Tatnai

Biblical Account

Tatnai appears in Ezra chapters 5 and 6. His title is "governor beyond the River" (KJV: "governor on this side the river"). "Beyond the River" was the name the Persian Empire gave to its administrative province west of the Euphrates River, which encompassed Syria and Palestine. The land of Judah lay within this province.

The Jews who had returned from Babylon laid the foundation of the temple during the reign of King Cyrus. Opposition from surrounding peoples, however, brought the work to a halt for a long time (Ezra 4). Later, during the reign of King Darius, Zerubbabel and Jeshua resumed construction, encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1-2). At that time Tatnai came with Shethar-boznai and their fellow officials, asked who had authorized the building, and inquired about the names of the men doing the work (Ezra 5:3-4). The text records that they were unable to stop the work: "But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease" (Ezra 5:5).

Rather than halting the work by force, Tatnai sent a report to King Darius (Ezra 5:6-17). The report stated that the work was proceeding steadily with great stones and set out the claim of the Jews, who said that King Cyrus had ordered the temple to be built. Tatnai asked that the royal archives be searched to determine whether this was true. The king ordered a search of the archives, and Cyrus's decree was found at Achmetha (Ezra 6:1-2). Darius commanded Tatnai not to hinder the work. He also directed that the costs of construction be paid from the taxes collected in the province and that supplies for the sacrifices be provided (Ezra 6:6-12). Tatnai and his companions carried out this command "speedily" (Ezra 6:13), and the temple was completed in the sixth year of King Darius (Ezra 6:15).

Significance Within Scripture

The account of Tatnai illustrates a critical juncture in the rebuilding of the temple. In Ezra 4, the work was stopped because of accusations brought by officials such as Rehum and Shimshai. By contrast, Tatnai's investigation became the occasion for reconfirming Cyrus's decree, and the work went on to receive official royal support. The Book of Ezra presents this sequence of events as God at work through the administrative procedures of foreign kings and officials (compare Ezra 6:22). Ezra 4:8 through 6:18 is written in Aramaic, so the passages concerning Tatnai belong to the Aramaic section (see Languages of the Bible). Tatnai is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Debate

Interpreters differ in their assessment of Tatnai. Some regard him as an opponent who sought to stop the work. Others, noting that inspecting newly begun building projects was part of a governor's ordinary duties, see him as an impartial official who acted according to proper procedure. The text does not directly reveal his inner thoughts or motives.

As for extrabiblical sources, a similar name is reportedly attested together with the title "governor beyond the River" in Babylonian cuneiform documents from the time of Darius I. Some scholars identify this figure with Tatnai. The reign of King Darius and the completion of the temple are commonly dated to the late sixth century BC, though scholars differ in calculating the specific years.

In the Korean Church

Tatnai is rarely the subject of a sermon in his own right. He is mentioned chiefly in expository preaching on the Book of Ezra or in sermons on the return from exile and the rebuilding of the temple. In such sermons, his story is presented as an episode in which opposition or scrutiny ultimately led to support for the work, and it is often linked to God's providence or to the courage to resume an unfinished task.