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On the first day of the first month he had determined to make[a] the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem,[b] for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 Now Ezra had dedicated himself[c] to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching[d] its statutes and judgments in Israel.

Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission

11 What follows[e] is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe.[f] Ezra was[g] a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:9 tc The translation reads יִסַּד (yissad, “he appointed” [= determined]) rather than the reading יְסֻד (yesud, “foundation”) of the MT. (The words “to make” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.)
  2. Ezra 7:9 sn Apparently it took the caravan almost four months to make the 500 mile journey.
  3. Ezra 7:10 tn Heb “established his heart.”
  4. Ezra 7:10 tn Heb “to do and to teach.” The expression may be a hendiadys, in which case it would have the sense of “effectively teaching.”
  5. Ezra 7:11 tn Heb “this.”
  6. Ezra 7:11 tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.
  7. Ezra 7:11 tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.