Ezra 7:11-16

Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission

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: 7:13 I have now issued a decree ⁵  that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel – even the priests and Levites – who wishes to do so may go up with you to Jerusalem. ⁶  7:14 You are authorized ⁷  by the king and his seven advisers to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your possession, ⁸  7:15 and to bring silver and gold which the king and his advisers have freely contributed to the God of Israel, who resides in Jerusalem, 7:16 along with all the silver and gold that you may collect ⁹  throughout all the province of Babylon and the contributions of the people and the priests for the temple of their God which is in Jerusalem.

[7:11]  ¹ tn Heb “this.”

[7:11]  ² tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.

[7:11]  ³ tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.

[7:12]  ⁴ sn Ezra 7:12-26 is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.

[7:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “from me is placed a decree.” So also in v. 21.

[7:13]  ⁸ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[7:14]  ¹⁰ tn Aram “sent.”

[7:14]  ¹¹ tn Aram “in your hand.”

[7:16]  ¹³ tn Aram “find.”