以斯拉到達耶路撒冷

這些事以後,波斯王亞達薛西年間,以斯拉從巴比倫上到耶路撒冷。以斯拉是西萊雅的兒子,西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子,亞撒利雅是希勒迦的兒子, 希勒迦是沙龍的兒子,沙龍是撒督的兒子,撒督是亞希突的兒子, 亞希突是亞瑪利雅的兒子,亞瑪利雅是亞撒利雅的兒子,亞撒利雅是米拉約的兒子, 米拉約是西拉希雅的兒子,西拉希雅是烏西的兒子,烏西是布基的兒子, 布基是亞比書的兒子,亞比書是非尼哈的兒子,非尼哈是以利亞撒的兒子,以利亞撒是大祭司亞倫的兒子。 這以斯拉是位律法教師,精通以色列的上帝耶和華賜下的摩西律法。他的上帝耶和華幫助他,使王批准他的一切要求。

亞達薛西王第七年,一些以色列人、祭司、利未人、歌樂手、殿門守衛和殿役來到耶路撒冷。 8-9 這年一月一日,以斯拉從巴比倫啟程去耶路撒冷,五月一日就到達那裡,因為他的上帝施恩幫助他。 10 以斯拉定意研讀、遵行耶和華的律法,並在以色列教導律例和典章。

亞達薛西王給以斯拉的諭旨

11 以斯拉是祭司和律法教師,精通耶和華賜給以色列的誡命和律例。亞達薛西王降旨給以斯拉,內容如下:

12 「王中之王亞達薛西降旨給精通天上上帝律法的教師以斯拉祭司,願你平安!

13 「我現在降旨,我國中的以色列人、祭司和利未人,凡願意上耶路撒冷的都可以與你同去。 14 我和七位謀士派你去按照你手中上帝的律法察看猶大和耶路撒冷的情況, 15 並帶去我和謀士們自願獻的金銀,獻給住在耶路撒冷的以色列的上帝, 16 還要帶去你在巴比倫省得到的金銀,以及民眾和祭司為耶路撒冷的上帝之殿自願奉獻的祭物。 17 你一定要用這些金銀購買公牛、公綿羊和綿羊羔,以及素祭和奠祭用品,把這一切獻在耶路撒冷上帝殿的祭壇上。 18 至於餘下的金銀,你和你的弟兄可以按你們上帝的心意妥善使用。 19 那些交托給你、用來在你上帝的殿裡敬拜的器皿,你要帶到耶路撒冷的上帝面前。 20 如果你們上帝的殿還需要什麼,你可以從國庫支取費用。

21 「我亞達薛西王降旨給河西所有的財政大臣,精通天上上帝律法的律法教師以斯拉祭司無論向你們要什麼,都要速速辦理, 22 可以給他銀子三點四噸、麥子兩萬二千升、酒兩千二百升、油兩千二百升,鹽可以隨意取用。 23 不論天上的上帝為祂的殿有何要求,都要認真辦理,以免祂的烈怒臨到王及眾王子的國。 24 我們也通知你們不可向這座上帝殿的祭司、利未人、歌樂手、殿門守衛、殿役或其他工人徵收賦稅。

25 「你以斯拉要運用上帝賜給你的智慧委派官員和審判官,讓他們治理河西省的人民,就是明白你上帝律法的人。你要教導那些不明白你上帝律法的人。 26 凡不遵行你上帝的律法和王法的,要對他嚴加治罪,或處死,或發配,或抄家,或監禁。」

以斯拉讚美上帝

27 以斯拉說:

「我們祖先的上帝耶和華當受讚美!因為祂使王有這樣的心意尊崇耶路撒冷耶和華的殿。 28 祂又在王及其謀士和所有權貴面前施恩於我。因為我的上帝耶和華幫助我,我便有勇氣召集以色列的首領與我一同上去。」

以斯拉的家世

这些事以后,波斯王亚达薛西在位的时候,有位以斯拉,是西莱雅的儿子,西莱雅是亚撒利雅的儿子,亚撒利雅是希勒家的儿子, 希勒家是沙龙的儿子,沙龙是撒督的儿子,撒督是亚希突的儿子, 亚希突是亚玛利雅的儿子,亚玛利雅是亚撒利雅的儿子,亚撒利雅是米拉约的儿子, 米拉约是西拉希雅的儿子,西拉希雅是乌西的儿子,乌西是布基的儿子, 布基是亚比书的儿子,亚比书是非尼哈的儿子,非尼哈是以利亚撒的儿子,以利亚撒是大祭司亚伦的儿子。

以斯拉从巴比伦回归

这位以斯拉是一位经学家,精通耶和华以色列的 神赐给摩西的律法;因为耶和华他 神的手帮助他,所以王赐他所求的一切,他就从巴比伦上来。 在亚达薛西王第七年,一些以色列人和一些祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守门的和作殿役的,和他一起上耶路撒冷去。 王第七年五月来到耶路撒冷。 正月初一,以斯拉开始从巴比伦上来;五月初一来到耶路撒冷,他 神施恩的手帮助他, 10 因为以斯拉专心寻求研究耶和华的律法,并且遵行,在以色列中教导律例和典章。

亚达薛西王给以斯拉的谕旨

11 亚达薛西王颁发谕旨给以斯拉;以斯拉是一位祭司和经学家,精通耶和华的诫命和赐给以色列之律例;谕旨内容是这样: 12 “诸王之王亚达薛西赐谕旨给以斯拉祭司,精通天上 神律法的经学家,愿你平安。 13 现在我下令:住在我国中的以色列人中,愿意上到耶路撒冷去的祭司和利未人,他们都可以与你同去。 14 你既然是王和他七位顾问所派去的,就要照着你手中 神的律法书,查察犹大和耶路撒冷的情况。 15 你要把王和他顾问甘心献的金银带去,奉献给住在耶路撒冷之以色列的 神; 16 也要带着你在巴比伦全省所得的金银,连同人民和祭司甘心乐意献给在耶路撒冷 神的殿的礼物, 17 使你可以用这些银子审慎地购买公牛、公绵羊、绵羊羔,以及与祭牲同献的素祭和奠祭,献在耶路撒冷你们 神的殿的祭坛上。 18 剩余的金银,你和你的族人看怎么办好,就怎么用;只要照着你们 神的旨意去作就是了。 19 至于交给你为你 神殿中事奉用的器皿,你要放在耶路撒冷的 神面前。 20 如果你需要支付你 神的殿其余的费用,你可以从王的库房里支付。 21 我亚达薛西王下令给在河西那边所有的库官:无论以斯拉祭司,这位精通天上 神律法的经学家,向你们要求甚么,你们都要审慎照办。 22 他可以要银子三千四百公斤,麦子一百公斤,酒二千二百公升,油二千二百公升,盐却不受限制。 23 天上的 神命令的,就要为天上 神的殿热心去作,免得忿怒临到王和王的子孙的国。 24 我要你们知道,凡是祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守门的,作殿役的和在这 神的殿里作仆人的,都不可以向他们征收税款、贡物和粮食。 25 至于你以斯拉,你要照着你手中 神的智慧书,委任法官和官吏,治理在河西那边所有明白你 神的律法的人民,那些不晓得律法的人,你要教导他们。 26 不遵守你 神的律法和王的律法的,就要审慎地判决处分,或是处死、或是放逐、或是没收家产、或是囚禁。”

以斯拉称颂 神

27 以斯拉说:“耶和华我们列祖的 神是应该称颂的,因为他把这样的意念放在君王的心里,使他修饰那在耶路撒冷的耶和华的殿; 28 又使我在王和谋士,以及王手下有权势的领袖面前蒙恩。因为耶和华我 神的手帮助我,我就有勇气,召集以色列中一些首领,与我一同上来。”

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes(A) king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah,(B) the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,(C) the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok,(D) the son of Ahitub,(E) the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas,(F) the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— this Ezra(G) came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted(H) him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.(I) Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.(J)

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.(K) 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching(L) its decrees and laws in Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,(M)

To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers(N) to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given(O) to the God of Israel, whose dwelling(P) is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold(Q) you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.(R) 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs,(S) together with their grain offerings and drink offerings,(T) and sacrifice(U) them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver(V) to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.(W)

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to a hundred talents[a] of silver, a hundred cors[b] of wheat, a hundred baths[c] of wine, a hundred baths[d] of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?(X) 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty(Y) on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.(Z)

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint(AA) magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach(AB) any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.[e](AC)

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart(AD) to bring honor(AE) to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor(AF) to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me,(AG) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  2. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 18 tons or about 16 metric tons
  3. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  4. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  5. Ezra 7:26 The text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.