Ezra 7:12

7:12 1 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the perfect law of the God of heaven:

Ezra 7:11

Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission

7:11 What follows 2  is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe. 3  Ezra was 4  a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:

Ezra 10:2

10:2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, 5  addressed Ezra:

“We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying 6  foreign women from the local peoples. 7  Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard. 8 

1 sn Ezra 7:12-26 is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.

2 tn Heb “this.”

3 tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.

4 tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.

3 tc The translation reads with the Qere, many medieval Hebrew MSS, the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate עֵילָם (’elam, “Elam”) rather than the reading עוֹלָם (’olam, “eternity”) found in the MT.

4 tn Heb “in that we have given a dwelling to.” So also in vv. 14, 17, 18.

5 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”

6 tn Heb “upon this.”