1 Esdras 6:11
King James VersionSource notes
“Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works?”
Context
8Let all things be known unto our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem the ancients of the Jews that were of the captivity
9Building an house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, and the timber already laid upon the walls.
10And those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth on prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence is it made.
11Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works?
12Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men.
13So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
14And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and strong, and was finished.