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 6:22

6:22 They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the Lord had given them joy and had changed the opinion ³  of the king of Assyria ⁴  toward them, so that he assisted ⁵  them in the work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.

[6:16]  ¹ tn Aram “sons of.”

[6:16]  ² tn Aram “sons of the exile.”

[6:22]  ³ tn Heb “heart.”

[6:22]  ⁴ sn The expression “king of Assyria” is anachronistic, since Assyria fell in 612 b.c., long before the events of this chapter. Perhaps the expression is intended subtly to contrast earlier kings of Assyria who were hostile toward Israel with this Persian king who showed them favor.

[6:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “to strengthen their hands.”