Ezra 4:15

4:15 so that he may initiate a search of the records ¹  of his predecessors ²  and discover in those records ³  that this city is rebellious ⁴  and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts ⁵  from long ago. ⁶  It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed.

Ezra 5:11-12

5:11 They responded to us in the following way: ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great king ⁷  of Israel built it and completed it. 5:12 But after our ancestors ⁸  angered the God of heaven, he delivered them into the hands ⁹  of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylon. ¹⁰ 

Ezra 6:17

6:17 For the dedication of this temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

Ezra 7:24

7:24 Furthermore, be aware of the fact ¹¹  that you have no authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or the attendants at the temple of this God.

¹ tn Aram “the book of the minutes.”

² tn Aram “of your fathers.”

³ tn Aram “discover…and learn.” For stylistic reasons this has been translated as a single concept.

⁴ tn Aram “is a rebellious city.”

⁵ tn Aram “revolts they are making in its midst.”

⁶ tn Aram “from olden days.” So also in v. 19.

⁷ sn This great king of Israel would, of course, be Solomon.

¹³ tn Aram “fathers.”

¹⁴ tn Aram “hand” (singular).

¹⁵ sn A reference to the catastrophic events of 586 b.c.

¹⁹ tn Aram “we are making known to you.”