עזרא, פרק ו׳, פסוק ו׳

Following an investigation into original royal records, King Darius issues a firm and decisive directive to the local provincial leaders, clearly defining the boundaries of government involvement in the reconstruction of the Temple.

The royal command is addressed directly to Tatnai, Shethar-bozenai, and their political faction. These officials govern the territory known as the region beyond the river, a geographical reference to the Land of Israel, which is located across the river relative to the people of Babylon [רש״י]. Accompanying these governors is a group whose identity is understood in different ways. They may simply be individuals of Persian descent [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, this designation serves as a prestigious title reserved for the highest-ranking royal officials who enjoy close ties to the government and have the rare privilege of seeing the king face-to-face [ר' סעדיה גאון].

At the heart of the king's message is a strict order to stay far away from the site. The primary approach among commentators is that this is not merely a demand for physical distance. Rather, it serves as a severe warning against interfering with the construction of the Temple or discouraging the Jewish laborers. This required separation is rooted in the unchangeable nature of Persian and Median law. Because the original decree issued by Cyrus only granted the Jewish people permission to build the Temple themselves and did not instruct the local ministers to actively assist, Darius now demands absolute detachment. The local government must avoid offering help or causing disruptions, leaving the entire responsibility of the building project exclusively to the Jewish leaders [מלבי״ם].