⁸ Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut^[a] stones, and its beams are being set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people’s efforts.^{(A) 9} So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?” ¹⁰ We also asked them for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.