Bible Reading May 4 
Ezra 1:1--4:24
Context1:1 1 In the first 2 year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the Lord’s message 3 spoken through 4 Jeremiah, 5 the Lord stirred the mind 6 of King Cyrus of Persia. He disseminated 7 a proclamation 8 throughout his entire kingdom, announcing in a written edict 9 the following: 10
1:2 “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia:
“‘The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has instructed me to build a temple 11 for him in Jerusalem, 12 which is in Judah. 1:3 Anyone from 13 his people among you (may his God be with him!) may go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may build the temple of the Lord God of Israel – he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 1:4 Anyone who survives in any of those places where he is a resident foreigner must be helped by his neighbors 14 with silver, gold, equipment, and animals, along with voluntary offerings for the temple of God which is in Jerusalem.’”
1:5 Then the leaders 15 of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and the Levites – all those whose mind God had stirred – got ready 16 to go up in order to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. 17 1:6 All their neighbors assisted 18 them with silver utensils, 19 gold, equipment, animals, and expensive gifts, not to mention 20 all the voluntary offerings.
1:7 Then King Cyrus brought out the vessels of the Lord’s temple which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and had displayed 21 in the temple of his gods. 1:8 King Cyrus of Persia entrusted 22 them to 23 Mithredath 24 the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar 25 the leader of the Judahite exiles. 26
1:9 The inventory 27 of these items was as follows:
30 gold basins, 28
1,000 silver basins,
29 silver utensils, 29
1:10 30 gold bowls,
410 other 30 silver bowls,
and 1,000 other vessels.
1:11 All these gold and silver vessels totaled 5,400. 31 Sheshbazzar brought them all along when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
2:1 32 These are the people 33 of the province who were going up, 34 from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem 35 and Judah, each to his own city. 2:2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
The number of Israelites 36 was as follows: 37
2:3 the descendants 38 of Parosh: 2,172;
2:4 the descendants of Shephatiah: 372;
2:5 the descendants of Arah: 775;
2:6 the descendants of Pahath-Moab (from the line 39 of Jeshua and 40 Joab): 2,812;
2:7 the descendants of Elam: 1,254;
2:8 the descendants of Zattu: 945;
2:9 the descendants of Zaccai: 760;
2:10 the descendants of Bani: 642;
2:11 the descendants of Bebai: 623;
2:12 the descendants of Azgad: 1,222;
2:13 the descendants of Adonikam: 666;
2:14 the descendants of Bigvai: 2,056;
2:15 the descendants of Adin: 454;
2:16 the descendants of Ater (through 41 Hezekiah): 98;
2:17 the descendants of Bezai: 323;
2:18 the descendants of Jorah: 112;
2:19 the descendants of Hashum: 223;
2:20 the descendants of Gibbar: 95.
2:21 The men 42 of Bethlehem: 43 123;
2:22 the men of Netophah: 56;
2:23 the men of Anathoth: 128;
2:24 the men of the family 44 of Azmaveth: 42;
2:25 the men of Kiriath Jearim, 45 Kephirah and Beeroth: 743;
2:26 the men of Ramah and Geba: 621;
2:27 the men of Micmash: 122;
2:28 the men of Bethel 46 and Ai: 223;
2:29 the descendants of Nebo: 52;
2:30 the descendants of Magbish: 156;
2:31 the descendants of the other Elam: 1,254;
2:32 the descendants of Harim: 320;
2:33 the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 725;
2:34 the men of Jericho: 47 345;
2:35 the descendants of Senaah: 3,630.
2:36 The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family 48 of Jeshua): 973;
2:37 the descendants of Immer: 1,052;
2:38 the descendants of Pashhur: 1,247;
2:39 the descendants of Harim: 1,017.
2:40 The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah): 74.
2:41 The singers: the descendants of Asaph: 128.
2:42 The gatekeepers: 49 the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai: 139.
2:43 The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, 2:44 the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Siaha, the descendants of Padon, 2:45 the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Akkub, 2:46 the descendants of Hagab, the descendants of Shalmai, 50 the descendants of Hanan, 2:47 the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, the descendants of Reaiah, 2:48 the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam, 2:49 the descendants of Uzzah, the descendants of Paseah, the descendants of Besai, 2:50 the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim, 2:51 the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, 2:52 the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, 2:53 the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, 2:54 the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.
2:55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda, 2:56 the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, 2:57 the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami.
2:58 All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon: 392.
2:59 These are the ones that came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify 51 their family connection 52 or their ancestry, 53 as to whether they really were from Israel):
2:60 the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda: 652.
2:61 And from among 54 the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that 55 name). 2:62 They 56 searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them. 57 They were therefore excluded 58 from the priesthood. 2:63 The governor 59 instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult 60 the Urim and Thummim.
2:64 The entire group numbered 42,360, 61 2:65 not counting 62 their male and female servants, who numbered 7,337. They also had 200 male and female singers 2:66 and 736 horses, 245 mules, 2:67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 2:68 When they came to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders 63 offered voluntary offerings for the temple of God in order to rebuild 64 it on its site. 2:69 As they were able, 65 they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas 66 of gold, 5,000 minas 67 of silver, and 100 priestly robes. 68
2:70 The priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel lived in their towns.
3:1 When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites 69 were living 70 in their 71 towns, the people assembled 72 in 73 Jerusalem. 74 3:2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak 75 and his priestly colleagues 76 and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his colleagues 77 started to build 78 the altar of the God of Israel so they could offer burnt offerings on it as required by 79 the law of Moses the man of God. 3:3 They established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples, 80 and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and the evening offerings. 3:4 They observed the Festival of Temporary Shelters 81 as required 82 and offered the proper number of 83 daily burnt offerings according to the requirement for each day. 3:5 Afterward they offered the continual burnt offerings and those for the new moons and those for all the holy assemblies of the Lord and all those that were being voluntarily offered to the Lord. 3:6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. However, the Lord’s temple was not at that time established. 84
3:7 So they provided money 85 for the masons and carpenters, and food, beverages, and olive oil for the people of Sidon 86 and Tyre, 87 so that they would bring cedar timber from Lebanon to the seaport 88 at Joppa, in accord with the edict of King Cyrus of Persia. 3:8 In the second year after they had come to the temple of God in Jerusalem, 89 in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak initiated the work, 90 along with the rest of their associates, 91 the priests and the Levites, and all those who were coming to Jerusalem from the exile. They appointed 92 the Levites who were at least twenty years old 93 to take charge of the work on the Lord’s temple. 3:9 So Jeshua appointed both his sons and his relatives, 94 Kadmiel and his sons (the sons of Yehudah 95 ), to take charge of the workers in the temple of God, along with the sons of Henadad, their sons, and their relatives 96 the Levites. 3:10 When the builders established the Lord’s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions, 97 and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the Lord according to the instructions left by 98 King David of Israel. 99 3:11 With antiphonal response they sang, 100 praising and glorifying the Lord:
“For he is good;
his loyal love toward Israel is forever.”
All the people gave a loud 101 shout as they praised the Lord when the temple of the Lord was established. 3:12 Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders 102 – older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established 103 – were weeping loudly, 104 and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout. 3:13 People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly 105 that the sound was heard a long way off.
4:1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the former exiles 106 were building a temple for the Lord God of Israel, 4:2 they came to Zerubbabel and the leaders 107 and said to them, “Let us help you build, 108 for like you we seek your God and we have been sacrificing to him 109 from the time 110 of King Esarhaddon 111 of Assyria, who brought us here.” 112 4:3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the leaders of Israel said to them, “You have no right 113 to help us build the temple of our God. We will build it by ourselves for the Lord God of Israel, just as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us.” 4:4 Then the local people 114 began to discourage 115 the people of Judah and to dishearten them from building. 4:5 They were hiring advisers to oppose them, so as to frustrate their plans, throughout the time 116 of King Cyrus of Persia until the reign of King Darius 117 of Persia. 118
4:6 119 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus 120 they filed an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 121 4:7 And during the reign 122 of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, 123 Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues 124 wrote to King Artaxerxes 125 of Persia. This letter 126 was first written in Aramaic but then translated.
[Aramaic:] 127
4:8 Rehum the commander 128 and Shimshai the scribe 129 wrote a letter concerning 130 Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: 4:9 From 131 Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues – the judges, the rulers, the officials, the secretaries, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, 132 the Elamites), 4:10 and the rest of nations whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal 133 deported and settled in the cities 134 of Samaria and other places in Trans-Euphrates. 135 4:11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent to him:)
“To King Artaxerxes, 136 from your servants in 137 Trans-Euphrates: 4:12 Now 138 let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. 139 They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations. 4:13 Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury 140 will suffer loss. 4:14 In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, 141 and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, 142 we are sending the king this information 143 4:15 so that he may initiate a search of the records 144 of his predecessors 145 and discover in those records 146 that this city is rebellious 147 and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts 148 from long ago. 149 It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed. 4:16 We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control 150 of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.”
4:17 The king sent the following response:
“To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and other parts of Trans-Euphrates: Greetings! 151 4:18 The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence. 4:19 So I gave orders, 152 and it was determined 153 that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in 154 rebellion and revolt. 4:20 Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates 155 and who were the beneficiaries of 156 tribute, custom, and toll. 4:21 Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct. 157 4:22 Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that kings sustain damage?”
4:23 Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem 158 and stopped them with threat of armed force. 159
4:24 So the work on the temple of God in Jerusalem came to a halt. It remained halted until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia. 160
[1:1] 1 sn In addition to the canonical books of Ezra and Nehemiah, there are two deuterocanonical books that are also called “Ezra.” Exactly how these books are designated varies in ancient literature. In the Septuagint (LXX) canonical Ezra is called Second Esdras, but in the Latin Vulgate it is called First Esdras. Our Nehemiah is called Third Esdras in some manuscripts of the LXX, but it is known as Second Esdras in the Latin Vulgate. (In the earliest LXX manuscripts Ezra and Nehemiah were regarded as one book, as they were in some Hebrew manuscripts.) The deuterocanonical books of Ezra are called First and Fourth Esdras in the LXX, but Third and Fourth Esdras in the Latin Vulgate. The titles for the so-called books of Ezra are thus rather confusing, a fact that one must keep in mind when consulting this material.
[1:1] 2 sn The first year of Cyrus would be ca. 539
[1:1] 3 tn Heb “the word of the Lord.”
[1:1] 4 tc The MT reads מִפִּי (mippi, “from the mouth of”), but this should probably be emended to בְּפִי (bÿfi, “by the mouth of”), which is the way the parallel passage in 2 Chr 36:22 reads. This is also reflected in the LXX, which is either reflecting an alternate textual tradition of בְּפִי or is attempting to harmonize Ezra 1:1 in light of 2 Chronicles.
[1:1] 5 sn Cf. Jer 29:10; 25:11-14. Jeremiah had prophesied that after a time of seventy years the Jews would return “to this place.” How these seventy years are to be reckoned is a matter of debate among scholars. Some understand the period to refer to the approximate length of Babylon’s ascendancy as a world power, beginning either with the fall of Nineveh (612
[1:1] 6 tn Heb “spirit.” The Hebrew noun רוּחַ (ruakh, “spirit”) has a broad range of meanings (see BDB 924-26 s.v.). Here, it probably refers to (1) “mind” as the seat of mental acts (e.g., Exod 28:3; Deut 34:9; Isa 29:24; 40:13; Ezek 11:5; 20:32; 1 Chr 28:12; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 6) or (2) “will” as the seat of volitional decisions (e.g., Exod 35:5, 22; Pss 51:12, 14; 57:8; 2 Chr 29:31; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 7). So also in v. 5.
[1:1] 7 tn Heb “caused to pass.”
[1:1] 8 tn Heb “a voice.” The Hebrew noun קוֹל (qol, “voice, sound”) has a broad range of meanings, including the metonymical (cause – effect) nuance “proclamation” (e.g., Exod 36:6; 2 Chr 24:9; 30:5; 36:22; Ezra 1:1; 10:7; Neh 8:15). See BDB 877 s.v. 3.a.2.
[1:1] 9 sn For an interesting extrabiblical parallel to this edict see the Cyrus cylinder (ANET 315-16).
[1:1] 10 tn Heb “in writing, saying.”
[1:2] 11 tn Heb “house.” The Hebrew noun בַּיִת (bayit, “house”) is often used in reference to the temple of Yahweh (BDB 108 s.v. 1.a). This is also frequent elsewhere in Ezra and Nehemiah (e.g., Ezra 1:3, 4, 5, 7; 2:68; 3:8, 9, 11, 12; 4:3; 6:22; 7:27; 8:17, 25, 29, 30, 33, 36; 9:9; 10:1, 6, 9).
[1:2] 12 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[1:4] 14 tn Heb “the men of his place.”
[1:5] 15 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
[1:5] 17 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[1:6] 18 tn Heb “strengthened their hands.”
[1:6] 19 tc The MT reads בִּכְלֵי־כֶסֶף (bikhley khesef, “with silver vessels”). However, part of the LXX manuscript tradition reads ἐν πᾶσιν ἀργυρίῳ (en pasin arguriw), which reflects an alternate Hebrew reading of בַּכֹּל־בַּכֶּסֶף (bakkol-bakkesef, “everywhere, with silver”). The textual variant involves (1) simple omission of yod (י) between two words, a common scribal mistake; (2) haplography of the preposition bet (בּ); and (3) an alternate vocalization tradition of the first term.
[1:6] 20 tn Heb “besides” or “in addition to.”
[1:7] 21 tn Heb “and he gave them.”
[1:8] 22 tn Heb “brought them forth.”
[1:8] 23 tn Heb “upon the hand of.”
[1:8] 24 sn A Persian name meaning “gift of Mithras.” See HALOT 656 s.v. מִתְרְדָת.
[1:8] 25 sn A Babylonian name with the probable meaning “Shamash protect the father.” See HALOT 1664-65 s.v. שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר.
[1:8] 26 tn Heb “Sheshbazzar the prince to Judah”; TEV, CEV “the governor of Judah.”
[1:9] 27 tn Heb “these are their number.”
[1:9] 28 tn The exact meaning of the Hebrew noun אֲגַרְטָל (’agartal, which occurs twice in this verse) is somewhat uncertain. The lexicons suggest that it is related to a common Semitic root (the Hebrew derivative has a prosthetic prefixed א [aleph] and interchange between ג [gimel] and ק [kof]): Judean Aramaic and Syriac qartalla, Arabic qirtallat, Ethiopic qartalo, all meaning “basket” (BDB 173-74 s.v.; HALOT 11 s.v.). There is debate whether this is a loanword from Greek κάρταλλος (kartallo", “basket”), Persian hirtal (“leather bag”) or Hittite kurtal (“container”). The term is traditionally understood as a kind of vessel, such as “basket, basin” (BDB 173-74 s.v.; HALOT 11 s.v.); but some suggest “leather bag” or a basket-shaped container of some sort (P. Humbert, “En marge du dictionnaire hébraïque,” ZAW 62 [1950]: 199-207; DCH 1:118 s.v.). The LXX translated it as ψυκτήρ (yukthr, “metal bowl”). The precise meaning depends on whether the nouns כֶּסֶף (kesef, “silver”) and זָהָב (zahav, “gold”), which follow each use of this plural construct noun, are genitives of content (“containers full of silver” and “containers full of gold”) or genitives of material (“silver containers” and “gold containers” = containers made from silver and gold). If they are genitives of content, the term probably means “baskets” or “leather bags” (filled with silver and gold); however, if they are genitives of material, the term would mean “basins” (made of silver and gold). Elsewhere in Ezra 1, the nouns כֶּסֶף (“silver”) and זָהָב (“gold”) are used as genitives or material, not genitives of contents; therefore, the translation “gold basins” and “silver basins” is preferred.
[1:9] 29 tn Heb “knives.” The Hebrew noun מַחֲלָפִים (makhalafim, “knives”) is found only here in the OT. While the basic meaning of the term is fairly clear, what it refers to here is unclear. The verb II חָלַף (khalaf) means “to pass through” (BDB 322 s.v. חָלַף) or “to cut through” (HALOT 321 s.v. II חלף; see also Judg 5:26; Job 20:24); thus, the lexicons suggest מַחֲלָפִים means “knives” (BDB 322 s.v. מַחֲלָף; HALOT 569 s.v. *מַחֲלָף). The related noun חֲלָפוֹת (khalafot, “knife”) is used in Mishnaic Hebrew (HALOT 321 s.v. II חלף), and חֲלִיפוֹת (khalifot, “knives”) appears in the Talmud. The noun appears in the cognate languages: Ugaritic khlpnm (“knives”; UT 19) and Syriac khalofta (“shearing knife”; HALOT 321 s.v. II חלף). The Vulgate translated it as “knives,” while the LXX understood it as referring to replacement pieces for the offering basins. The English translations render it variously; some following the Vulgate and others adopting the approach of the LXX: “knives” (KJV, NKJV, NRSV), “censers” (RSV), “duplicates” (NASV), “silver pans” (NIV), “bowls” (TEV), “other dishes” (CEV). Verse 11 lists these twenty-nine objects among the “gold and silver vessels” brought back to Jerusalem for temple worship. The translation above offers the intentionally ambiguous “silver utensils” (the term מַחֲלָפִים [“knives”] would hardly refer to “gold” items, but could refer to “silver items”).
[1:10] 30 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מִשְׁנִים (mishnim) is uncertain. The noun מִשְׁנֶה (mishneh) means “double, second” (BDB 1041 s.v.), “what is doubled, two-fold” (HALOT 650 s.v. מִשְׁנֶה 3). The translations reflect a diversity of approaches: “410 silver bowls of a second kind” (KJV, NASV, RSV margin), “410 other silver bowls” (NRSV) and “410 matching silver bowls” (NIV). BDB 1041 s.v. משׁנה 3.a suggests it was originally a numeral that was garbled in the transmission process, as reflected in the LXX: “two thousand” (so RSV: “two thousand four hundred and ten bowls of silver”). The BHS editor suggests revocalizing the term to מְשֻׁנִים (mÿshunim, “changed”).
[1:11] 31 sn The total number as given in the MT does not match the numbers given for the various items in v. 9. It is not clear whether the difference is due to error in textual transmission or whether the constituent items mentioned are only a selection from a longer list, in which case the total from that longer list may have been retained. The numbers provided in 1 Esdras come much closer to agreeing with the number in Ezra 1:9-11, but this does not necessarily mean that 1 Esdras has been better preserved here than Ezra. 1 Esdras 2:13-15 (RSV) says, “The number of these was: a thousand gold cups, a thousand silver cups, twenty-nine silver censures, thirty gold bowls, two thousand four hundred and ten silver bowls, and a thousand other vessels. All the vessels were handed over, gold and silver, five thousand four hundred and sixty-nine, and they were carried back by Shesbazzar with the returning exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem.”
[2:1] 32 sn The list of names and numbers in this chapter of Ezra has a parallel account in Neh 7:6-73. The fact that the two lists do not always agree in specific details suggests that various textual errors have crept into the accounts during the transmission process.
[2:1] 33 tn Heb “the sons of.”
[2:1] 34 tn The Hebrew term הָעֹלִים (ha’olim, “those who were going up” [Qal active participle]) refers to continual action in the past. Most translations render this as a simple past: “went up” (KJV), “came up” (RSV, ASV, NASV, NIV), “came” (NRSV). CEV paraphrases: “were on their way back.”
[2:1] 35 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[2:2] 36 tn Heb “men of the people of Israel.”
[2:2] 37 tn The words “was as follows” are not in the Hebrew text but are used in the translation for clarity.
[2:3] 38 tn Heb “the sons of.”
[2:6] 39 tn Heb “to the sons of.” Cf. v. 40.
[2:6] 40 tc The MT reads יוֹאָב (yo’av, “Joab”). However, syntax demands the reading וְיוֹאָב (vÿyo’av, “and Joab”) which is reflected in the LXX and Syriac.
[2:16] 41 tn Heb “to.” So also in vv. 36, 40.
[2:21] 42 tc The translation follows the suggestion in BHS and reads אַנְשֵׁי (’anshe, “the men of”) here rather than the reading בְּנֵי (bÿne, “the sons of”) found in the MT. So also in vv. 25, 26, 33, 34.
[2:21] 43 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
[2:24] 44 tc The translation follows the suggestion in BHS and reads אַשְׁנֵי בֵּית (’ashne bet, “men of the house of”) here rather than the reading בְּנֵי (bÿne, “the sons of”) found in the MT.
[2:25] 45 tc The translation, with the support of many manuscripts, reads יְעָרִים (yÿ’arim) here rather than the reading עָרִים (’arim) of the MT.
[2:28] 46 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[2:34] 47 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
[2:36] 48 tn Heb “the house of.”
[2:42] 49 tc Here it is preferable to delete the reading בְּנֵי (bÿne, “the sons of”) found in the MT.
[2:46] 50 tc The translation follows the Qere reading “Shalmai” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT) rather than the MT Kethib “Shamlai” (so ASV, NAB, NRSV).
[2:59] 52 tn Heb “the house of their fathers.”
[2:59] 53 tn Heb “their seed.”
[2:61] 54 tc The translation reads וּמִן (umin, “and from”) rather than the reading וּמִבּנֵי (umibbÿney, “and from the sons of”) found in the MT.
[2:62] 57 tn Heb “their records were searched for in the genealogical materials, but were not found.” This passive construction has been translated as active for stylistic reasons.
[2:62] 58 tn Heb “they were desecrated.”
[2:63] 59 tn The Hebrew word תִּרְשָׁתָא (tirshata’) is an official title of the Persian governor in Judea, perhaps similar in meaning to “excellency” (BDB 1077 s.v.; HALOT 1798 s.v.; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon, 395).
[2:64] 61 sn The same total is given in Neh 7:66, but it is difficult to understand how this number is reached, since the numbers of people listed in the constituent groups do not add up to 42,360. The list in vv. 3-60 apparently is not intended to be exhaustive, but the basis of the selectivity is unclear.
[2:65] 62 tn Heb “besides” or “in addition to.”
[2:68] 63 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
[2:68] 64 tn Heb “cause it to stand.”
[2:69] 65 tn Heb “according to their strength.”
[2:69] 66 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים (darkÿmonim, cf. Neh 7:69, 70, 71) is uncertain. It may be a Greek loanword meaning “drachmas” (the view adopted here and followed also by NAB, NASB, NIV) or a Persian loanword “daric,” referring to a Persian gold coin (BDB 204 s.v. דַּרְכְּמוֹן; HALOT 232 s.v. נִים(וֹ)דַּרְכְּמֹ; cf. ASV, NRSV). For further study, see R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 206-9.
[2:69] 67 sn The מָנִים (manim, cf. Neh 7:71, 72) is a measuring weight for valuable metals, equal to 1/60 of a talent or 60 shekels (BDB 584 s.v. מָנֶה; HALOT 599 s.v. מָנֶה). For further study, see R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 203-6.
[3:1] 69 tn Heb “the sons of Israel.”
[3:1] 70 tn The word “living” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied. Some translations supply “settled” (cf. NAB, NIV, NLT).
[3:1] 71 tc The translation reads with some medieval Hebrew
[3:1] 72 tn The Hebrew text adds the phrase “like one man.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[3:1] 74 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[3:2] 75 sn Jozadak (also in 3:8) is a variant spelling of Jehozadak.
[3:2] 76 tn Heb “his brothers the priests.”
[3:2] 77 tn Heb “his brothers.”
[3:2] 78 tn Heb “arose and built.”
[3:2] 79 tn Heb “written in.” Cf. v. 4.
[3:3] 80 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”
[3:4] 81 tn The Hebrew phrase אֶת חַג־הַסֻּכּוֹת (’et khag-hassukot, “festival of huts” [or “shelters”]) is traditionally known as the Feast of Tabernacles. The rendering “booths” (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV) is probably better than the traditional “tabernacles” in light of the meaning of the term סֻכָּה (sukkah, “hut; booth”), but “booths” are frequently associated with trade shows and craft fairs in contemporary American English. The nature of the celebration during this feast as a commemoration of the wanderings of the Israelites after they left Egypt suggests that a translation like “temporary shelters” is more appropriate.
[3:4] 82 tn Heb “according to what is written.”
[3:6] 84 tn Or “the foundation of the
[3:7] 86 map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[3:7] 87 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[3:8] 89 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[3:8] 90 tn Heb “began”; the phrase “the work” is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
[3:8] 91 tn Heb “their brothers.”
[3:8] 93 tn Heb “from twenty years and upward.”
[3:9] 95 sn The name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah; cf. KJV, ASV, NASB “Judah”) is probably a variant of Hodaviah (see Ezra 2:40; cf. NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
[3:10] 97 sn This was a long, straight, metallic instrument used for signal calls, rather than the traditional ram’s horn (both instruments are typically translated “trumpet” by English versions).
[3:10] 98 tn Heb “according to the hands of.”
[3:10] 99 sn See Ps 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1. Cf. 2 Chr 5:13; 7:3; 20:21.
[3:11] 100 tn Heb “they answered.”
[3:12] 102 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
[3:12] 103 sn The temple had been destroyed some fifty years earlier by the Babylonians in 586
[3:12] 104 tn Heb “with a great voice.”
[3:13] 105 tn Heb “a great shout.”
[4:1] 106 tn Heb “the sons of the exile.”
[4:2] 107 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.” So also in v. 3.
[4:2] 108 tn Heb “Let us build with you.”
[4:2] 109 tc The translation reads with the Qere, a Qumran
[4:2] 111 sn Esarhaddon was king of Assyria ca. 681-669
[4:2] 112 sn The Assyrian policy had been to resettle Samaria with peoples from other areas (cf. 2 Kgs 17:24-34). These immigrants acknowledged Yahweh as well as other deities in some cases. The Jews who returned from the Exile regarded them with suspicion and were not hospitable to their offer of help in rebuilding the temple.
[4:3] 113 tn Heb “not to you and to us.”
[4:4] 114 tn Heb “the people of the land.” Elsewhere this expression sometimes has a negative connotation, referring to a lay population that was less zealous for Judaism than it should have been. Here, however, it seems to refer to the resident population of the area without any negative connotation.
[4:4] 115 tn Heb “were making slack the hands of.”
[4:5] 116 tn Heb “all the days of.”
[4:5] 117 sn Darius ruled Persia ca. 522-486
[4:5] 118 sn The purpose of the opening verses of this chapter is to summarize why the Jews returning from the exile were unable to complete the rebuilding of the temple more quickly than they did. The delay was due not to disinterest on their part but to the repeated obstacles that had been placed in their path by determined foes.
[4:6] 119 sn The chronological problems of Ezra 4:6-24 are well known and have been the subject of extensive discussion since ancient times. Both v. 5 and v. 24 describe the reign of Darius I Hystaspes, who ruled Persia ca. 522–486
[4:6] 120 sn Ahasuerus, otherwise known as Xerxes I, ruled ca. 486-464
[4:6] 121 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[4:7] 122 tn Heb “And in the days.”
[4:7] 123 tn The LXX understands this word as a prepositional phrase (“in peace”) rather than as a proper name (“Bishlam”). Taken this way it would suggest that Mithredath was “in agreement with” the contents of Tabeel’s letter. Some scholars regard the word in the MT to be a corruption of either “in Jerusalem” (i.e., “in the matter of Jerusalem”) or “in the name of Jerusalem.” The translation adopted above follows the traditional understanding of the word as a name.
[4:7] 124 tc The translation reads the plural with the Qere rather than the singular found in the MT Kethib.
[4:7] 125 sn Artaxerxes I ruled in Persia from ca. 465–425
[4:7] 126 tc It is preferable to delete the MT’s וּכְתָב (ukhÿtav) here.
[4:7] 127 sn The double reference in v. 7 to the Aramaic language is difficult. It would not make sense to say that the letter was written in Aramaic and then translated into Aramaic. Some interpreters understand the verse to mean that the letter was written in the Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language, but this does not seem to give sufficient attention to the participle “translated” at the end of the verse. The second reference to Aramaic in the verse is more probably a gloss that calls attention to the fact that the following verses retain the Aramaic language of the letter in its original linguistic form. A similar reference to Aramaic occurs in Dan 2:4b, where the language of that book shifts from Hebrew to Aramaic. Ezra 4:8–6:18 and 7:12-26 are written in Aramaic, whereas the rest of the book is written in Hebrew.
[4:8] 128 tn Aram “lord of the command.” So also in vv. 9, 17.
[4:8] 129 sn Like Rehum, Shimshai was apparently a fairly high-ranking official charged with overseeing Persian interests in this part of the empire. His title was “scribe” or “secretary,” but in a more elevated political sense than that word sometimes has elsewhere. American governmental titles such as “Secretary of State” perhaps provide an analogy in that the word “secretary” can have a broad range of meaning.
[4:8] 130 tn Or perhaps “against.”
[4:9] 131 tn Aram “then.” What follows in v. 9 seems to be the preface of the letter, serving to identify the senders of the letter. The word “from” is not in the Aramaic text but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[4:9] 132 tn For the qere of the MT (דֶּהָיֵא, dehaye’, a proper name) it seems better to retain the Kethib דִּהוּא (dihu’, “that is”). See F. Rosenthal, Grammar, 25, §35; E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 36.
[4:10] 133 tn Aram “Osnappar” (so ASV, NASB, NRSV), another name for Ashurbanipal.
[4:10] 134 tc The translation reads with the ancient versions the plural בְּקֻרְיַהּ (bÿquryah, “in the cities”) rather than the singular (“in the city”) of the MT.
[4:10] 135 tn Aram “beyond the river.” In Ezra this term is a technical designation for the region west of the Euphrates river.
[4:11] 136 tn The Masoretic accents indicate that the phrase “to Artaxerxes the king” goes with what precedes and that the letter begins with the words “from your servants.” But it seems better to understand the letter to begin by identifying the addressee.
[4:12] 138 tn The MT takes this word with the latter part of v. 11, but in English style it fits better with v. 12.
[4:12] 139 sn Management of the provinces that were distantly removed from the capital was difficult, and insurrection in such places was a perennial problem. The language used in this report about Jerusalem (i.e., “rebellious,” “odious”) is intentionally inflammatory. It is calculated to draw immediate attention to the perceived problem.
[4:13] 140 tn Aram “the treasury of kings.” The plural “kings” is Hebrew, not Aramaic. If the plural is intended in a numerical sense the reference is not just to Artaxerxes but to his successors as well. Some scholars understand this to be the plural of majesty, referring to Artaxerxes. See F. C. Fensham, Ezra and Nehemiah (NICOT), 74.
[4:14] 141 tn Aram “we eat the salt of the palace.”
[4:14] 142 tn Aram “the dishonor of the king is not fitting for us to see.”
[4:14] 143 tn Aram “and we have made known.”
[4:15] 144 tn Aram “the book of the minutes.”
[4:15] 145 tn Aram “of your fathers.”
[4:15] 146 tn Aram “discover…and learn.” For stylistic reasons this has been translated as a single concept.
[4:15] 147 tn Aram “is a rebellious city.”
[4:15] 148 tn Aram “revolts they are making in its midst.”
[4:15] 149 tn Aram “from olden days.” So also in v. 19.
[4:16] 150 tn Aram “will not be to you.”
[4:19] 152 tn Aram “from me was placed a decree.”
[4:19] 153 tn Aram “and they searched and found.”
[4:19] 154 tn Aram “are being done.”
[4:20] 155 sn The statement that prior Jewish kings ruled over the entire Trans-Euphrates is an overstatement. Not even in the days of David and Solomon did the kingdom of Israel extend its borders to such an extent.
[4:20] 156 tn Aram “were being given to them.”
[4:21] 157 tn Aram “until a command is issued from me.”
[4:23] 158 tn Aram “to Jerusalem against the Jews.”
[4:23] 159 tn Aram “by force and power,” a hendiadys.
[4:24] 160 sn Darius I Hystaspes ruled Persia ca. 522–486
