Ezra 10:5

10:5 So Ezra got up and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath to carry out this plan. ¹  And they all took a solemn oath.

Ezra 4:12

4:12 Now ²  let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. ³  They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations.

Ezra 10:3

10:3 Therefore let us enact ⁴  a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, ⁵  and that of those who respect ⁶  the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law.

Ezra 3:11

3:11 With antiphonal response they sang, ⁷  praising and glorifying the Lord:

“For he is good;

his loyal love toward Israel is forever.”

All the people gave a loud ⁸  shout as they praised the Lord when the temple of the Lord was established.

Ezra 9:15

9:15 O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant this day. Indeed, we stand before you in our guilt. However, because of this guilt ⁹  no one can really stand before you.”

[10:5]  ¹ tn Heb “to do according to this plan.”

[4:12]  ² tn The MT takes this word with the latter part of v. 11, but in English style it fits better with v. 12.

[4:12]  ³ sn Management of the provinces that were distantly removed from the capital was difficult, and insurrection in such places was a perennial problem. The language used in this report about Jerusalem (i.e., “rebellious,” “odious”) is intentionally inflammatory. It is calculated to draw immediate attention to the perceived problem.

[10:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “cut.”

[10:3]  ⁵ tn The MT vocalizes this word as a plural, which could be understood as a reference to God. But the context seems to suggest that a human lord is intended. The apparatus of BHS suggests repointing the word as a singular (“my lord”), but this is unnecessary. The plural (“my lords”) can be understood in an honorific sense even when a human being is in view. Most English versions regard this as a reference to Ezra, so the present translation supplies “your” before “counsel” to make this clear.

[10:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “who tremble at”; NAB, NIV “who fear.”

[3:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “they answered.”

[3:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “great.”

[9:15]  ⁹ tn Heb “this”; the referent (the guilt mentioned previously) has been specified in the translation for clarity.