Ezra 8:34

8:34 Everything was verified ¹  by number and by weight, and the total weight was written down at that time.

Ezra 7:7

7:7 In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra brought ²  up to Jerusalem ³  some of the Israelites and some of the priests, the Levites, the attendants, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants.

Ezra 5:10

5:10 We also inquired of their names in order to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were their leaders.

Ezra 3:5

3:5 Afterward they offered the continual burnt offerings and those for the new moons and those for all the holy assemblies of the Lord and all those that were being voluntarily offered to the Lord.

Ezra 7:16

7:16 along with all the silver and gold that you may collect ⁴  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.

Ezra 8:28

8:28 Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, just as these vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers.

Ezra 6:21

6:21 The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them ⁵  in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the Lord God of Israel.

Ezra 5:14

5:14 Even the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had brought to the palace ⁶  of Babylon – even those things King Cyrus brought from the palace of Babylon and presented ⁷  to a man by the name of Sheshbazzar whom he had appointed as governor.

Ezra 2:65

2:65 not counting ⁸  their male and female servants, who numbered 7,337. They also had 200 male and female singers

Ezra 7:19

7:19 Deliver to ⁹  the God of Jerusalem the vessels that are given to you for the service of the temple of your God.

Ezra 7:17

7:17 With this money you should be sure to purchase bulls, rams, and lambs, along with the appropriate ¹⁰  meal offerings and libations. You should bring them to the altar of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 5:4

5:4 They ¹¹  also asked them, “What are the names of the men who are building this edifice?”

Ezra 2:64

2:64 The entire group numbered 42,360, ¹² 

Ezra 8:19

8:19 and Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men,

Ezra 10:4

10:4 Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”

Ezra 4:2

4:2 they came to Zerubbabel and the leaders ¹³  and said to them, “Let us help you build, ¹⁴  for like you we seek your God and we have been sacrificing to him ¹⁵  from the time ¹⁶  of King Esarhaddon ¹⁷  of Assyria, who brought us here.” ¹⁸ 

Ezra 3:4

3:4 They observed the Festival of Temporary Shelters ¹⁹  as required ²⁰  and offered the proper number of ²¹  daily burnt offerings according to the requirement for each day.

Ezra 4:7

4:7 And during the reign ²²  of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, ²³  Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues ²⁴  wrote to King Artaxerxes ²⁵  of Persia. This letter ²⁶  was first written in Aramaic but then translated.

[Aramaic:] ²⁷ 

Ezra 4:10

4:10 and the rest of nations whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal ²⁸  deported and settled in the cities ²⁹  of Samaria and other places in Trans-Euphrates. ³⁰ 

Ezra 5:16

5:16 Then this Sheshbazzar went and laid the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem. From that time to the present moment ³¹  it has been in the process of being rebuilt, although it is not yet finished.’

Ezra 8:16

8:16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, ³²  Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were teachers.

Ezra 2:21

2:21 The men ³³  of Bethlehem: ³⁴  123;

Ezra 10:12

10:12 All the assembly replied in a loud voice: “We will do just as you have said! ³⁵ 

Ezra 10:23

10:23 From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also known as Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

Ezra 6:9

6:9 Whatever is needed – whether oxen or rams or lambs or burnt offerings for the God of heaven or wheat or salt or wine or oil, as required by ³⁶  the priests who are in Jerusalem – must be given to them daily without any neglect,

Ezra 8:35

8:35 The exiles who were returning from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel – twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs, along with twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord.

Ezra 2:55

2:55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda,

Ezra 3:1

The Altar is Rebuilt

3:1 When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites ³⁷  were living ³⁸  in their ³⁹  towns, the people assembled ⁴⁰  in ⁴¹  Jerusalem. ⁴² 

Ezra 3:6

3:6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. However, the Lord’s temple was not at that time established. ⁴³ 

Ezra 7:20

7:20 The rest of the needs for the temple of your God that you may have to supply, ⁴⁴  you may do so from the royal treasury.

Ezra 1:4

1:4 Anyone who survives in any of those places where he is a resident foreigner must be helped by his neighbors ⁴⁵  with silver, gold, equipment, and animals, along with voluntary offerings for the temple of God which is in Jerusalem.’”

Ezra 2:61

2:61 And from among ⁴⁶  the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that ⁴⁷  name).

Ezra 2:70

2:70 The priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel lived in their towns.

Ezra 3:9

3:9 So Jeshua appointed both his sons and his relatives, ⁴⁸  Kadmiel and his sons (the sons of Yehudah ⁴⁹ ), to take charge of the workers in the temple of God, along with the sons of Henadad, their sons, and their relatives ⁵⁰  the Levites.

Ezra 4:3

4:3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the leaders of Israel said to them, “You have no right ⁵¹  to help us build the temple of our God. We will build it by ourselves for the Lord God of Israel, just as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us.”

Ezra 6:5

6:5 Furthermore let the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, be returned and brought to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. Let them be deposited in the temple of God.’

Ezra 6:17

6:17 For the dedication of this temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

Ezra 10:9

10:9 All the men of Judah and Benjamin were gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. (It was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of that month.) All the people sat in the square at the temple of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains.

Ezra 2:62

2:62 They ⁵²  searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them. ⁵³  They were therefore excluded ⁵⁴  from the priesthood.

Ezra 3:3

3:3 They established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples, ⁵⁵  and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and the evening offerings.

Ezra 4:8

4:8 Rehum the commander ⁵⁶  and Shimshai the scribe ⁵⁷  wrote a letter concerning ⁵⁸  Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:

Ezra 4:17

4:17 The king sent the following response:

“To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and other parts of Trans-Euphrates: Greetings! ⁵⁹ 

Ezra 4:19-20

4:19 So I gave orders, ⁶⁰  and it was determined ⁶¹  that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in ⁶²  rebellion and revolt. 4:20 Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates ⁶³  and who were the beneficiaries of ⁶⁴  tribute, custom, and toll.

Ezra 5:1

Tattenai Appeals to Darius

5:1 Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son ⁶⁵  of Iddo ⁶⁶  prophesied concerning the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem ⁶⁷  in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.

Ezra 6:18

6:18 They appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their divisions over the worship of God at Jerusalem, ⁶⁸  in accord with ⁶⁹  the book of Moses.

Ezra 7:13

7:13 I have now issued a decree ⁷⁰  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. ⁷¹ 

Ezra 7:15

7:15 and to bring silver and gold which the king and his advisers have freely contributed to the God of Israel, who resides in Jerusalem,

Ezra 7:22

7:22 up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of olive oil, ⁷²  and unlimited ⁷³  salt.

Ezra 7:24

7:24 Furthermore, be aware of the fact ⁷⁴  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.

Ezra 8:18

8:18 Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, ⁷⁵  who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, ⁷⁶  18 men,

Ezra 8:26

8:26 I weighed out to them ⁷⁷  650 talents of silver, silver vessels worth 100 talents, ⁷⁸  100 talents of gold,

Ezra 8:36

8:36 Then they presented the decrees of the king to the king’s satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who gave help to the people and to the temple of God.

Ezra 9:4

9:4 Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe ⁷⁹  gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile. ⁸⁰  Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.

Ezra 2:59

2:59 These are the ones that came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify ⁸¹  their family connection ⁸²  or their ancestry, ⁸³  as to whether they really were from Israel):

Ezra 3:7

Preparations for Rebuilding the Temple

3:7 So they provided money ⁸⁴  for the masons and carpenters, and food, beverages, and olive oil for the people of Sidon ⁸⁵  and Tyre, ⁸⁶  so that they would bring cedar timber from Lebanon to the seaport ⁸⁷  at Joppa, in accord with the edict of King Cyrus of Persia.

Ezra 3:10

3:10 When the builders established the Lord’s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions, ⁸⁸  and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the Lord according to the instructions left by ⁸⁹  King David of Israel. ⁹⁰ 

Ezra 5:3

5:3 At that time Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues came to them and asked, “Who gave you authority ⁹¹  to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?” ⁹² 

Ezra 6:3

6:3 In the first year of his reign, ⁹³  King Cyrus gave orders concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: ⁹⁴  ‘Let the temple be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered. Let its foundations be set in place. ⁹⁵  Its height is to be ninety feet and its width ninety ⁹⁶  feet, ⁹⁷ 

Ezra 9:11-12

9:11 which you commanded us through your servants the prophets with these words: ⁹⁸  ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land defiled by the impurities of the local residents! ⁹⁹  With their abominations they have filled it from one end to the other with their filthiness. 9:12 Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do not take their daughters in marriage for your sons. Do not ever seek their peace or welfare, so that you may be strong and may eat the good of the land and may leave it as an inheritance for your children ¹⁰⁰  forever.’

Ezra 10:2

10:2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, ¹⁰¹  addressed Ezra:

“We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying ¹⁰²  foreign women from the local peoples. ¹⁰³  Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard. ¹⁰⁴ 

Ezra 10:6

10:6 Then Ezra got up from in front of the temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he stayed ¹⁰⁵  there, he did not eat food or drink water, for he was in mourning over the infidelity of the exiles.

Ezra 2:3

2:3 the descendants ¹⁰⁶  of Parosh: 2,172;

[8:34]  ¹ tn The words “everything was verified” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[7:7]  ² tc The translation reads the Hiphil singular וַיַּעֲל (vayya’al, “he [Ezra] brought up”) rather than the Qal plural וַיַּעַלוּ (vayya’alu, “they came up”) of the MT.

[7:7]  tn Heb “he brought”; the referent (Ezra) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:7]  ³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[7:16]  ⁴ tn Aram “find.”

[6:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “who had separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to them.”

[5:14]  ⁶ tn Or “temple.”

[5:14]  ⁷ tn Aram “they were given.”

[2:65]  ⁸ tn Heb “besides” or “in addition to.”

[7:19]  ⁹ tn Or “before.”

[7:17]  ¹⁰ tn Aram “their meal offerings and their libations.”

[5:4]  ¹¹ tc The translation reads with one medieval Hebrew MS, the LXX, and the Syriac Peshitta אֲמַרוּ (’amaru, “they said”) rather than the reading אֲמַרְנָא (’amarna’, “we said”) of the MT.

[2:64]  ¹² sn The same total is given in Neh 7:66, but it is difficult to understand how this number is reached, since the numbers of people listed in the constituent groups do not add up to 42,360. The list in vv. 3-60 apparently is not intended to be exhaustive, but the basis of the selectivity is unclear.

[4:2]  ¹³ tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.” So also in v. 3.

[4:2]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Let us build with you.”

[4:2]  ¹⁵ tc The translation reads with the Qere, a Qumran MS, the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Arabic version וְלוֹ (vÿlo, “and him”) rather than the Kethib of the MT, וְלֹא (vÿlo’, “and not”).

[4:2]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “days.”

[4:2]  ¹⁷ sn Esarhaddon was king of Assyria ca. 681-669 b.c.

[4:2]  ¹⁸ sn The Assyrian policy had been to resettle Samaria with peoples from other areas (cf. 2 Kgs 17:24-34). These immigrants acknowledged Yahweh as well as other deities in some cases. The Jews who returned from the Exile regarded them with suspicion and were not hospitable to their offer of help in rebuilding the temple.

[3:4]  ¹⁹ tn The Hebrew phrase אֶת חַג־הַסֻּכּוֹת (’et khag-hassukot, “festival of huts” [or “shelters”]) is traditionally known as the Feast of Tabernacles. The rendering “booths” (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV) is probably better than the traditional “tabernacles” in light of the meaning of the term סֻכָּה (sukkah, “hut; booth”), but “booths” are frequently associated with trade shows and craft fairs in contemporary American English. The nature of the celebration during this feast as a commemoration of the wanderings of the Israelites after they left Egypt suggests that a translation like “temporary shelters” is more appropriate.

[3:4]  ²⁰ tn Heb “according to what is written.”

[3:4]  ²¹ tn Heb “by number.”

[4:7]  ²² tn Heb “And in the days.”

[4:7]  ²³ tn The LXX understands this word as a prepositional phrase (“in peace”) rather than as a proper name (“Bishlam”). Taken this way it would suggest that Mithredath was “in agreement with” the contents of Tabeel’s letter. Some scholars regard the word in the MT to be a corruption of either “in Jerusalem” (i.e., “in the matter of Jerusalem”) or “in the name of Jerusalem.” The translation adopted above follows the traditional understanding of the word as a name.

[4:7]  ²⁴ tc The translation reads the plural with the Qere rather than the singular found in the MT Kethib.

[4:7]  ²⁵ sn Artaxerxes I ruled in Persia from ca. 465–425 b.c.

[4:7]  ²⁶ tc It is preferable to delete the MT’s וּכְתָב (ukhÿtav) here.

[4:7]  ²⁷ sn The double reference in v. 7 to the Aramaic language is difficult. It would not make sense to say that the letter was written in Aramaic and then translated into Aramaic. Some interpreters understand the verse to mean that the letter was written in the Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language, but this does not seem to give sufficient attention to the participle “translated” at the end of the verse. The second reference to Aramaic in the verse is more probably a gloss that calls attention to the fact that the following verses retain the Aramaic language of the letter in its original linguistic form. A similar reference to Aramaic occurs in Dan 2:4b, where the language of that book shifts from Hebrew to Aramaic. Ezra 4:8–6:18 and 7:12-26 are written in Aramaic, whereas the rest of the book is written in Hebrew.

[4:10]  ²⁸ tn Aram “Osnappar” (so ASV, NASB, NRSV), another name for Ashurbanipal.

[4:10]  sn Ashurbanipal succeeded his father Esarhaddon as king of Assyria in 669 B.C. Around 645 B.C. he sacked the city of Susa, capital of Elam, and apparently some of these people were exiled to Samaria and other places.

[4:10]  ²⁹ tc The translation reads with the ancient versions the plural בְּקֻרְיַהּ (bÿquryah, “in the cities”) rather than the singular (“in the city”) of the MT.

[4:10]  ³⁰ tn Aram “beyond the river.” In Ezra this term is a technical designation for the region west of the Euphrates river.

[5:16]  ³¹ tn Aram “from then and until now.”

[8:16]  ³² tc The name “Elnathan” occurs twice in this list. Some, assuming an accidental repetition, would include it only once (cf. NAB).

[2:21]  ³³ tc The translation follows the suggestion in BHS and reads אַנְשֵׁי (’anshe, “the men of”) here rather than the reading בְּנֵי (bÿne, “the sons of”) found in the MT. So also in vv. 25, 26, 33, 34.

[2:21]  ³⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[10:12]  ³⁵ tn Heb “thus according to your word [singular = Qere] concerning us, to do.”

[6:9]  ³⁶ tn Aram “according to the word of.”

[3:1]  ³⁷ tn Heb “the sons of Israel.”

[3:1]  ³⁸ tn The word “living” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied. Some translations supply “settled” (cf. NAB, NIV, NLT).

[3:1]  ³⁹ tc The translation reads with some medieval Hebrew MSS and ancient versions בְּעָרֵיהֶם (be’arehem, “in their towns”), rather than the reading בֶּעָרִים (be’arim, “in the towns”) found in the MT. Cf. Neh 7:72 HT [7:73 ET].

[3:1]  ⁴⁰ tn The Hebrew text adds the phrase “like one man.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[3:1]  ⁴¹ tn Heb “to.”

[3:1]  ⁴² map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[3:6]  ⁴³ tn Or “the foundation of the LORD’s temple was not yet laid.

[7:20]  ⁴⁴ tn Aram “may fall to you to give.”

[1:4]  ⁴⁵ tn Heb “the men of his place.”

[2:61]  ⁴⁶ tc The translation reads וּמִן (umin, “and from”) rather than the reading וּמִבּנֵי (umibbÿney, “and from the sons of”) found in the MT.

[2:61]  ⁴⁷ tn Heb “their.”

[3:9]  ⁴⁸ tn Heb “brothers.”

[3:9]  ⁴⁹ sn The name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah; cf. KJV, ASV, NASB “Judah”) is probably a variant of Hodaviah (see Ezra 2:40; cf. NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT).

[3:9]  ⁵⁰ tn Heb “brothers.”

[4:3]  ⁵¹ tn Heb “not to you and to us.”

[2:62]  ⁵² tn Heb “these.”

[2:62]  ⁵³ tn Heb “their records were searched for in the genealogical materials, but were not found.” This passive construction has been translated as active for stylistic reasons.

[2:62]  ⁵⁴ tn Heb “they were desecrated.”

[3:3]  ⁵⁵ tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”

[4:8]  ⁵⁶ tn Aram “lord of the command.” So also in vv. 9, 17.

[4:8]  ⁵⁷ sn Like Rehum, Shimshai was apparently a fairly high-ranking official charged with overseeing Persian interests in this part of the empire. His title was “scribe” or “secretary,” but in a more elevated political sense than that word sometimes has elsewhere. American governmental titles such as “Secretary of State” perhaps provide an analogy in that the word “secretary” can have a broad range of meaning.

[4:8]  ⁵⁸ tn Or perhaps “against.”

[4:17]  ⁵⁹ tn Aram “peace.”

[4:19]  ⁶⁰ tn Aram “from me was placed a decree.”

[4:19]  ⁶¹ tn Aram “and they searched and found.”

[4:19]  ⁶² tn Aram “are being done.”

[4:20]  ⁶³ sn The statement that prior Jewish kings ruled over the entire Trans-Euphrates is an overstatement. Not even in the days of David and Solomon did the kingdom of Israel extend its borders to such an extent.

[4:20]  ⁶⁴ tn Aram “were being given to them.”

[5:1]  ⁶⁵ tn Aram “son.” According to Zech 1:1 he was actually the grandson of Iddo.

[5:1]  ⁶⁶ tn Aram “and Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo the prophet.”

[5:1]  ⁶⁷ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[6:18]  ⁶⁸ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[6:18]  ⁶⁹ tn Aram “according to the writing of.”

[7:13]  ⁷⁰ tn Heb “from me is placed a decree.” So also in v. 21.

[7:13]  ⁷¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[7:22]  ⁷² tc The translation reads מְשַׁח בַּתִּין (mÿshakh battin) rather than מְשַׁח בַּתִּין (battin mÿshakh) of the MT.

[7:22]  ⁷³ tn Aram “he did not write.”

[7:24]  ⁷⁴ tn Aram “we are making known to you.”

[8:18]  ⁷⁵ tn Heb “and Sherebiah.” The words “this man was” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[8:18]  ⁷⁶ tn Or “relatives” (so CEV; NRSV “kin”); also in v. 19.

[8:26]  ⁷⁷ tn Heb “upon their hand.”

[8:26]  ⁷⁸ tn Possibly “100 silver vessels worth [?] talents” or “silver vessels weighing 100 talents.”

[9:4]  ⁷⁹ tn Heb “who trembled at the words of the God of Israel.”

[9:4]  ⁸⁰ tn Heb “the exile”; the words “the people” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[2:59]  ⁸¹ tn Heb “relate.”

[2:59]  ⁸² tn Heb “the house of their fathers.”

[2:59]  ⁸³ tn Heb “their seed.”

[3:7]  ⁸⁴ tn Heb “silver.”

[3:7]  ⁸⁵ map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.

[3:7]  ⁸⁶ map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.

[3:7]  ⁸⁷ tn Heb “to the sea”

[3:10]  ⁸⁸ sn This was a long, straight, metallic instrument used for signal calls, rather than the traditional ram’s horn (both instruments are typically translated “trumpet” by English versions).

[3:10]  ⁸⁹ tn Heb “according to the hands of.”

[3:10]  ⁹⁰ sn See Ps 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1. Cf. 2 Chr 5:13; 7:3; 20:21.

[5:3]  ⁹¹ tn Aram “who placed to you a command?” So also v. 9.

[5:3]  ⁹² tn The exact meaning of the Aramaic word אֻשַּׁרְנָא (’ussarna’) here and in v. 9 is uncertain (BDB 1083 s.v.). The LXX and Vulgate understand it to mean “wall.” Here it is used in collocation with בַּיְתָא (bayta’, “house” as the temple of God), while in 5:3, 9 it is used in parallelism with this term. It might be related to the Assyrian noun ashurru (“wall”) or ashru (“sanctuary”; so BDB). F. Rosenthal, who translates the word “furnishings,” thinks that it probably enters Aramaic from Persian (Grammar, 62-63, §189).

[6:3]  ⁹³ tn Aram “In the first year of Cyrus the king.”

[6:3]  ⁹⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[6:3]  ⁹⁵ tn Aram “raised”; or perhaps “retained” (so NASB; cf. NLT), referring to the original foundations of Solomon’s temple.

[6:3]  ⁹⁶ tc The Syriac Peshitta reads “twenty cubits” here, a measurement probably derived from dimensions given elsewhere for Solomon’s temple. According to 1 Kgs 6:2 the dimensions of the Solomonic temple were as follows: length, 60 cubits; width, 20 cubits; height, 30 cubits. Since one would expect the dimensions cited in Ezra 6:3 to correspond to those of Solomon’s temple, it is odd that no dimension for length is provided. The Syriac has apparently harmonized the width dimension provided here (“twenty cubits”) to that given in 1 Kgs 6:2.

[6:3]  ⁹⁷ tn Aram “Its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits.” The standard cubit in the OT is assumed by most authorities to be about eighteen inches (45 cm) long.

[9:11]  ⁹⁸ tn Heb “through your servants the prophets, saying.”

[9:11]  ⁹⁹ tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”

[9:12]  ¹⁰⁰ tn Heb “sons”; cf. KJV, NAB, NIV, NLT “children”; NCV, TEV “descendants.”

[10:2]  ¹⁰¹ tc The translation reads with the Qere, many medieval Hebrew MSS, the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate עֵילָם (’elam, “Elam”) rather than the reading עוֹלָם (’olam, “eternity”) found in the MT.

[10:2]  ¹⁰² tn Heb “in that we have given a dwelling to.” So also in vv. 14, 17, 18.

[10:2]  ¹⁰³ tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”

[10:2]  ¹⁰⁴ tn Heb “upon this.”

[10:6]  ¹⁰⁵ tc The translation reads וַיָּלֶן (vayyalen, “and he stayed”) rather than the reading וַיֵּלֶךְ (vayyelekh, “and he went”) of the MT. Cf. the LXX.

[2:3]  ¹⁰⁶ tn Heb “the sons of.”