T
Illustrated portrait to come
Tattenai
A person of the Babylonian exile and the return, first named at Ezra 5:3.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Life, role & deeds
BibleThe Persian governor of the province Beyond the River who questioned the Jews rebuilding the Temple, then wrote to Darius — whose reply confirmed Cyrus's original decree and told Tattenai to help the work, not hinder it.
Ezra 5:3–6; 6:6–13
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Darius
ArchaeologyTattenai is no longer known only from Ezra: a Babylonian legal tablet dated to 502 BC names 'Tattannu, governor of Across-the-River' — the very office and region scripture gives him, in the reign of the same Darius.
Babylonian promissory-note tablet dated to the 20th year of Darius I (502 BC) naming 'Tattannu, governor of Across-the-River' (Ebir-nari); classic identification in A. T. Olmstead, 'Tattenai, Governor of "Across the River",' Journal of Near Eastern Studies 3 (1944): 46.
Where in scripture
EzraIn their own words — 2 recorded sayings
“At the same time, Tattenai, ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai, and their men, came to them and said, Who gave you orders to go on building this house and this wall?” — Ezra 5:3
“This is to give the king word that we went into the land of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is made of great stones, and has its walls supported with wood, and the work is going on with industry, and they are doing it well. Then we said to the men responsible, who gave you authority for the building of this house and these walls? And we made request for their names, so that we might send you word, and give you the names of the men at the head of them. And they made answer to us, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house which was put…” — Ezra 5:8-17
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).