Ezra 7:13 - Forerunner Commentary

Ezra 7:13

The Letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of His statutes to Israel:

12 Artaxerxes, ^aking of kings,
To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven:
Perfect peace, ^band so forth.

13 I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you.

14 And whereas you are being sent¹ by the king and his ^aseven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, with regard to the Law of your God which is in your hand;

15 and whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, ^awhose dwelling is in Jerusalem;

16 ^aand whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, are to be ^bfreely offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem—

17 now therefore, be careful to buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their ^agrain offerings and their drink offerings, and ^boffer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.

Verse Comparison: Ezra 7:13

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American Standard Version
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.

Amplified® Bible
I make a decree that all of the people of Israel and of their priests and Levites in my realm, who offer freely to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you.

Contemporary English Version
Any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom may go with you to Jerusalem if they want to. My seven advisors and I agree that you may go to Jerusalem and Judah to find out if the laws of your God are being obeyed.

Darby English Version
I have given orders that all they of the people of Israel, and of their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are disposed to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.

Good News Bible
"I command that throughout my empire all the Israelite people, priests, and Levites that so desire be permitted to go with you to Jerusalem.

King James Version
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

New American Standard Bible
I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.

New International Version
Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go.

New King James Version
I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who desire to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.

Revised Standard Version
I make a decree that any one of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.

Young's Literal Translation
By me hath been made a decree that every one who is willing, in my kingdom, of the people of Israel and of its priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem with thee, doth go;

New English Translation
I have now issued a decree¹ that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel – even the priests and Levites – who wishes to do so may go up with you to Jerusalem.²

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