Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem

1And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— 6Ezra himself came up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which YHWH, God of Israel, had given.

And the king granted him, according to the hand of YHWH his God upon him, all his request, 7and came up some of the sons of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim,† to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, that was in the seventh year of the king. 9For on the first of the first month he began the ascent from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of YHWH, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

Artaxerxes’ Letter for Ezra

11And this is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of YHWH and of His statutes to Israel:†

12Artaxerxes, king of kings,

to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of the heavens:

Peace and now.†

13I issue a decree that everyone who is willing in my kingdom from the people of Israel—and the priests and Levites, to go up to Jerusalem with you—go. 14All according to that from before the king and his seven counselors, you are sent to inquire concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God which is in your hand, 15and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16and all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests offering willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. 17All that diligently buy therefore with this silver: Bulls, rams, lambs, and their grain offerings, and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your⁺ God that is in Jerusalem. 18And that which to you and your brothers seems good to do with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your⁺ God, do it.

19And the vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. 20And the rest of what is needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, you are to give from the house of the treasury of the king.

21And by me—I, Artaxerxes the king—is made a decree to all treasurers who are beyond the River,† that all that Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of the heavens, may ask of you⁺, let it be done diligently. 22Up to a hundred talents of silver,† and a hundred cors of wheat,† and a hundred baths of wine,† and a hundred baths of oil,† and salt that is is not written, 23all that is by the decree of the God of the heavens, let it be done diligently for the house of the God of the heavens. For why should there be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons? 24And to you⁺ we inform that on any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of the house of God, there is no authority to impose this tax, tribute, or custom.

25And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all knowing the law of your God. And he who has not known, you⁺ shall cause to know. 26And whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king diligently, let judgment be done on him, whether death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or bonds.

Ezra Blesses God

27Blessed be YHWH, God of our fathers, who has put such as this in the heart of the king, to beautify the house of YHWH that is in Jerusalem, 28and has extended to me mercy before the face of the king, and his counselors, and before all the mighty princes of the king.

And I was encouraged as the hand of YHWH my God was upon me, and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.

Footnotes:

7 That is, the temple servants; also in verse 24
11 The original text of Ezra 7:12–26 is in Aramaic.
12 Or Greetings
21 That is, west of the Euphrates; also in verse 25
22 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.
22 100 cors is approximately 624 bushels or 22,000 liters (probably about 19.2 tons or 17.4 metric tons of wheat).
22 100 baths is approximately 580 gallons or 2,200 liters of wine.
22 Or 100 baths of olive oil; that is, approximately 580 gallons or 2,200 liters