Ezra 6:16

6:16 The people 1  of Israel – the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles 2  – observed the dedication of this temple of God with joy.

Ezra 6:10

6:10 so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family. 3 

Ezra 6:9

6:9 Whatever is needed – whether oxen or rams or lambs or burnt offerings for the God of heaven or wheat or salt or wine or oil, as required by 4  the priests who are in Jerusalem – must be given to them daily without any neglect,

Ezra 7:23

7:23 Everything that the God of heaven has required should be precisely done for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath 5  against the empire of the king and his sons?

1 tn Aram “sons of.”

2 tn Aram “sons of the exile.”

3 tn Aram “for the life of the king and his sons.”

5 tn Aram “according to the word of.”

7 tn The Aramaic word used here for “wrath” (קְצַף, qÿtsaf; cf. Heb קָצַף, qatsaf) is usually used in the Hebrew Bible for God’s anger as opposed to human anger (but contra Eccl 5:17 [MT 5:16]; Esth 1:18; 2 Kgs 3:27). The fact that this word is used in v. 23 may have theological significance, pointing to the possibility of divine judgment if the responsible parties should fail to make available these provisions for the temple.