Ezra 7
A Scribe Who Set His Heart to Seek the Law
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Ezra’s Lineage and Devotion to the Law
7:1After these events, in the reign of Arthasastha king of the Persians, Esdras went up, son of Saraias, son of Azarias, son of Elkia,
7:2son of Saloum, son of Saddouk, son of Achitob,
7:3son of Samaria, son of Esria, son of Mareroth,
7:4son of Zaraia, son of Saouia, son of Bokki,
7:5son of Abisoue, son of Phinees, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the first priest—
7:6this Esdras came up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord, God of Israel, had given. The king granted him his requests, because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him in everything he sought.
7:7Some of the sons of Israel, the priests and the Levites, together with the singers, gatekeepers and Nathinim, went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Arthasastha the king.
7:8They came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king.
7:9On day one of the first month he laid the foundation for the ascent from Babylon; on the first day of the fifth month they came to Jerusalem, because the hand of his God was good upon him.
7:10For Esdras had set it in his heart to seek the law, to do it, and to teach ordinances and judgments in Israel.
The Royal Commission and the Offerings
7:11This is the account of the decree that Arthasastha gave Esdras the priest, the scribe of the book of the words of the Lord’s commandments and His ordinances for Israel:
7:12“Arthasastha, king of kings, to Esdras, scribe of the law of the God of heaven: The word and the answer are completed.
7:13I have issued a decision that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites who freely wishes to go to Jerusalem is to go with you.
7:14He has been sent from the king and the seven advisers to inspect Judea and Jerusalem by the law of their God that is in your hand,
7:15and, for the Lord’s house, silver and gold that the king and the advisers have freely offered to the God of Israel who dwells in Jerusalem,
7:16and all the silver and gold you may find throughout the country of Babylon, with the voluntary offering of the people and priests who freely offer for the house of God in Jerusalem,
7:17and everything that comes in—readily enter this in this book: young bulls, rams, lambs, their sacrifices and their drink offerings. You shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.
7:18Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the remaining silver and gold, do as is pleasing to your God.
7:19The vessels given to you for the service of God’s house, hand over before God in Jerusalem.
7:20Whatever remaining need of your God’s house seems to you to require giving, you shall give from the king’s treasury houses.
Treasury Provision, Exemptions and Judicial Authority
7:21I, Arthasastha the king, have issued a decision to all the treasuries beyond the river: whatever Esdras the priest and scribe of the law of the God of heaven asks of you, let it be provided readily,
7:22up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred bads of wine, one hundred bads of oil, and salt for which there is no written amount.
7:23Let everything in the decision of the God of heaven be done. Take care that no one attempts anything against the house of the God of heaven, lest wrath come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.
7:24It has also been made known to you: from any priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nathinim or ministers of this house of God, let there be no tax for you; you shall have no authority to enslave them.
7:25You, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God in your hand, appoint scribes and judges to judge all the people beyond the river, all who know the law of your God; and you shall make it known to the one who does not know.
7:26For anyone who does not readily carry out the law of God and the law of the king, judgment shall be executed against him, whether death, discipline, loss of property, or bonds.”
Ezra Blesses God
7:27Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put it thus in the king’s heart, to glorify the Lord’s house in Jerusalem,
7:28and inclined mercy toward me in the eyes of the king, his advisers and all the king’s exalted officials. I was strengthened, as the good hand of God was upon me, and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.