOld Testament1 book14 verses

Summary

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezra 5:3; only referred to as Tattenai (תַּתְּנַי).

Glossary entries

Tattenai

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 10 verses that refer to Tattenai without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. Ezra 5:3
    At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
  2. Ezra 5:4Referred to, not named
    They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”
  3. Ezra 5:5Referred to, not named
    But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.
  4. Ezra 5:6
    This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.
  5. Ezra 5:7Referred to, not named
    The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace.
  6. Ezra 5:8Referred to, not named
    Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.
  7. Ezra 5:9Referred to, not named
    So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
  8. Ezra 5:10Referred to, not named
    We also asked for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
  9. Ezra 5:11Referred to, not named
    And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.
  10. Ezra 5:17Referred to, not named
    Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
  11. Ezra 6:6
    Therefore Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!
  12. Ezra 6:7Referred to, not named
    Leave this work on the house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.
  13. Ezra 6:8Referred to, not named
    I hereby decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews who are rebuilding this house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the Euphrates, so that the work will not be hindered.
  14. Ezra 6:13
    In response, Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates diligently carried out what King Darius had decreed.