Ezra 6:1--8:36
Konteks6:1 So Darius the king issued orders, and they searched in the archives 1 of the treasury which were deposited there in Babylon. 6:2 A scroll was found in the citadel 2 of Ecbatana which is in the province of Media, and it was inscribed as follows:
“Memorandum: 6:3 In the first year of his reign, 3 King Cyrus gave orders concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: 4 ‘Let the temple be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered. Let its foundations be set in place. 5 Its height is to be ninety feet and its width ninety 6 feet, 7 6:4 with three layers of large stones 8 and one 9 layer of timber. The expense is to be subsidized 10 by the royal treasury. 11 6:5 Furthermore let the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, be returned and brought to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. Let them be deposited in the temple of God.’
6:6 “Now Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials of Trans-Euphrates – all of you stay far away from there! 6:7 Leave the work on this temple of God alone. 12 Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this temple of God in its proper place.
6:8 “I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-Euphrates the complete costs are to be given to these men, so that there may be no interruption of the work. 13 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 14 the priests who are in Jerusalem – must be given to them daily without any neglect, 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. 15
6:11 “I hereby give orders that if anyone changes this directive a beam is to be pulled out from his house and he is to be raised up and impaled 16 on it, and his house is to be reduced 17 to a rubbish heap 18 for this indiscretion. 19 6:12 May God who makes his name to reside there overthrow any king or nation 20 who reaches out 21 to cause such change so as to destroy this temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given orders. Let them be carried out with precision!”
6:13 Then Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues acted accordingly – with precision, just as Darius the king had given instructions. 22 6:14 The elders of the Jews continued building and prospering, while at the same time 23 Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo continued prophesying. They built and brought it to completion by the command of the God of Israel and by the command of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 6:15 They finished this temple on the third day of the month Adar, which is the sixth 24 year of the reign of King Darius.
6:16 The people 25 of Israel – the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles 26 – observed the dedication of this temple of God with joy. 6:17 For the dedication of this temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 6:18 They appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their divisions over the worship of God at Jerusalem, 27 in accord with 28 the book of Moses. 6:19 29 The exiles 30 observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6:20 The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, every last one, 31 and they all were ceremonially pure. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues 32 the priests, and for themselves. 6:21 The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them 33 in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the Lord God of Israel. 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 34 of the king of Assyria 35 toward them, so that he assisted 36 them in the work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.
7:1 Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxes 37 of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon. 38 Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah, 7:2 who was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub, 7:3 who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth, 7:4 who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki, 7:5 who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron the chief priest. 7:6 This Ezra is the one who came up from Babylon. He was a scribe who was skilled in the law of Moses which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king supplied him with everything he requested, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. 7:7 In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra brought 39 up to Jerusalem 40 some of the Israelites and some of the priests, the Levites, the attendants, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants. 7:8 He entered Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 7:9 On the first day of the first month he had determined to make 41 the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem, 42 for the good hand of his God was on him. 7:10 Now Ezra had dedicated himself 43 to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching 44 its statutes and judgments in Israel.
7:11 What follows 45 is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe. 46 Ezra was 47 a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:
7:12 48 “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 49 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. 50 7:14 You are authorized 51 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, 52 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 53 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. 7:17 With this money you should be sure to purchase bulls, rams, and lambs, along with the appropriate 54 meal offerings and libations. You should bring them to the altar of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem. 7:18 You may do whatever seems appropriate to you and your colleagues 55 with the rest of the silver and the gold, in keeping with the will of your God. 7:19 Deliver to 56 the God of Jerusalem the vessels that are given to you for the service of the temple of your God. 7:20 The rest of the needs for the temple of your God that you may have to supply, 57 you may do so from the royal treasury.
7:21 “I, King Artaxerxes, hereby issue orders to all the treasurers of 58 Trans-Euphrates, that you precisely execute all that Ezra the priestly scribe of the law of the God of heaven may request of you – 7:22 up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of olive oil, 59 and unlimited 60 salt. 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 61 against the empire of the king and his sons? 7:24 Furthermore, be aware of the fact 62 that you have no authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or the attendants at the temple of this God.
7:25 “Now you, Ezra, in keeping with the wisdom of your God which you possess, 63 appoint judges 64 and court officials who can arbitrate cases on behalf of all the people who are in Trans-Euphrates who know the laws of your God. Those who do not know this law should be taught. 7:26 Everyone who does not observe both the law of your God and the law of the king will be completely 65 liable to the appropriate penalty, whether it is death or banishment or confiscation of property or detainment in prison.”
7:27 66 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who so moved in the heart of the king to so honor the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem! 7:28 He has also conferred his favor on me before the king, his advisers, and all the influential leaders of the king. I gained strength as the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.
8:1 These are the leaders 67 and those enrolled with them by genealogy who were coming up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
8:2 from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom;
from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;
from the descendants of David, Hattush 8:3 the son of Shecaniah; 68
from the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were enrolled by genealogy 150 men;
8:4 from the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;
8:5 from the descendants of Zattu, 69 Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;
8:6 from the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;
8:7 from the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;
8:8 from the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;
8:9 from the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;
8:10 from the descendants of Bani, 70 Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;
8:11 from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;
8:12 from the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;
8:13 from the descendants of Adonikam there were the latter ones. 71 Their names were Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;
8:14 from the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zaccur, 72 and with them 73 70 men.
8:15 I had them assemble 74 at the canal 75 that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I observed that the people and the priests were present, but I found no Levites there. 8:16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, 76 Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were teachers. 8:17 I sent them to Iddo, who was the leader in the place called Casiphia. I told them 77 what to say to Iddo and his relatives, 78 who were the temple servants in 79 Casiphia, so they would bring us attendants for the temple of our God.
8:18 Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, 80 who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, 81 18 men, 8:19 and Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men, 8:20 and some of the temple servants that David and his officials had established for the work of the Levites – 220 of them. They were all designated by name.
8:21 I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey 82 for us, our children, and all our property. 8:22 I was embarrassed to request soldiers and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy 83 along the way, because we had said to the king, “The good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him, but his great anger 84 is against everyone who forsakes him.” 8:23 So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.
8:24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with 85 Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers, 86 8:25 and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels intended for the temple of our God – items that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present had contributed. 8:26 I weighed out to them 87 650 talents of silver, silver vessels worth 100 talents, 88 100 talents of gold, 8:27 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics, and two exquisite vessels of gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold. 8:28 Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, just as these vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. 8:29 Be careful with them and protect them, until you weigh them out before the leading priests and the Levites and the family leaders of Israel in Jerusalem, 89 in the storerooms of the temple of the Lord.”
8:30 Then the priests and the Levites took charge of 90 the silver, the gold, and the vessels that had been weighed out, to transport them to Jerusalem to the temple of our God.
8:31 On the twelfth day of the first month we began traveling from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from our enemy and from bandits 91 along the way. 8:32 So we came to Jerusalem, and we stayed there for three days. 8:33 On the fourth day we weighed out the silver, the gold, and the vessels in the house of our God into the care 92 of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest, and Eleazar son of Phinehas, who were accompanied by Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, who were Levites. 8:34 Everything was verified 93 by number and by weight, and the total weight was written down at that time.
8:35 The exiles who were returning from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel – twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs, along with twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 8:36 Then they presented the decrees of the king to the king’s satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who gave help to the people and to the temple of God.
[6:1] 1 tn Aram “the house of the archives.”
[6:2] 2 tc The translation reads בִירְתָא (birta’, citadel”) rather than the reading בְּבִירְתָא (bÿvireta’, “in the citadel”) found in the MT. The MT probably experienced dittography here.
[6:3] 3 tn Aram “In the first year of Cyrus the king.”
[6:3] 4 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[6:3] 5 tn Aram “raised”; or perhaps “retained” (so NASB; cf. NLT), referring to the original foundations of Solomon’s temple.
[6:3] 6 tc The Syriac Peshitta reads “twenty cubits” here, a measurement probably derived from dimensions given elsewhere for Solomon’s temple. According to 1 Kgs 6:2 the dimensions of the Solomonic temple were as follows: length, 60 cubits; width, 20 cubits; height, 30 cubits. Since one would expect the dimensions cited in Ezra 6:3 to correspond to those of Solomon’s temple, it is odd that no dimension for length is provided. The Syriac has apparently harmonized the width dimension provided here (“twenty cubits”) to that given in 1 Kgs 6:2.
[6:3] 7 tn Aram “Its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits.” The standard cubit in the OT is assumed by most authorities to be about eighteen inches (45 cm) long.
[6:4] 8 tn Aram “stones of rolling.”
[6:4] 9 tc The translation follows the LXX reading חַד (khad, “one”) rather than the MT חֲדַת (khadat, “new”). If the MT reading “new” is understood to mean freshly cut timber that has not yet been seasoned it would seem to be an odd choice for construction material.
[6:4] 10 tn Aram “let be given.”
[6:7] 12 tc For the MT reading “the work on this temple of God” the LXX reads “the servant of the Lord Zurababel” [= Zerubbabel].
[6:8] 13 tn The words “of the work” are not in the Aramaic, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
[6:9] 14 tn Aram “according to the word of.”
[6:10] 15 tn Aram “for the life of the king and his sons.”
[6:11] 16 sn The practice referred to in v. 11 has been understood in various ways: hanging (cf. 1 Esd 6:32 and KJV); flogging (cf. NEB, NLT); impalement (BDB 1091 s.v. זְקַף; HALOT 1914 s.v. מחא hitpe; cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV). The latter seems the most likely.
[6:11] 18 tn Aram “a dunghill.”
[6:12] 21 tn Aram “who sends forth his hand.”
[6:14] 23 tn Aram “in” or “by,” in the sense of accompaniment.
[6:15] 24 sn The sixth year of the reign of Darius would be ca. 516
[6:16] 26 tn Aram “sons of the exile.”
[6:18] 27 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[6:18] 28 tn Aram “according to the writing of.”
[6:19] 29 sn At this point the language of the book reverts from Aramaic (4:8–6:18) back to Hebrew. Aramaic will again be used in Ezra 7:12-26.
[6:19] 30 tn Heb “the sons of the exile.” So also in v. 20.
[6:20] 31 tn Heb “as one.” The expression is best understood as referring to the unity shown by the religious leaders in preparing themselves for the observance of Passover. On the meaning of the Hebrew phrase see DCH 1:182 s.v. אֶחָד 3b. See also HALOT 30 s.v. אֶחָד 5.
[6:21] 33 tn Heb “who had separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to them.”
[6:22] 35 sn The expression “king of Assyria” is anachronistic, since Assyria fell in 612
[6:22] 36 tn Heb “to strengthen their hands.”
[7:1] 37 sn If the Artaxerxes of Ezra 7:1 is Artaxerxes I Longimanus (ca. 464–423
[7:1] 38 tn The words “came up from Babylon” do not appear in the Hebrew text until v. 6. They have been supplied here for the sake of clarity.
[7:7] 39 tc The translation reads the Hiphil singular וַיַּעֲל (vayya’al, “he [Ezra] brought up”) rather than the Qal plural וַיַּעַלוּ (vayya’alu, “they came up”) of the MT.
[7:7] tn Heb “he brought”; the referent (Ezra) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[7:7] 40 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[7:9] 41 tc The translation reads יִסַּד (yissad, “he appointed” [= determined]) rather than the reading יְסֻד (yÿsud, “foundation”) of the MT. (The words “to make” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.)
[7:9] 42 sn Apparently it took the caravan almost four months to make the five hundred mile journey.
[7:10] 43 tn Heb “established his heart.”
[7:10] 44 tn Heb “to do and to teach.” The expression may be a hendiadys, in which case it would have the sense of “effectively teaching.”
[7:11] 46 tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.
[7:11] 47 tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.
[7:12] 48 sn Ezra 7:12-26 is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.
[7:13] 49 tn Heb “from me is placed a decree.” So also in v. 21.
[7:13] 50 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[7:14] 52 tn Aram “in your hand.”
[7:17] 54 tn Aram “their meal offerings and their libations.”
[7:20] 57 tn Aram “may fall to you to give.”
[7:21] 58 tn Aram “who are in.”
[7:22] 59 tc The translation reads מְשַׁח בַּתִּין (mÿshakh battin) rather than מְשַׁח בַּתִּין (battin mÿshakh) of the MT.
[7:22] 60 tn Aram “he did not write.”
[7:23] 61 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.
[7:24] 62 tn Aram “we are making known to you.”
[7:25] 63 tn Aram “in your hand.”
[7:25] 64 tc For the MT reading שָׁפְטִין (shoftim, “judges”) the LXX uses the noun γραμματεῖς (grammatei", “scribes”).
[7:26] 65 tn On the meaning of this word see HALOT 1820-21 s.v. אָסְפַּרְנָא; E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 14.
[7:27] 66 sn At this point the language of the book reverts from Aramaic (7:12-26) back to Hebrew.
[8:1] 67 tn Heb “the heads of their families.”
[8:3] 68 tc The MT reads here “from the sons of Shecaniah” with no descendant identified in what follows, contrary to the pattern of the context elsewhere. However, it seems better to understand the first phrase of v. 3 with the end of v. 2; the phrase would then modify the name “Hattush.” This understanding requires emending the reading מִבְּנֵי (mibbÿne, “from the sons of”) in the MT to בֵּן (ben,“[the] son of”). Cf. NAB, TEV, CEV, NLT.
[8:5] 69 tc The MT lacks “of Zattu.” The translation adopted above follows the LXX in including the words.
[8:10] 70 tc The MT lacks “Bani.” It is restored on the basis of certain LXX
[8:13] 71 tn Or “those who came later.” The exact meaning of this Hebrew phrase is uncertain. It may refer to the last remaining members of Adonikam’s family who were in Babylon. So, for example, H. G. M. Williamson, Ezra, Nehemiah (WBC), 108; cf. NASB, NIV, NCV. The phrase has also been taken to mean “the younger sons (so NAB), or the ones who “returned at a later date” (so TEV).
[8:14] 72 tc The translation reads with the Qere, the Lucianic Greek recension, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Vulgate וְזַּכּוּר (vÿzakkur, “and Zaccur”) rather than the Kethib of the MT, וְזַבוּד (vÿzavud, “and Zabbud”).
[8:14] 73 tn The MT has “with him” (so NAB). The present translation (“with them”) is based on the reading of many medieval Hebrew
[8:15] 74 tn Or “I gathered them.”
[8:15] 75 tn Heb “river.” So also in vv. 21, 31.
[8:16] 76 tc The name “Elnathan” occurs twice in this list. Some, assuming an accidental repetition, would include it only once (cf. NAB).
[8:17] 77 tn Heb “I placed in their mouth words.”
[8:17] 78 tc The translation reads with the LXX and Vulgate וְאֶחָיו (vÿ’ekhayv, “and his brethren” = “relatives”; so NCV, NLT) rather than the reading אָחִיו (’akhiyv, “his brother”) of the MT.
[8:17] 79 tn Heb “in the place called.” This phrase has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[8:18] 80 tn Heb “and Sherebiah.” The words “this man was” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[8:18] 81 tn Or “relatives” (so CEV; NRSV “kin”); also in v. 19.
[8:21] 82 tn Heb “a straight way.”
[8:22] 83 tn A number of modern translations regard this as a collective singular and translate “from enemies” (also in v. 31).
[8:22] 84 tn Heb “his strength and his anger.” The expression is a hendiadys (one concept expressed through two terms).
[8:24] 85 tc The translation reads וַחֲשַׁבְיָה וְשֵׁרֵבְיָה (vÿsherevÿyah vakhashavyah, “and Sherebiah and Hashabiah”) rather than the reading חֲשַׁבְיָה לְשֵׁרֵבְיָה (lÿsherevyah khashavyah, “to Sherebiah Hashabiah”) of the MT.
[8:24] 86 tn Or “relatives”; or “colleagues” (cf. NLT “ten other priests”).
[8:26] 87 tn Heb “upon their hand.”
[8:26] 88 tn Possibly “100 silver vessels worth [?] talents” or “silver vessels weighing 100 talents.”
[8:29] 89 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[8:31] 91 tn Heb “from the hand of the enemy and the one who lies in wait.” Some modern English versions render the latter phrase as “ambushes” (cf. NASB, NRSV).
[8:33] 92 tn Heb “upon the hand of.”
[8:34] 93 tn The words “everything was verified” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
