Ezra 7

Ezra Sent to Teach the People

1 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest—6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants.8 And Ezrat came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel:12 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace.t And now13 I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand,15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,16 with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem.17 With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem.18 Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God.19 The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem.20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.

21 "And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence,22 up to 100 talentst of silver, 100 corst of wheat, 100 bathst of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons.24 We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

25 "And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach.26 Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment."

27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem,28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Ezra 7

The Arrival of Ezra

1 Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxess of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon.t Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah,2 who was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub,3 who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth,4 who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki,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.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 In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra broughtst up to Jerusalems some of the Israelites and some of the priests, the Levites, the attendants, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants.8 He entered Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.9 On the first day of the first month he had determined to makes the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem,s for the good hand of his God was on him.

10 Now Ezra had dedicated himselft to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teachingt its statutes and judgments in Israel.

Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission

11 What followst is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe.t Ezra wast a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:
12 s “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the perfect law of the God of heaven:13 I have now issued a decreet 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.s14 You are authorizedt 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,t15 and to bring silver and gold which the king and his advisers have freely contributed to the God of Israel, who resides in Jerusalem,16 along with all the silver and gold that you may collectt 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.17 With this money you should be sure to purchase bulls, rams, and lambs, along with the appropriatet meal offerings and libations. You should bring them to the altar of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem.18 You may do whatever seems appropriate to you and your colleaguest with the rest of the silver and the gold, in keeping with the will of your God.19 Deliver tot the God of Jerusalem the vessels that are given to you for the service of the temple of your God.

20 The rest of the needs for the temple of your God that you may have to supply,t you may do so from the royal treasury.
21 “I, King Artaxerxes, hereby issue orders to all the treasurers oft Trans-Euphrates, that you precisely execute all that Ezra the priestly scribe of the law of the God of heaven may request of you –22 up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of olive oil,s and unlimitedt salt.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 wratht against the empire of the king and his sons?

24 Furthermore, be aware of the factt 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.
25 “Now you, Ezra, in keeping with the wisdom of your God which you possess,t appoint judgess 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.

26 Everyone who does not observe both the law of your God and the law of the king will be completelyt liable to the appropriate penalty, whether it is death or banishment or confiscation of property or detainment in prison.”
27 s 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!

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.