Study Desk

Now in the first year of Koresh king of Persia, so that the word of Adonai spoken by Yirmeyahu might be fulfilled, Adonai activated the spirit of Koresh king of Persia to proclaim throughout his entire kingdom, and put in writing as well:

"Here is what Koresh king of Persia says: Adonai , the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms on earth, and he has charged me to build him a house in Yerushalayim, in Y'hudah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may Adonai his God be with him! He may go up . . . ."

Then Yeshua the son of Yotzadak with his fellow cohanim, and Z'rubavel the son of Sh'alti'el with his kinsmen, organized rebuilding the altar of the God of Isra'el; so that they could offer burnt offerings on it, as is written in the Torah of Moshe the man of God.

Yeshua and his sons and brothers, Kadmi'el and his sons, and Y'hudah's sons together directed the workers in the house of God; also the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their kinsmen the L'vi'im.

They sang antiphonally, praising and giving "thanks to Adonai , for he is good, for his grace continues forever" toward Isra'el. All the people raised a great shout of praise to Adonai , because the foundation of the house of Adonai had been laid.

During the reign of Achashverosh, at the beginning of his reign, they brought a charge in writing against the people living in Y'hudah and Yerushalayim.

(This is the text of the letter they sent him.) "To Artach'shashta the king from his servants the people beyond the River:

"‘Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the royal treasury there in Bavel to determine whether a decree was issued by Koresh the king to rebuild this house of God in Yerushalayim; and let the king send us his decision concerning this matter.'"

so that they can offer sacrifices with a fragrant aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

"I also order that if anyone defies this order, a beam is to be pulled from his house; and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. His house is to be reduced to rubble.

May the God who has caused his name to be there overthrow any king or people that tries to defy it and destroy this house of God in Yerushalayim. "I, Daryavesh, have issued this order. Let it be carried out to the letter."

this ‘Ezra went up from Bavel. He was a scribe, expert in the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai the God of Isra'el had given; and the king granted him everything he asked for, since the hand of Adonai his God was on him.

He began going up to Yerushalayim from Bavel on the first day of the first month and arrived on the first day of the fifth month, since the good hand of his God was on him.

For ‘Ezra had set his heart on studying and practicing the Torah of Adonai and teaching Isra'el the laws and rulings.

Here is the letter that King Artach'shashta gave ‘Ezra the cohen and Torah-teacher, the student of matters relating to Adonai 's mitzvot and his laws for Isra'el:

I decree that everyone in my realm who belongs to the people of Isra'el, including their cohanim and L'vi'im, who, of his own free will, chooses to go with you to Yerushalayim, should go.

You are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire how the law of your God, of which you have expert knowledge, is being applied in Y'hudah and Yerushalayim.

You are also to bring with you the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have voluntarily offered to the God of Isra'el, whose dwelling is in Yerushalayim;

Whatever is ordered by the God of heaven is to be performed exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should wrath come against the realm of the king and his sons?

and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's most powerful officials. So I took courage, since the hand of Adonai my God was on me, and I gathered together out of Isra'el key men to go up with me.