Àzrah (Ezra) — 7

The Arrival of Azrah 

1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxarxas king of Persia, Azrah the son of Sarayahu, the son of Azaryahu, the son of Hilkyahu, 

2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zaduk, the son of Ahitub, 

3 the son of Amaryahu, the son of Azaryahu, the son of Maraiuth, 

4 the son of Zarahyahu, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 

5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinahas, the son of Alaazar, the son of Aarun the chief Kuhan

6 this Azrah came up from Babylun; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Musha, which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  his 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH upon him. 

7 Some of the children of Yashar'AL, the Kuhanym, the Lauym, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nathinim came up to Yahushalam in the seventh year of King Artaxarxas. 

8 And Azrah came to Yahushalam in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 

9 On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylun, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Yahushalam, according to the good hand of his 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH upon him. 

10 For Azrah had prepared his heart to seek the Law of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Yashar'AL.

The Letter of Artaxarxas to Azrah 

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxarxas gave Azrah the chief Kuhan, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and of His statutes to Yashar'AL:

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Azrah the Kuhan, a scribe of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH of the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Shamaym: Perfect Shalum, and so forth.

13 I issue a decree that all those of the people of Yashar'AL and the Kuhanym and Lauym in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Yahushalam, may go with you. 

14 And where you are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Yahudah and Yahushalam, with regard to the Law of your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH which is in your hand; 

15 and where you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL, whose dwelling is in Yahushalam; 

16 and where all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylun, along with the freewill offering of the people and the Kuhanym, are to be freely offered for the house of their 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH in Yahushalam 

17 now therefore, be careful to 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 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH in Yahushalam.

18 And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH. 

19 Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, deliver in full before the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yahushalam. 

20 And whatever more may be needed for the house of your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, which you may have occasion to provide, pay for it from the king’s treasury.

21 And I, even I, Artaxarxas the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River, that whatever Azrah the chief Kuhan, the scribe of the Law of the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Shamaym, may require of you, let it be done diligently, 

22 up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kurs of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit. 

23 Whatever is commanded by the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Shamaym, let it diligently be done for the house of the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Shamaym. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24 Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the Kuhanym, Lauym, singers, gatekeepers, Nathinim, or servants of this house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

25 And you, Azrah, according to the wisdom your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH has given you, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH; and teach those who do not know them. 

26 Whoever will not observe the law of your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

27 Baraked be 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH which is in Yahushalam, 

28 and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Yashar'AL to go up with me.