Ezra 07 Artaxerxes sends Ezra to Jerusalem to proclaim the edict in favor of the Jews

 Ezra 07

Artaxerxes sends Ezra to Jerusalem to proclaim the edict in favor of the Jews

1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

4 the son of Zerachiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the high priest,

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, given by the Lord God of Israel; and the king granted him all that he requested, according to the hand of the Lord his God that was upon him.

7 Some of the Israelites, including the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 

8 In the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, which was the seventh year of the king.

 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do and to teach in Israel his statutes and ordinances. 

11 This is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord and of his statutes concerning Israel. 

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, etc.

 13 I decree that all those in my kingdom who are willing to go with you to Jerusalem from the people of Israel, including their priests and Levites, must go.

14 For you have been sent by the king and his seven counselors to search Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your hand.

15 And to take the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem.

16 And all the silver and gold that you can find in the whole province of Babylon, with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests who have willingly offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

17 Therefore you shall buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem. 18 And whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you shall do according to the will of your God.

19 And the vessels that were given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall restore before the God of Jerusalem.

20 And whatever else is necessary for the house of your God, which you may find it convenient to give, you shall give from the king's treasury.

21 And by myself, King Artaxerxes, I make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, be done quickly:

22 Up to a hundred talents of silver, and up to a hundred measures of wheat, and up to a hundred baths of wine, and up to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without measure. 

23 Whatever is ordered by the command of the God of heaven, let it be done quickly for the house of the God of heaven, for why should there be great wrath on the kingdom of the king and his sons?

24 We also inform you concerning all the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinims, and ministers of this house of God, that no duty, tribute, or revenue may be imposed on them.

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which is in your hand, appoint rulers and judges who will judge all the people who are beyond the River, all those who know the laws of your God, and you shall make known to those who do not know them.

26 And whoever does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let justice be done to him quickly, whether it be death, banishment, a fine on his property, or imprisonment. 

27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put this in the king's heart to beautify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, 

28 and who extended kindness to me in the sight of the king and his counselors and all the king's mighty princes. So I took courage, according to the hand of the Lord on me, and gathered together leaders from Israel to go up with me.