Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

And we asked those ancients, and said to them thus: Who hath given you authority to build this house, and to repair these walls?

Then asked we those elders: thus we said to them, Who gave you orders to build this house and to complete this wall?

Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to erect these walls?

Then we have asked of these elders, thus we have said to them, Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?

Then we said to the men responsible, who gave you authority for the building of this house and these walls?

Therefore, we questioned those elders, and we spoke to them in this way: 'Who has given authority to you, so that you would build this house and repair these walls?'

Then asked we those elders,.... The elders of the province of Judea; the chief men of it:
who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? see Ezra 5:3.

Hereupon the royal officials asked the elders of the Jews who had commanded them to build, and inquired concerning their names, that they might write to the king the names of the leading men (see the remark on 3 and 41). בראשׁהם דּי does not mean, who are at the head of them: but, who act in the capacity of heads.