וְאַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּמַלְכוּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא מֶלֶךְ־פָּרָס עֶזְרָא בֶּן־שְׂרָיָה בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּה

After these matters, during the reign of Artahshasta king of Persia, there was a man called Ezra, son of Seraya, son of Azarya, son of Hilkiya,

בֶּן־שַׁלּוּם בֶּן־צָדוֹק בֶּן־אֲחִיטוּב

son of Shalum, son of Tzadok, son of Ahituv,

בֶּן־אֲמַרְיָה בֶן־עֲזַרְיָה בֶּן־מְרָיוֹת

son of Amarya, son of Azarya, son of Merayot,

בֶּן־זְרַחְיָה בֶן־עֻזִּי בֶּן־בֻּקִּי

son of Zerahya, son of Uzi, son of Buki,

בֶּן־אֲבִישׁוּעַ בֶּן־פִּינְחָס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן הָרֹאשׁ

son of Avishua, son of Pinhas, son of Elazar, son of Aaron the High Priest. Ezra’s lineage, at least in part, is a list of High Priests;

הוּא עֶזְרָא עָלָה מִבָּבֶל וְהוּא־סֹפֵר מָהִיר בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַן ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ כְּיַד־ה' אֱלֹהָיו עָלָיו כֹּל בַּקָּשָׁתוֹ

he is the renowned Ezra who went up from Babylonia, at the head of another wave of immigration; and he was an expert scribe in the Torah of Moses, which the Lord, God of Israel, had given. The title of scribe is not given to one who merely knows how to write the Torah, but to a scholar who is also expert in its contents. The king granted him his entire request, in accordance with the blessing Ezra received from the hand of the Lord his God upon him. The nature of the relationship between the king of Persia and Ezra is unknown, but as Ezra was an important personage among the Judeans, it is likely that King Artahshasta had encountered him and accorded him the respect befitting an esteemed holy man. Consequently, when Ezra expressed his desire to travel to the Land of Israel with a group of people, the king supported him and offered his assistance in anything he might request.

וַיַּעֲלוּ מִבְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִן־הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִים וְהַנְּתִינִים אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלִָם בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁבַע לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא הַמֶּלֶךְ

Some of the children of Israel, and some of the priests, and the Levites, among them the singers and the gatekeepers, and the Netinim, descendants of the Givonites (see 2:43), went up with Ezra to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artahshasta the king.

וַיָּבֹא יְרוּשָׁלִַם בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי הִיא שְׁנַת הַשְּׁבִיעִית לַמֶּלֶךְ

He, Ezra, arrived with his congregation in Jerusalem in the fifth month of that year, the month of Av; it was in the seventh year of the reign of the king. Such long voyages were generally undertaken in the summer, as it is easier to travel far when there is no rain.

כִּי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן הוּא יְסֻד הַמַּעֲלָה מִבָּבֶל וּבְאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי בָּא אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלִַם כְּיַד־אֱלֹהָיו הַטּוֹבָה עָלָיו

For on the first day of the first month, Nisan, was the forming of the emigration from Babylonia, as on that day the immigrants finalized their decision to leave, and on the first day of the fifth month he, Ezra, came to Jerusalem, in accordance with the benevolent hand of his God upon him, with the assistance of God in His mercy.

כִּי עֶזְרָא הֵכִין לְבָבוֹ לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת־תּוֹרַת ה' וְלַעֲשֹׂת וּלְלַמֵּד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט

For Ezra had prepared his heart, readied himself, to study the Torah of the Lord, and to enforce it, put it into practice, and amend the people’s ways, and teach law and justice in Israel. Ezra was the spiritual leader of the generation, and he made great efforts to teach Torah to all Israel, while also enacting decrees for the entire nation.

וְזֶה פַּרְשֶׁגֶן הַנִּשְׁתְּוָן אֲשֶׁר נָתַן הַמֶּלֶךְ אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא לְעֶזְרָא הַכֹּהֵן הַסֹּפֵר סֹפֵר דִּבְרֵי מִצְוֹת־ה' וְחֻקָּיו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל

The above brief summary of Ezra’s immigration to Israel is followed by a detailed description: This is a copy of the document that King Artahshasta gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a title meaning a scribe, an examiner and analyzer in the matters of the commandments of the Lord, and of His laws that He commanded and ordained for Israel:

אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא מֶלֶךְ מַלְכַיָּא לְעֶזְרָא כָהֲנָא סָפַר דָּתָא דִּי־אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא גְּמִיר וּכְעֶנֶת

The king formulated his order in friendly terms: Artahshasta, king of kings, delivers this letter to Ezra the priest, the perfect, or learned, scribe of the law of the God of the heavens; alternatively, the phrase can be read as: The scribe of the law of the God of the heavens and so forth. Now,

מִנִּי שִׂים טְעֵם דִּי כָל־מִתְנַדַּב בְּמַלְכוּתִי מִן־עַמָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָהֲנוֹהִי וְלֵוָיֵא לִמְהָךְ לִירוּשְׁלֶם עִמָּךְ יְהָךְ

from me a decree is issued that everyone in my realm from the people of Israel, and its priests, and Levites, who volunteers to go with you to Jerusalem, may go. Nobody has the right to prevent anyone who wishes to leave from doing so. Furthermore, you, Ezra, will lead the immigrants.

כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי מִן־קֳדָם מַלְכָּא וְשִׁבְעַת יָעֲטֹהִי שְׁלִיחַ לְבַקָּרַָה עַל־יְהוּד וְלִירוּשְׁלֶם בְּדָת אֱלָהָךְ דִּי בִידָךְ

Since it is from before the king and his seven counselors that you are sent, to supervise Judah and Jerusalem, in accordance with the law of your God that is in your hand; and thus you are the messenger of the king and his ministers to deal with religious matters there;

וּלְהֵיבָלָה כְּסַף וּדְהַב דִּי־מַלְכָּא וְיָעֲטוֹהִי הִתְנַדַּבוּ לֶאֱלָהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל דִּי בִירוּשְׁלֶם מִשְׁכְּנֵהּ

and to transport the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have donated to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem. The king and his advisors declare that they will donate a gift to the House of God;

וְכֹל כְּסַף וּדְהַב דִּי תְהַשְׁכַּח בְּכֹל מְדִינַת בָּבֶל עִם הִתְנַדָּבוּת עַמָּא וְכָהֲנַיָּא מִתְנַדְּבִין לְבֵית אֱלָהֲהֹם דִּי בִירוּשְׁלֶם

and Ezra is also entrusted to transport all silver and gold that you find in the entire province of Babylonia, with the donations of the people, and of the priests, who donate to the House of their God that is in Jerusalem.

כָּל־קֳבֵל דְּנָה אָסְפַּרְנָא תִקְנֵא בְּכַסְפָּא דְנָה תּוֹרִין דִּכְרִין אִמְּרִין וּמִנְחָתְהוֹן וְנִסְכֵּיהוֹן וּתְקָרֵב הִמּוֹ עַל־מַדְבְּחָה דִּי בֵּית אֱלָהֲכֹם דִּי בִירוּשְׁלֶם

You shall therefore diligently and scrupulously, or speedily, purchase with this silver that I am donating, bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their libations, and present them on the altar of the House of your God that is in Jerusalem. The king is instructing Ezra to bring offerings for the Temple.

וּמָה דִי עֲלָךְ וְעַל־אֶחָךְ יֵיטַב בִּשְׁאָר כַּסְפָּא וְדַהֲבָה לְמֶעְבַּד כִּרְעוּת אֱלָהֲכֹם תַּעַבְדוּן

Whatever will be good for you and for your brethren to do with the remaining silver and gold, do, in accordance with the will of your God. Apparently, the king and his advisors gave a handsome gift, not all of which was required for the sacrifices. Therefore, he granted permission for the rest of the money to be used for other purposes.

וּמָאנַיָּא דִּי־מִתְיַהֲבִין לָךְ לְפָלְחָן בֵּית אֱלָהָךְ הַשְׁלֵם קֳדָם אֱלָהּ יְרוּשְׁלֶם

The vessels that are given to you for service in the House of your God, deliver faithfully and in their entirety before the God of Jerusalem.

וּשְׁאָר חַשְׁחוּת בֵּית אֱלָהָךְ דִּי יִפֶּל־לָךְ לְמִנְתַּן תִּנְתֵּן מִן־בֵּית גִּנְזֵי מַלְכָּא

The rest of the needs of the House of your God that it will be appropriate for you to give, give from the king’s treasury. If you require more funds for the Temple in addition to this gift of mine, part of which is for sacrifices while the remainder is for you to use as you see fit, you will receive whatever you need from the royal treasury.

וּמִנִּי אֲנָה אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא מַלְכָּא שִׂים טְעֵם לְכֹל גִּזַּבְרַיָּא דִּי בַּעֲבַר נַהֲרָה דִּי כָל־דִּי יִשְׁאֲלֶנְכוֹן עֶזְרָא כָהֲנָא סָפַר דָּתָא דִּי־אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא אָסְפַּרְנָא יִתְעֲבִד

From me, King Artahshasta, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in Avar Nahara (see 4:10) that whatever Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of the heavens, will request of you, it will be done diligently, or speedily,

עַד־כְּסַף כַּכְּרִין מְאָה; וְעַד־חִנְטִין כּוֹרִין מְאָה; וְעַד־חֲמַר בַּתִּין מְאָה; וְעַד־בַּתִּין מְשַׁח מְאָה; וּמְלַח דִּי־לָא כְתָב

up to this amount: One hundred talents of silver; a silver talent is a unit of weight equal to at least 30 kg; up to one hundred kor of wheat; a kor is a unit of volume that is more than 210 L; up to one hundred bat of wine; the bat is also a unit of volume, equal to one-tenth of a kor; and up to one hundred bat of oil, and salt unquantified, an unlimited amount; however much salt you need.

כָּל־דִּי מִן־טַעַם אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא יִתְעֲבֵד אַדְרַזְדָּא לְבֵית אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא דִּי־לְמָה לֶהֱוֵא קְצַף עַל־מַלְכוּת מַלְכָּא וּבְנוֹהִי

Everything that is decreed by the God of the heavens shall be performed with alacrity, or faithfully, for the House of the God of the heavens; for why should there be anger from Heaven against the realm of the king and his sons? I must therefore offer sacrifices to God and obey His will.

וּלְכֹם מְהוֹדְעִין דִּי כָל־כָּהֲנַיָּא וְלֵוָיֵא זַמָּרַיָּא תָרָעַיָּא נְתִינַיָּא וּפָלְחֵי בֵּית אֱלָהָא דְנָה מִנְדָּה בְלוֹ וַהֲלָךְ לָא שַׁלִּיט לְמִרְמֵא עֲלֵיהֹם

We inform you, the treasurers, that with regard to all the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, Netinim, or workers of this House of God, there is no authority to impose upon them property tax, poll tax, or toll.

וְאַנְתְּ עֶזְרָא כְּחָכְמַת אֱלָהָךְ דִּי־בִידָךְ מֶנִּי שָׁפְטִין וְדַיָּנִין דִּי־לֶהֱוֹן דָּיְנִין לְכָל־עַמָּא דִּי בַּעֲבַר נַהֲרָה לְכָל־יָדְעֵי דָּתֵי אֱלָהָךְ וְדִי לָא יָדַע תְּהוֹדְעוּן

And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God that is in your possession, appoint magistrates and judges, who will judge all the people who are in Avar Nahara, everyone who knows the laws of your God, and educate those who do not know, who are unacquainted with those laws. In addition to the royal support for his journey and the exemption from taxes, Ezra is granted the authority to appoint judges and lawmakers. It is clear from the wording of this command that the king greatly esteemed Ezra as a wise and holy man.

וְכָל־דִּי־לָא לֶהֱוֵא עָבֵד דָּתָא דִי־אֱלָהָךְ וְדָתָא דִּי מַלְכָּא אָסְפַּרְנָא דִּינָה לֶהֱוֵא מִתְעֲבֵד מִנֵּהּ הֵן לְמוֹת הֵן לִשְׁרֹשִׁי הֵן־לַעֲנָשׁ נִכְסִין וְלֶאֱסוּרִין

Anyone who does not observe and uphold the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him diligently, or speedily, whether by death, by ostracism, excommunication, pressure, or excision from the world, or perhaps the cutting off of limbs; by fine of property, or by incarceration. This concludes the king’s letter. Not only did Artahshasta permit Ezra to ascend to the Temple in Jerusalem and to take with him many people and a large amount of assets, he even granted him supreme judicial control over the state, and perhaps also sent soldiers with him to help him put his authority into practice. Ezra had the right to appoint judges and to impose corporal and monetary punishments, not only those enumerated in the Torah, as he saw fit. Nehemiah’s discretionary power, by way of comparison, was not nearly as extensive.

בָּרוּךְ ה' אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן כָּזֹאת בְּלֵב הַמֶּלֶךְ לְפָאֵר אֶת־בֵּית ה' אֲשֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלִָם

There was no question that Ezra had found special favor in the eyes of the king and his advisors. Ezra therefore concludes by reciting a blessing: Blessed is the Lord, God of our fathers, who placed this in the heart of the king, to glorify the House of the Lord that is in Jerusalem,

וְעָלַי הִטָּה ה' חֶסֶד לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְיוֹעֲצָיו וּלְכָל־שָׂרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הַגִּבֹּרִים וַאֲנִי הִתְחַזַּקְתִּי כְּיַד־ה' אֱלֹהַי עָלַי וָאֶקְבְּצָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל רָאשִׁים לַעֲלוֹת עִמִּי

and who has extended kindness and mercy for me before the king and his counselors, and to all the king’s mighty princes. I took courage according to the assistance of the hand of the Lord my God upon me, and I assembled leaders from Israel, or heads of families together with their families, to go up with me.