Sisinnes
Who Was Sisinnes?
Sisinnes was the Persian-appointed governor (eparch) of the province of Syria and Phoenicia around 520 BC, during the reign of King Darius I Hystaspis. He is a key figure in the narrative of the temple's reconstruction in Jerusalem, appearing in the apocryphal book of 1 Esdras. In the canonical text of Ezra, he is known by the name Tattenai.
The Challenge to Temple Rebuilding
When the Jewish exiles who had returned to Judah resumed construction of the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, Sisinnes took notice. Along with his associate Sathrabuzanes, he traveled to Jerusalem to investigate the building project (1 Esdras 6:3, 7). He demanded to know by whose authority the Jews were constructing the temple and fortifying the city. This inquiry was not necessarily hostile but reflected the administrative oversight that Persian governors exercised over their provinces.
The Appeal to King Darius
Rather than ordering an immediate halt to construction, Sisinnes reported the matter to King Darius in writing, describing what the Jews claimed about Cyrus's original decree authorizing the rebuilding (Ezra 5:6-17). The Jewish elders had told Sisinnes that they were acting under the authority of Cyrus the Great, who had issued a decree permitting them to return and rebuild (Ezra 1:1-4). Darius ordered a search of the royal archives, and the original decree was found at Ecbatana (Ezra 6:1-2).
The Decree Confirmed
Once Cyrus's decree was confirmed, Darius issued his own order commanding Sisinnes to stand down and allow the construction to proceed. More than that, the governor was instructed to provide financial support from the provincial tax revenues to fund the project (Ezra 6:6-12; 1 Esdras 6:27). Sisinnes obeyed, and the temple was completed in the sixth year of Darius's reign, around 516 BC (Ezra 6:15).
Historical Significance
Sisinnes represents the complex relationship between the Persian Empire and its subject peoples. The Persian system of provincial governance allowed considerable local autonomy, and the story of Sisinnes shows how bureaucratic processes could work in favor of the Jews when God directed events. What began as a potential threat to the temple project became an occasion for royal endorsement and financial support.
Biblical Context
Sisinnes appears in 1 Esdras 6:3, 7, 27 and 7:1 as the governor who questioned the Jews' rebuilding of the temple. His canonical counterpart Tattenai appears in Ezra 5:3, 6 and 6:6, 13. The narrative spans the period from the resumption of temple construction to its completion under Darius I.
Theological Significance
The Sisinnes narrative demonstrates God's sovereignty over political powers. What appeared to be imperial opposition became the means through which God provided official authorization and funding for His temple. The story teaches that God can turn the inquiries of worldly rulers into instruments of His purpose.
Historical Background
Persian-period administrative records confirm the system of provincial governors described in Ezra and 1 Esdras. Darius I organized the empire into satrapies, with governors overseeing regional affairs. The practice of maintaining royal archives and honoring predecessors' decrees is well attested in Persian inscriptions and administrative texts discovered at Persepolis and elsewhere.