Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezra 5:4

"Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building." — Ezra 5:4 (ASV)

Then said we. —The Septuagint must here have read, “then said they.” But there is no need to change the text; the sentence is not a question, but a statement: “we said to the effect, what the names were.”

What are the names of the men ...? —It is clear that this graphic account is much compressed. We must understand that the authorities demanded the names of the chief promoters of the building in order to make them responsible.