Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezra 5:11

"And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished." — Ezra 5:11 (ASV)

And so they answered us. —The elders of the Jews take the Syrian satrap into their confidence, and give, in a few most moving words, the record of their national honour, their national infidelity, and their national humiliation. Every word is true to the history, while the whole exhibits their deep humility and holy resolution.