The transfer of the sacred Temple vessels from the Persian empire back to Jewish hands was a moment of profound historical weight. This transition was not a hasty handover, but an official, highly organized, and respectful process carried out under the direct command of the king or his royal messenger [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].
The responsibility for overseeing this task fell to an official named Mithredath. The primary approach among commentators is that he was simply the treasurer appointed over King Cyrus's storehouses [רש״י, אבן עזרא]. However, another perspective identifies him as a Levite entrusted with the holy vessels. In this view, his name reflects his high rank, indicating a person with the authority to determine royal protocol and control access to the king [רב סעדיה גאון]. His official title generally refers to a guardian of the treasury, though it may specifically denote an overseer of the royal grain reserves [רב סעדיה גאון]. To ensure absolute precision, the treasurer counted the sacred items one by one, handing over an exact and verified number [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ].
These items were entrusted to a leader known as Sheshbazzar, tasked with bringing them up to Jerusalem. His exact identity is a matter of discussion. One approach identifies him as Zerubbabel, explaining that Sheshbazzar was simply his Persian or Chaldean name [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג]. Conversely, traditional teachings identify him as Daniel. According to this view, his name serves as a title reflecting his life experiences, given to him either because he survived six distinct periods of trouble [רש״י, מצודת דוד, חומת אנך], or because he rejoiced over the treasury [רב סעדיה גאון].
If this leader was indeed Daniel, his appointment carries deep historical closure. Years earlier, Daniel had fiercely rebuked the former king, Belshazzar, for disrespecting these very same holy vessels. Knowing this history, King Cyrus deliberately arranged for the treasurer to bring the items out in a highly dignified manner specifically in Daniel's presence, offering a profound gesture of respect [חומת אנך]. Ultimately, the man entrusted with this mission is recognized as the prince of Judah, standing as the official head and guiding figure of the tribe [רש״י, שטיינזלץ].