Ezra 7

וְאַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה בְּמַלְכ֖וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָ֑ס עֶזְרָא֙ בֶּן־שְׂרָיָ֔ה בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּֽה׃

After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah son of Azariah son of Hilkiah

בֶּן־שַׁלּ֥וּם בֶּן־צָד֖וֹק בֶּן־אֲחִיטֽוּב׃

son of Shallum son of Zadok son of Ahitub

בֶּן־אֲמַרְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מְרָיֽוֹת׃

son of Amariah son of Azariah son of Meraioth

בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֻזִּ֖י בֶּן־בֻּקִּֽי׃

son of Zerahiah son of Uzzi son of Bukki

בֶּן־אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָס֙ בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֔ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֥ן הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הָרֹֽאשׁ׃

son of Abishua son of Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the chief priest—

ה֤וּא עֶזְרָא֙ עָלָ֣ה מִבָּבֶ֔ל וְהֽוּא־סֹפֵ֤ר מָהִיר֙ בְּתוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּתֶּן־ל֣וֹ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ כְּיַד־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עָלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל בַּקָּשָׁתֽוֹ׃ {פ}

that Ezra came up from Babylon, a scribe expert in the Teaching of Moses that the E TERNAL God of Israel had given, whose request the king had granted in its entirety, thanks to the benevolence of G OD toward him.

וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ מִבְּנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל וּמִן־הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֜ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֛ים וְהַנְּתִינִ֖ים אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁ֖בַע לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

(Some of the Israelites, the priests and Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants set out for Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes,

וַיָּבֹ֥א יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֑י הִ֛יא שְׁנַ֥ת הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖ית לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

arriving in Jerusalem in the fifth month in the seventh year of the king.)

כִּ֗י בְּאֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן ה֣וּא יְסֻ֔ד הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל וּבְאֶחָ֞ד לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֗י בָּ֚א אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם כְּיַד־אֱלֹהָ֖יו הַטּוֹבָ֥ה עָלָֽיו׃

On the first day of the first month the journey up from Babylon was started, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived in Jerusalem, thanks to the benevolent care of his God for him.

כִּ֤י עֶזְרָא֙ הֵכִ֣ין לְבָב֔וֹ לִדְרֹ֛שׁ אֶת־תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלַעֲשֹׂ֑ת וּלְלַמֵּ֥ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֹ֥ק וּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ {ס}

For Ezra had dedicated himself to study the Teaching of G OD so as to observe it, and to teach laws and rules to Israel.

וְזֶ֣ה׀ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָתַן֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא לְעֶזְרָ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַסֹּפֵ֑ר סֹפֵ֞ר דִּבְרֵ֧י מִצְוֺת־יְהֹוָ֛ה וְחֻקָּ֖יו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}

The following is the text of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest-scribe, a scholar in matters concerning G OD ’s commandments and laws to Israel:

אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא מֶ֖לֶךְ מַלְכַיָּ֑א לְעֶזְרָ֣א כָ֠הֲנָ֠א סָפַ֨ר דָּתָ֜א דִּֽי־אֱלָ֧הּ שְׁמַיָּ֛א גְּמִ֖יר וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃

“Artaxerxes king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scholar in the law of the God of heaven, and so forth. And now,

מִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י כׇל־מִתְנַדַּ֣ב בְּמַלְכוּתִי֩ מִן־עַמָּ֨א יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וְכָהֲנ֣וֹהִי וְלֵוָיֵ֗א לִמְהָ֧ךְ לִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם עִמָּ֖ךְ יְהָֽךְ׃

I hereby issue an order that anyone in my kingdom who is of the people of Israel and its priests and Levites who feels impelled to go to Jerusalem may go with you.

כׇּל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּי֩ מִן־קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜א וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ לְבַקָּרָ֥ה עַל־יְה֖וּד וְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּדָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖ךְ דִּ֥י בִידָֽךְ׃

For you are commissioned by the king and his seven advisers to regulate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your care,

וּלְהֵיבָלָ֖ה כְּסַ֣ף וּדְהַ֑ב דִּֽי־מַלְכָּ֣א וְיָעֲט֗וֹהִי הִתְנַדַּ֙בוּ֙ לֶאֱלָ֣הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דִּ֥י בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם מִשְׁכְּנֵֽהּ׃

and to bring the freewill offering of silver and gold that the king and his advisers made to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

וְכֹל֙ כְּסַ֣ף וּדְהַ֔ב דִּ֣י תְהַשְׁכַּ֔ח בְּכֹ֖ל מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֑ל עִם֩ הִתְנַדָּב֨וּת עַמָּ֤א וְכָֽהֲנַיָּא֙ מִֽתְנַדְּבִ֔ין לְבֵ֥ית אֱלָהֲהֹ֖ם דִּ֥י בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃

and whatever silver and gold that you find throughout the province of Babylon, together with the freewill offerings that the people and the priests will give for the House of their God, which is in Jerusalem.

כׇּל־קֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָה֩ אׇסְפַּ֨רְנָא תִקְנֵ֜א בְּכַסְפָּ֣א דְנָ֗ה תּוֹרִ֤ין׀דִּכְרִין֙ אִמְּרִ֔ין וּמִנְחָתְה֖וֹן וְנִסְכֵּיה֑וֹן וּתְקָרֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ עַֽל־מַדְבְּחָ֔ה דִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם דִּ֥י בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃

You shall, therefore, with dispatch acquire with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and libations, and offer them on the altar of the House of your God in Jerusalem.

וּמָ֣ה דִי֩ (עליך) [עֲלָ֨ךְ] וְעַל־[אֶחָ֜ךְ] (אחיך) יֵיטַ֗ב בִּשְׁאָ֛ר כַּסְפָּ֥א וְדַהֲבָ֖ה לְמֶעְבַּ֑ד כִּרְע֥וּת אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם תַּעַבְדֽוּן׃

And whatever you wish to do with the leftover silver and gold, you and your kinsmen may do, in accord with the will of your God.

וּמָֽאנַיָּא֙ דִּֽי־מִתְיַהֲבִ֣ין לָ֔ךְ לְפׇלְחָ֖ן בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֑ךְ הַשְׁלֵ֕ם קֳדָ֖ם אֱלָ֥הּ יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם׃

The vessels for the service of the House of your God that are given to you, deliver to God in Jerusalem,

וּשְׁאָ֗ר חַשְׁחוּת֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֔ךְ דִּ֥י יִפֶּל־לָ֖ךְ לְמִנְתַּ֑ן תִּנְתֵּ֕ן מִן־בֵּ֖ית גִּנְזֵ֥י מַלְכָּֽא׃

and any other needs of the House of your God that it falls to you to supply, do so from the royal treasury.

וּ֠מִנִּ֠י אֲנָ֞ה אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְכֹל֙ גִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה דִּ֣י כׇל־דִּ֣י יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכ֠וֹן עֶזְרָ֨א כָהֲנָ֜א סָפַ֤ר דָּתָא֙ דִּֽי־אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א אׇסְפַּ֖רְנָא יִתְעֲבִֽד׃

I, King Artaxerxes, for my part, hereby issue an order to all the treasurers in the province of Beyond the River that whatever request Ezra the priest, scholar in the law of the God of Heaven, makes of you is to be fulfilled with dispatch

עַד־כְּסַף֮ כַּכְּרִ֣ין מְאָה֒ וְעַד־חִנְטִין֙ כּוֹרִ֣ין מְאָ֔ה וְעַד־חֲמַר֙ בַּתִּ֣ין מְאָ֔ה וְעַד־בַּתִּ֥ין מְשַׁ֖ח מְאָ֑ה וּמְלַ֖ח דִּי־לָ֥א כְתָֽב׃

up to the sum of one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kor s of wheat, one hundred bath s of wine, one hundred bath s of oil, and salt without limit.

כׇּל־דִּ֗י מִן־טַ֙עַם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א יִתְעֲבֵד֙ אַדְרַזְדָּ֔א לְבֵ֖ית אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֑א דִּֽי־לְמָ֤ה לֶֽהֱוֵא֙ קְצַ֔ף עַל־מַלְכ֥וּת מַלְכָּ֖א וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃

Whatever is by order of the God of Heaven must be carried out diligently for the House of the God of Heaven, else wrath will come upon the king and his sons.

וּלְכֹ֣ם מְהוֹדְעִ֗ין דִּ֣י כׇל־כָּהֲנַיָּ֣א וְ֠לֵוָיֵ֠א זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤א תָרָֽעַיָּא֙ נְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔א וּפָ֣לְחֵ֔י בֵּ֖ית אֱלָהָ֣א דְנָ֑ה מִנְדָּ֤ה בְלוֹ֙ וַהֲלָ֔ךְ לָ֥א שַׁלִּ֖יט לְמִרְמֵ֥א עֲלֵיהֹֽם׃ {פ}

We further advise you that it is not permissible to impose tribute, poll tax, or land tax on any priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, temple servant, or other servant of this House of God.

וְאַ֣נְתְּ עֶזְרָ֗א כְּחׇכְמַ֨ת אֱלָהָ֤ךְ דִּֽי־בִידָךְ֙ מֶ֣נִּי שָׁפְטִ֞ין וְדַיָּנִ֗ין דִּי־לֶהֱוֺ֤ן (דאנין) [דָּאיְנִין֙] לְכׇל־עַמָּא֙ דִּ֚י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔ה לְכׇל־יָדְעֵ֖י דָּתֵ֣י אֱלָהָ֑ךְ וְדִ֧י לָ֦א יָדַ֖ע תְּהוֹדְעֽוּן׃

And you, Ezra, by the divine wisdom you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the province of Beyond the River who know the laws of your God, and to teach those who do not know them.

וְכׇל־דִּי־לָא֩ לֶהֱוֵ֨א עָבֵ֜ד דָּתָ֣א דִֽי־אֱלָהָ֗ךְ וְדָתָא֙ דִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֔א אׇסְפַּ֕רְנָא דִּינָ֕ה לֶהֱוֵ֥א מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד מִנֵּ֑הּ הֵ֤ן לְמוֹת֙ הֵ֣ן (לשרשו) [לִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔י] הֵן־לַעֲנָ֥שׁ נִכְסִ֖ין וְלֶאֱסוּרִֽין׃ {פ}

Let anyone who does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king be punished with dispatch, whether by death, corporal punishment, confiscation of possessions, or imprisonment.”

בָּר֥וּךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤ן כָּזֹאת֙ בְּלֵ֣ב הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְפָאֵ֕ר אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

Blessed is the E TERNAL God of our ancestors, who put it into the mind of the king to glorify the House of G OD in Jerusalem,

וְעָלַ֣י הִטָּה־חֶ֗סֶד לִפְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְיֽוֹעֲצָ֔יו וּלְכׇל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים וַאֲנִ֣י הִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּי כְּיַד־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהַי֙ עָלַ֔י וָאֶקְבְּצָ֧ה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛ל רָאשִׁ֖ים לַעֲל֥וֹת עִמִּֽי׃ {פ}

and who inclined the king and his counselors and the king’s military officers to be favorably disposed toward me. For my part, thanks to G OD ’s care for me, I summoned up courage and assembled leaders in Israel to go with me.