עזרא, פרק ה׳, פסוק ד׳

The encounter between the Persian government officials and the Jews constructing the Temple centers around a formal investigation into the identities of those leading the project. The officials demand to know exactly who is responsible for authorizing and executing the construction.

A central question arises regarding who is actually reporting this exchange. According to [רש״י], the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin are the ones speaking. In this view, these local enemies confront the Jews directly, demanding to know the names of the men working on the building.

However, the primary approach among commentators [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם וביאור שטיינזלץ] suggests that a Jewish scribe is documenting the event in the first person on behalf of the builders. When the government officials demand the names of those responsible for the construction, the Jewish workers are the ones replying. The full, detailed response of the builders is deliberately left out at this moment in the narrative to avoid repeating information, as their exact words are recorded later in the official letter sent to the Persian king.

Expanding on this perspective, [מלבי״ם] explains the strategic nature of the builders' response. They want to make it absolutely clear to the Persian officials that this construction is not an independent or unauthorized operation. Instead, they operate under the strict authority of Zerubbabel, who serves as the appointed governor on behalf of the king, alongside the High Priest. By answering this way, the builders deflect the inquiry away from themselves and direct the officials to the official, recognized leadership of the people.