Ezra 7:1-22 ▼

1 Many years later \After these things/, during the reign of Artaxerxes (I will make the spoiled to boil) king of Persia (pure / splendid), Ezra (help) son of Seraiah (YHWH is ruler), the son of Azariah (YHWH has helped), the son of Hilkiah (my portion is YHWH),

2 the son of Shallum (retribution), the son of Zadok (righteous), the son of Ahitub (my brother is goodness),

3 the son of Amariah (YHWH has promised), the son of Azariah (YHWH has helped), the son of Meraioth (rebellious),

4 the son of Zerahiah (YHWH has risen), the son of Uzzi (strong), the son of Bukki (wasting),

5 the son of Abishua (my father is safety), the son of Phinehas (mouth of brass), the son of Eleazar (God has helped), the son of Aaron (light bringer) the chief priest—

6 this Ezra (help) came up from Babylon (confusion by mixing). He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses (drawn out), which the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.

7 So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes (I will make the spoiled to boil), he went up to Jerusalem (city of peace) with some of the Israelites (God prevails), including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants {Nethinim}.

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem (city of peace) in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.

9 He had begun the journey from Babylon (confusion by mixing) on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem (city of peace) on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God {Elohaw} was upon him.

10 For Ezra (help) had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD {YHWH}, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel (he wrestles with God).

11 This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes (I will make the spoiled to boil) had given to Ezra (help) the priest and scribe, an expert in the commandments and statutes of the LORD {YHWH} to Israel:

12 Artaxerxes (I will make the spoiled to boil), king of kings. To Ezra (help) the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings (Perfect now).

13 I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites (God prevails) in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem (city of peace).

14 You are sent by the king and his seven counselors to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem (city of peace) according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.

15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel (he wrestles with God), whose dwelling is in Jerusalem (city of peace),

16 together with all the silver and gold you may find in all the province of Babylon (confusion by mixing), as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem (city of peace).

17 With this money, therefore, you are to buy as many bulls, rams, and lambs as needed, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your⁺ God in Jerusalem (city of peace).

18 You and your brothers may do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your⁺ God.

19 You must deliver to the God of Jerusalem (city of peace) all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.

20 And if anything else is needed for the house of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may pay for it from the royal treasury.

21 I, King Artaxerxes (I will make the spoiled to boil), decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates (beyond the River): Whatever Ezra (help) the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you⁺, it must be provided promptly,

22 up to a hundred talents of silver <3.77 t / 3.42 mt>, a hundred cors of wheat <624 bu / 22,000 l>, a hundred baths of wine <580 gal / 2,200 l>, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit.