7:11 What follows 1 is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe. 2 Ezra was 3 a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:
7:12 4 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the perfect law of the God of heaven:
7:21 “I, King Artaxerxes, hereby issue orders to all the treasurers of 5 Trans-Euphrates, that you precisely execute all that Ezra the priestly scribe of the law of the God of heaven may request of you –
1 tn Heb “this.”
2 tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.
3 tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.
4 sn Ezra 7:12-26 is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.
5 tn Aram “who are in.”