⁷ And I said to the king, “If it is good to the king, let letters be given me ^(A)for the governors of the provinces beyond the ^[a]River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, ⁸ and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s ^(B)forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of ^(C)the fortress which is by the house of God, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go.” And the king granted them to me because ^(D)the good hand of my God was on me.

⁹ Then I came to ^(E)the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now ^(F)the king had sent with me commanders of the military force and horsemen.