diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index d87fe872c7..2089e0a4ee 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -1,4 +1,5 @@ drawing + # unfoldingWord® Translation Notes This is the repository for the [unfoldingWord® Translation Notes (UTN)](https://www.unfoldingword.org/utn) resource. @@ -93,6 +94,7 @@ The following lists each column with a brief description and example. * HTML - if you prefer to use inline HTML for markup, that works because it is supported in Markdown ## Composing translationNotes + Below are a few formatting guidelines that govern the composition of transationNotes. * All tNotes should reference ONLY a single translationAcademy article. If a second article needs to be referenced, an additional tNote should be added. diff --git a/en_tn_15-EZR.tsv b/en_tn_15-EZR.tsv index 0e241e560b..ce248d22de 100644 --- a/en_tn_15-EZR.tsv +++ b/en_tn_15-EZR.tsv @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ EZR 1 intro dd25 0 # Ezra 01 General Notes

## Structure and formatting EZR 1 1 7nrv writing-newevent וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת 1 The word **now** introduces a new event in the story. You do not need to represent it in your translation unless your language has a similar expression that it characteristically uses. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EZR 1 1 ath4 figs-explicit וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת אַחַ֗ת לְ⁠כ֨וֹרֶשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס 1 The original Jewish readers of this book would have known that this is not a reference to the year when Cyrus first became king of the Persians. Rather, it is a reference to the later year when, by conquering Babylon, he became king over the Jews, since Babylon had previously conquered them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “During the first year after Cyrus, the king of Persia, conquered Babylon and became the ruler of the Jews” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 1 1 qvp1 וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת אַחַ֗ת לְ⁠כ֨וֹרֶשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס 1 This expression could mean that sometime during the first year that he ruled over the Jews, Cyrus issued the decree that this verse describes. However, it could also mean that he issued this decree as soon as he became their ruler. Alternate translation: “As soon as Cyrus, the king of Persia, conquered Babylon and became the ruler of the Jews” -EZR 1 1 p6b4 translate-ordinal וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת אַחַ֗ת 1 In the first year The Hebrew uses a cardinal number here, **one**, but there is not a significant difference in meaning between that and the way the Hebrew uses an ordinal number, "first," in similar contexts elsewhere. If your language customarily uses ordinals for the numbers of years, you can do that here in your translation. Alternate translation: “In the first year” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) +EZR 1 1 p6b4 translate-ordinal וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת אַחַ֗ת 1 In the first year The Hebrew uses a cardinal number here, **one**, but there is not a significant difference in meaning between that and the way the Hebrew uses an ordinal number, “first,” in similar contexts elsewhere. If your language customarily uses ordinals for the numbers of years, you can do that here in your translation. Alternate translation: “In the first year” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EZR 1 1 bns6 translate-names לְ⁠כ֨וֹרֶשׁ֙ 1 **Cyrus** is the name of a man. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 1 1 xkd5 translate-names פָּרַ֔ס 1 **Persia** is the name of an empire. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 1 1 t5sz figs-metonymy דְּבַר־יְהוָ֖ה 1 Here, **word** refers to the thing that Yahweh spoke about. Alternate translation: “the promise that Yahweh had made” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) @@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ EZR 2 1 ponw figs-metonymy הַ⁠מְּדִינָ֗ה 1 **The province** means EZR 2 1 byc2 figs-idiom הָֽ⁠עֹלִים֙ 1 went up **Went up** means traveled from Babylon back to Judah, since that involves going from a river valley up into the mountains. Alternate translation: “those who returned to Judah from Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 2 1 czrg figs-abstractnouns מִ⁠שְּׁבִ֣י הַ⁠גּוֹלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֛ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל לְ⁠בָבֶ֑ל 1 The abstract nouns **captivity** and **exiles** refer to the way Nebuchadnezzar took these people prisoner and transported them away from their homeland. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind these terms with verbs. Alternate translation: “from being held in a foreign land after Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had taken their ancestors prisoner and transported them to Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 2 1 evx5 figs-idiom אִ֥ישׁ לְ⁠עִירֽ⁠וֹ׃ 1 Here, **a man** means each one or each person. Alternate translation: “they went to live in the same towns where their families had lived before” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 2 2 mxt0 אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ עִם 1 This phrase introduces a list of the men who led this group back to Judah. Alternate translation: “traveling with" +EZR 2 2 mxt0 אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ עִם 1 This phrase introduces a list of the men who led this group back to Judah. Alternate translation: “traveling with” EZR 2 2 tmp8 translate-names זְרֻבָּבֶ֗ל יֵשׁ֡וּעַ נְ֠חֶמְיָה שְׂרָיָ֨ה רְֽעֵלָיָ֜ה מָרְדֳּכַ֥י בִּלְשָׁ֛ן מִסְפָּ֥ר בִּגְוַ֖י רְח֣וּם בַּעֲנָ֑ה 1 Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah These are the names of eleven men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 2 2 z77p מִסְפַּ֕ר אַנְשֵׁ֖י עַ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ 1 This is the number In keeping with the practices of the time, the totals in the list that follows likely include just the men and not also the women and children. Alternate translation: “This is how many men came back from each Israelite clan and town” -EZR 2 3 i2m7 בְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔שׁ אַלְפַּ֕יִם מֵאָ֖ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁנָֽיִם׃ 1 General Information: This means that from the descendants **of Parosh, 2,172** returned. To help make this clear for your readers, you could say something like "returned" throughout [2:3–42](../02/03.md), after the name of each group and the number that is given. +EZR 2 3 i2m7 בְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔שׁ אַלְפַּ֕יִם מֵאָ֖ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁנָֽיִם׃ 1 General Information: This means that from the descendants **of Parosh, 2,172** returned. To help make this clear for your readers, you could say something like “returned” throughout [2:3–42](../02/03.md), after the name of each group and the number that is given. EZR 2 3 gmbm figs-metaphor בְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔שׁ 1 **Sons** figuratively means descendants. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Parosh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 2 3 zew1 translate-names פַרְעֹ֔שׁ 1 Parosh **Parosh** is the name of a man. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 2 4 xs2j figs-metaphor בְּנֵ֣י שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה 1 **Sons** figuratively means descendants. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Shephatiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) @@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ EZR 2 61 cxge וַ⁠יִּקָּרֵ֖א עַל־שְׁמָֽ⁠ם 1 Alternat EZR 2 62 yiq1 figs-activepassive אֵ֗לֶּה בִּקְשׁ֧וּ כְתָבָ֛⁠ם הַ⁠מִּתְיַחְשִׂ֖ים וְ⁠לֹ֣א נִמְצָ֑אוּ וַֽ⁠יְגֹאֲל֖וּ מִן־הַ⁠כְּהֻנָּֽה׃ 1 the records of their ancestry If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “They were not able to find any mention of their names in the lists of people who were descendants of the priests, and so they were not allowed to serve as priests.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 2 62 qt2w figs-abstractnouns וַֽ⁠יְגֹאֲל֖וּ מִן־הַ⁠כְּהֻנָּֽה 1 they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled The abstract noun **priesthood** refers to the work that a priest does and the status that a priest holds as a representative of God to the people. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “And so they were not allowed to serve as priests” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 2 63 d82e translate-unknown הַ⁠תִּרְשָׁ֨תָא֙ 1 This was the formal Persian title of the governor. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the title and then explain it. Alternate translation: “the Tirshatha, that is, the governor” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) -EZR 2 63 jyg6 figs-idiom וַ⁠יֹּ֤אמֶר…לָ⁠הֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יֹאכְל֖וּ מִ⁠קֹּ֣דֶשׁ הַ⁠קֳּדָשִׁ֑ים 1 The phrase **the holiest holy food** refers to the most sacred part of the food offerings,
which was reserved for the priests. Alternate translation: "told them that they would not be allowed to eat the most sacred food” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 2 63 jyg6 figs-idiom וַ⁠יֹּ֤אמֶר…לָ⁠הֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יֹאכְל֖וּ מִ⁠קֹּ֣דֶשׁ הַ⁠קֳּדָשִׁ֑ים 1 The phrase **the holiest holy food** refers to the most sacred part of the food offerings,
which was reserved for the priests. Alternate translation: “told them that they would not be allowed to eat the most sacred food” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 2 63 e7bg figs-metaphor עַ֛ד עֲמֹ֥ד כֹּהֵ֖ן 1 Here, **stood** is a figurative way of saying that a person had assumed the duties of their office. The priest means specifically the high priest, since he was the one who had possession of the objects that this verse describes (see next note). Alternate translation: “until the high priest was once again on duty” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 2 63 n2du translate-unknown לְ⁠אוּרִ֥ים וּ⁠לְ⁠תֻמִּֽים 1 Urim and Thummim This was a pair of objects that the high priest kept in the breastpiece of his robe. It is unknown exactly what type of objects they were, but they were used to answer yes-or-no questions and to decide between two alternatives. If the priest, without looking, pulled out the Urim, that meant one answer, while if he pulled out the Thummim, that meant the other answer. If it would be clearer in your language, you could describe these objects by their function rather than by their names. Alternate translation: “and could use the sacred objects to decide their cases” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EZR 2 64 a73j figs-idiom כָּל־הַ⁠קָּהָ֖ל כְּ⁠אֶחָ֑ד אַרְבַּ֣ע רִבּ֔וֹא אַלְפַּ֖יִם שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת שִׁשִּֽׁים׃ 1 whole group The expression **as one** means all together. Alternate translation: “The total number of men who returned was 42,360” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) @@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ EZR 2 65 i75w translate-unknown וְ⁠לָ⁠הֶ֛ם מְשֹׁרְרִ֥ים EZR 2 66 t7kb סוּסֵי⁠הֶ֕ם שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁשָּׁ֑ה פִּרְדֵי⁠הֶ֕ם מָאתַ֖יִם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וַ⁠חֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ 1 General Information: Alternate translation, beginning a sentence that will continue through the next verse: “The group also brought back with them 736 horses, 245 mules” EZR 2 67 mho1 גְּמַ֨לֵּי⁠הֶ֔ם אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים וַ⁠חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה חֲמֹרִ֕ים שֵׁ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִֽים׃ 1 Alternate translation, concluding the sentence from the previous verse: “435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys” EZR 2 68 7aer writing-newevent וּ⁠מֵ⁠רָאשֵׁי֙ 1 The word **and** introduces a new event in the story. You do not need to represent it in your translation unless your language has a similar expression that it characteristically uses. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) -EZR 2 68 r2vx figs-ellipsis וּ⁠מֵ⁠רָאשֵׁי֙ הָֽ⁠אָב֔וֹת 1 **Heads of the fathers** is an abbreviated way of saying the heads of father’s houses. The full expression "house of their fathers" was used in [2:59](../02/59.md). See how you translated it there, and review the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate
translation: "some of the clan leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) -EZR 2 68 cvyh figs-metaphor וּ⁠מֵ⁠רָאשֵׁי֙ 1 Here, **heads** is a figurative way of saying leaders. Alternate translation: “And
… leaders of” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 2 68 r2vx figs-ellipsis וּ⁠מֵ⁠רָאשֵׁי֙ הָֽ⁠אָב֔וֹת 1 **Heads of the fathers** is an abbreviated way of saying the heads of father’s houses. The full expression “house of their fathers” was used in [2:59](../02/59.md). See how you translated it there, and review the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate
translation: “some of the clan leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) +EZR 2 68 cvyh figs-metaphor וּ⁠מֵ⁠רָאשֵׁי֙ 1 Here, **heads** is a figurative way of saying leaders. Alternate translation: “And
… leaders of” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 2 68 onqa figs-metaphor לְ⁠בֵ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם…לְ⁠בֵ֣ית הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִ֔ים 1 As in [1:3–4](../01/03.md), the expressions **house of Yahweh** and **house of God** both figuratively mean the temple. The book speaks of this temple as if it would be a house in which God lived, since God’s presence would be there. Alternate translation: “the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem … the temple of God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 2 68 fi3w figs-personification לְ⁠הַעֲמִיד֖⁠וֹ עַל־מְכוֹנֽ⁠וֹ 1 This expression indicates figuratively that these gifts were given towards the costs of rebuilding the temple on its former site. The expression envisions the rebuilt temple as like a living thing that would **stand** in that location. Alternate translation: “to rebuild it on its former site” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]) EZR 2 69 v744 לְ⁠אוֹצַ֣ר הַ⁠מְּלָאכָה֒ 1 sixty-one thousand…five thousand…one hundred **The work** means the project of rebuilding the temple. The **treasury** was where all of the money would be kept safely until it was needed. Alternate translation: “to the fund for rebuilding the temple” @@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ EZR 3 3 t8y7 figs-explicit וַ⁠יָּכִ֤ינוּ הַ⁠מִּזְבֵּ֨ EZR 3 3 bk73 figs-explicit כִּ֚י בְּ⁠אֵימָ֣ה עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֔ם מֵ⁠עַמֵּ֖י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת 1 dread was on them The book does not say specifically why the Israelites were afraid of the people from other groups who lived around them. Two possibilities are that they were afraid these people might attack them or that they might try to keep them from rebuilding the temple, in both cases to stop them from re-establishing themselves in their former homeland. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could suggest one of these explanations explicitly. Alternate translation: “because they were afraid that the people from other groups who lived around them might attack them, they wanted to ask God for help and protection” or “because they were afraid that the people from other groups who lived around them might try to stop them from rebuilding the temple, they wanted to get started on rebuilding as quickly as possible” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 3 3 n3m4 figs-metaphor בְּ⁠אֵימָ֣ה עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֔ם 1 Here the book uses a spatial metaphor of **dread** or fear landing **on** or resting **on** the Israelites to express that the Israelites felt that emotion. Alternate translation: “they were very afraid” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 3 c33h figs-idiom מֵ⁠עַמֵּ֖י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת 1 because of the people of the land This was the expression that the Jews used to refer to members of other people groups, including some that the Assyrians had brought into the area who were originally from other places (**lands**) but who were now living in and around the province of Judah. Alternate translation: “people from other groups” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 3 3 a9a2 grammar-connect-time-sequential וַיַּעֲל֨וּ עָלָ֤י⁠ו עֹלוֹת֙ לַֽ⁠יהוָ֔ה עֹל֖וֹת לַ⁠בֹּ֥קֶר וְ⁠לָ⁠עָֽרֶב 1 They offered on it burnt offerings to Yahweh, both the morning and evening burnt offerings The word **then** at the beginning of this sentence indicates that the activity it describes took place after the events the story has been describing. Specifically, this was a continuous activity, not something the leaders did just on that occasion. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a phrase such as "from that time on." Alternate translation: “From that time on, the priests offered sacrifices to Yahweh on this altar every morning and every evening” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) +EZR 3 3 a9a2 grammar-connect-time-sequential וַיַּעֲל֨וּ עָלָ֤י⁠ו עֹלוֹת֙ לַֽ⁠יהוָ֔ה עֹל֖וֹת לַ⁠בֹּ֥קֶר וְ⁠לָ⁠עָֽרֶב 1 They offered on it burnt offerings to Yahweh, both the morning and evening burnt offerings The word **then** at the beginning of this sentence indicates that the activity it describes took place after the events the story has been describing. Specifically, this was a continuous activity, not something the leaders did just on that occasion. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a phrase such as “from that time on.” Alternate translation: “From that time on, the priests offered sacrifices to Yahweh on this altar every morning and every evening” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 3 3 vc8u figs-explicit וַיַּעֲל֨וּ עָלָ֤י⁠ו עֹלוֹת֙ לַֽ⁠יהוָ֔ה עֹל֖וֹת לַ⁠בֹּ֥קֶר וְ⁠לָ⁠עָֽרֶב 1 As [3:2](../03/02.md) notes, God had commanded these daily **offerings** in the law of Moses. By resuming them, the leaders and priests were restoring the regular worship life of the community. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “From that time on, the priests offered sacrifices to Yahweh on this altar every morning and every evening. By doing that, they restored the regular worship life of the community” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 3 4 pqln grammar-connect-time-sequential וַֽ⁠יַּעֲשׂ֛וּ 1 The word **then** indicates that the events the story will now recount came after the event it has just related. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using an equivalent phrase. The next event is specifically the Festival of Tabernacles, which the law of Moses said to observe from the fifteenth through the twenty-second days of the seventh month. So that event would have taken place about two weeks after the Israelites first gathered in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “Later that month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 3 4 iej2 figs-explicit וַֽ⁠יַּעֲשׂ֛וּ אֶת־חַ֥ג הַ⁠סֻּכּ֖וֹת 1 the Festival of Shelters This phrase describes the Israelites celebrating an observance that is also known as the Festival of Tabernacles. The purpose of this festival was to remind the Israelites how Yahweh had cared for their ancestors when they lived in temporary shelters as they traveled through the wilderness from Egypt to Canaan. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “The Israelites celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles to remember how God had taken care of their ancestors when they had only temporary shelters to live in as they traveled through the wilderness from Egypt to Canaan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -250,16 +250,16 @@ EZR 3 4 ka3d figs-explicit וְ⁠עֹלַ֨ת י֤וֹם בְּ⁠יוֹם֙ ב EZR 3 5 r95n grammar-connect-time-sequential וְ⁠אַחֲרֵי כֵ֞ן 1 This phrase indicates that the activity it describes took place after the one it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a phrase such as “And from that time on.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 3 5 yg77 figs-ellipsis עֹלַ֤ת תָּמִיד֙ וְ⁠לֶ֣⁠חֳדָשִׁ֔ים וּ⁠לְ⁠כָל־מוֹעֲדֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה הַ⁠מְקֻדָּשִׁ֑ים וּ⁠לְ⁠כֹ֛ל מִתְנַדֵּ֥ב נְדָבָ֖ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 Here the book leaves out some of the words that a sentence would ordinarily need in order to be complete. The meaning seems to be that once the daily morning and evening sacrifices had been re-instituted, the less frequent sacrifices were resumed as well, including those for the new moon, for the annual festivals, and on the occasion of freewill offerings. You could say that explicitly if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “the priests offered sacrifices every morning and evening, and they also offered sacrifices for the new moon festivals, for the festivals that Yahweh had commanded them to observe each year, and whenever anyone freely offered an animal to Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 3 6 x3mt translate-ordinal מִ⁠יּ֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ 1 from the first day of the seventh month The Hebrew uses a cardinal number here, **one**, but there is not a significant difference in meaning between that and the way the Hebrew uses an ordinal number, **first**, in similar contexts elsewhere. If your language customarily uses ordinals for the numbers of days, you can do that here in your translation. Alternate translation: “Starting on the first day” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) -EZR 3 6 cz5p grammar-connect-logic-contrast הֵחֵ֕לּוּ לְ⁠הַעֲל֥וֹת עֹל֖וֹת לַ⁠יהוָ֑ה וְ⁠הֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֥א יֻסָּֽד 1 This sentence draws a contrast between the conditions under which readers would have expected sacrifices to resume and the conditions under which they actually did resume. You could use a connecting phrase such as "even though" between the two clauses to indicate this contrast. Alternate translation: “they resumed offering sacrifices to Yahweh, even though they had not yet rebuilt the temple of Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) +EZR 3 6 cz5p grammar-connect-logic-contrast הֵחֵ֕לּוּ לְ⁠הַעֲל֥וֹת עֹל֖וֹת לַ⁠יהוָ֑ה וְ⁠הֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֥א יֻסָּֽד 1 This sentence draws a contrast between the conditions under which readers would have expected sacrifices to resume and the conditions under which they actually did resume. You could use a connecting phrase such as “even though” between the two clauses to indicate this contrast. Alternate translation: “they resumed offering sacrifices to Yahweh, even though they had not yet rebuilt the temple of Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) EZR 3 6 cip8 figs-activepassive וְ⁠הֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֥א יֻסָּֽד 1 although the foundation of the temple of Yahweh had not been laid If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “the Jewish leaders had not yet rebuilt the temple of Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 3 6 qiw8 figs-synecdoche וְ⁠הֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֥א יֻסָּֽד 1 This phrase likely means specifically that no one had laid a foundation yet for the new temple. That would have been the first step in construction. However, this seems to be a figurative way of describing the entire process of building the temple by referring to one part of that process, its first step. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “the Jewish leaders had not yet rebuilt the temple of Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) EZR 3 7 rmxu grammar-connect-logic-result וַ⁠יִּ֨תְּנוּ 1 The word **and** indicates that the sentence it introduces will explain what people did as a result of the situation that the previous sentence described. Alternate translation: “And so they gave” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 3 7 y5sm figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּ֨תְּנוּ־כֶ֔סֶף לַ⁠חֹצְבִ֖ים וְ⁠לֶ⁠חָרָשִׁ֑ים 1 The implication is that the Jewish leaders did this, and the rest of the things the verse describes, in order to start construction on the new temple. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “In order to start building a new temple, they hired masons and carpenters” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 3 7 kpjx figs-idiom וַ⁠יִּ֨תְּנוּ־כֶ֔סֶף לַ⁠חֹצְבִ֖ים וְ⁠לֶ⁠חָרָשִׁ֑ים 1 **Gave** is an idiom that means the Jewish leaders paid money to these workers in exchange for their expected labor. The money was not a gift. Alternate translation: “And they hired masons and carpenters” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 3 7 sqt7 וַ⁠יִּ֨תְּנוּ־כֶ֔סֶף 1 **Silver** here means money. Though the payment may well have been in the form of silver coins, such as are described in [2:69](../02/69.md), the value of the payment is in view. The book is describing that value figuratively by reference to something associated with it, the silver that served as the medium of exchange. Alternate translation: “And they paid money” +EZR 3 7 sqt7 וַ⁠יִּ֨תְּנוּ־כֶ֔סֶף 1 **Silver** here means money. Though the payment may well have been in the form of silver coins, such as are described in [2:69](../02/69.md), the value of the payment is in view. The book is describing that value figuratively by reference to something associated with it, the silver that served as the medium of exchange. Alternate translation: “And they paid money” EZR 3 7 hm3b translate-unknown לַ⁠חֹצְבִ֖ים 1 The term **masons** describes workers who build things from stone. Alternate translation: “stoneworkers” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EZR 3 7 q3ku translate-unknown וְ⁠לֶ⁠חָרָשִׁ֑ים 1 The term **carpenters** describes workers who build things from wood. Alternate translation: “woodworkers” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) -EZR 3 7 snzd figs-idiom וּ⁠מַאֲכָ֨ל וּ⁠מִשְׁתֶּ֜ה וָ⁠שֶׁ֗מֶן לַ⁠צִּֽדֹנִים֙ וְ⁠לַ⁠צֹּרִ֔ים 1 This phrase describes a further step that the Jewish leaders took to rebuild the temple. The words **they gave,** earlier in the sentence, apply to this phrase as well. **Gave** would now have the sense of "sent," since the leaders made this payment in kind rather than in cash. Alternate translation: “and they also sent grain and wine and olive oil to the people who lived in the cities of Sidon and Tyre” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 3 7 snzd figs-idiom וּ⁠מַאֲכָ֨ל וּ⁠מִשְׁתֶּ֜ה וָ⁠שֶׁ֗מֶן לַ⁠צִּֽדֹנִים֙ וְ⁠לַ⁠צֹּרִ֔ים 1 This phrase describes a further step that the Jewish leaders took to rebuild the temple. The words **they gave,** earlier in the sentence, apply to this phrase as well. **Gave** would now have the sense of “sent,” since the leaders made this payment in kind rather than in cash. Alternate translation: “and they also sent grain and wine and olive oil to the people who lived in the cities of Sidon and Tyre” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 3 7 i65c figs-synecdoche וּ⁠מַאֲכָ֨ל וּ⁠מִשְׁתֶּ֜ה וָ⁠שֶׁ֗מֶן 1 While these are all general terms that describe categories of things, the book is likely using them to refer figuratively to specific items within each category. **Food** means anything to eat, but here it probably means one kind of food, grain, which the Israelites grew in their land and which they could transport relatively easily. **Drink** means anything to drink, but it probably means wine, and **oil** probably means olive oil, because these were both things that the Israelites also produced and could transport. Alternate translation: “and grain and wine and olive oil” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) EZR 3 7 zqr4 translate-names לַ⁠צִּֽדֹנִים֙ וְ⁠לַ⁠צֹּרִ֔ים 1 These are the names of two people groups. The terms describe the residents of the cities of Sidon and Tyre, which were located on the seacoast north of Israel. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 3 7 yj5k grammar-connect-logic-goal לְ⁠הָבִיא֩ 1 This phrase describes the purpose for which the Jewish leaders took the actions just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a term such as “so that” to indicate this. Alternate translation: “so that they would bring” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-goal]]) @@ -268,20 +268,20 @@ EZR 3 7 zvt6 figs-idiom מִן־הַ⁠לְּבָנוֹן֙ אֶל־יָ֣ם י EZR 3 7 gq2g translate-names הַ⁠לְּבָנוֹן֙ 1 **Lebanon** is the name of a place. It was a mountainous region located along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of Israel. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 3 7 kya8 translate-names יָפ֔וֹא 1 **Joppa** is the name of a city. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 3 7 ze22 figs-activepassive כְּ⁠רִשְׁי֛וֹן כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרַ֖ס עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 according to the permission they had from King Cyrus of Persia If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “for King Cyrus of Persia had authorized them to do this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EZR 3 7 tfm5 grammar-connect-logic-result כְּ⁠רִשְׁי֛וֹן כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרַ֖ס עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could put this sentence first in the verse since it gives the reason for the actions that the rest of the verse describes. You could also show the connection by beginning the next sentence with a phrase such as "and so." Alternate translation: “King Cyrus of Persia had authorized the Jewish leaders to get the materials they needed to rebuild the temple, and so” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) -EZR 3 8 ayx1 grammar-connect-time-sequential וּ⁠בַ⁠שָּׁנָ֣ה הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֗ית…בַּ⁠חֹ֖דֶשׁ הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֑י 1 The word **and** at the beginning of this phrase indicates that the events the story will now relate came after the events it has just described. Alternate translation: "In the second month of the second year" You could also indicate the specific amount of time that had passed since the time of the earlier events. Alternate translation: "Seven months later" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) +EZR 3 7 tfm5 grammar-connect-logic-result כְּ⁠רִשְׁי֛וֹן כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרַ֖ס עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could put this sentence first in the verse since it gives the reason for the actions that the rest of the verse describes. You could also show the connection by beginning the next sentence with a phrase such as “and so.” Alternate translation: “King Cyrus of Persia had authorized the Jewish leaders to get the materials they needed to rebuild the temple, and so” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) +EZR 3 8 ayx1 grammar-connect-time-sequential וּ⁠בַ⁠שָּׁנָ֣ה הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֗ית…בַּ⁠חֹ֖דֶשׁ הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֑י 1 The word **and** at the beginning of this phrase indicates that the events the story will now relate came after the events it has just described. Alternate translation: “In the second month of the second year” You could also indicate the specific amount of time that had passed since the time of the earlier events. Alternate translation: “Seven months later” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 3 8 ze5c writing-newevent וּ⁠בַ⁠שָּׁנָ֣ה 1 The word **and** introduces a new event in the story. You do not need to represent it in your translation unless your language has a similar expression that it characteristically uses. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EZR 3 8 e0js translate-ordinal וּ⁠בַ⁠שָּׁנָ֣ה הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֗ית…בַּ⁠חֹ֖דֶשׁ הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֑י 1 Alternate translation: “in month two of year two” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EZR 3 8 eh5s translate-hebrewmonths בַּ⁠חֹ֖דֶשׁ הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֑י 1 in the second month You could convert the Hebrew day and month into an approximate date on the calendar that your culture uses. However, the Jews used a lunar calendar, so if you use a solar calendar, the date will be different every year and the translation will not be entirely accurate. So you may just want to use the numbers of the Hebrew day and month. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]]) -EZR 3 8 rs79 figs-explicit וּ⁠בַ⁠שָּׁנָ֣ה הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֗ית לְ⁠בוֹאָ֞⁠ם אֶל־בֵּ֤ית הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ לִ⁠יר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם 1 At this time, there was no temple in Jerusalem. So this phrase likely means one of two things: (1) The book could be referring implicitly to the purpose for which they came. In that case, it would mean "In the second year after they returned to Jerusalem in order to build a new temple there." or (2) The book could also be describing the return to Judah generally by referring to one prominent place in Judah, the temple site in Jerusalem. In that case, it would mean "In the second year after they returned from exile to the province of Judah to resettle there." You could say either of those things as an alternate translation if that would be helpful to your readers. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EZR 3 8 rs79 figs-explicit וּ⁠בַ⁠שָּׁנָ֣ה הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֗ית לְ⁠בוֹאָ֞⁠ם אֶל־בֵּ֤ית הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ לִ⁠יר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם 1 At this time, there was no temple in Jerusalem. So this phrase likely means one of two things: (1) The book could be referring implicitly to the purpose for which they came. In that case, it would mean “In the second year after they returned to Jerusalem in order to build a new temple there.” or (2) The book could also be describing the return to Judah generally by referring to one prominent place in Judah, the temple site in Jerusalem. In that case, it would mean “In the second year after they returned from exile to the province of Judah to resettle there.” You could say either of those things as an alternate translation if that would be helpful to your readers. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 3 8 y8bn figs-metaphor בֵּ֤ית הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ 1 to the house of God Alternate translation: “the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 8 ckj4 figs-explicit בַּ⁠חֹ֖דֶשׁ הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֑י 1 in the second year The book does not say explicitly why the Jewish leaders started the actual construction of the new temple at this time. One possibility is that once they had ordered the necessary materials, as [3:7](../03/07.md) describes, it took seven months for enough materials to be delivered for construction to begin. Another possibility is that the leaders waited until spring because winter would have been a bad time to start building. Yet another possibility is that they wanted to lay the foundation of this new temple in the second month of the year for ceremonial reasons, because that was the month in which King Solomon had laid the foundation of the original temple. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say one of these things explicitly. Alternate translation: “in the second month, once they had received sufficient materials” or “in the second month, once the spring weather came” or “in the second month, the same month when King Solomon laid the foundation of the first temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 3 8 wwz8 translate-names זְרֻבָּבֶ֣ל בֶּן־שְׁ֠אַלְתִּיאֵל 1 **Zerubbabel** is the name of a man, and **Shealtiel** is the name of his father. See how you translated these names in [3:2](../03/02.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 3 8 fa38 translate-names וְ⁠יֵשׁ֨וּעַ בֶּן־יֽוֹצָדָ֜ק 1 Jeshua…Jozadak **Jeshua** is the name of a man, and **Jozadak** is the name of his father. See how you translated these names in [3:2](../03/02.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 3 8 bzi5 figs-metaphor וּ⁠שְׁאָ֥ר אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֣ם ׀ הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֗ם 1 Here, **brothers** seems to be a figurative way of saying fellow leaders, since the priests and Levites were also leaders in the community like Zerubbabel, the governor, and Jeshua, the high priest. Alternate translation: “and their fellow leaders, the priests and Levites” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 8 hy61 figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠כָל־הַ⁠בָּאִים֙ מֵ⁠הַ⁠שְּׁבִ֣י 1 The abstract noun **captivity** refers to the way the Babylonians had transported many of the Jews away from their homeland when they conquered Jerusalem. (These included many of the parents or grandparents of the people here, but also some of these people themselves, as [3:12](../03/12.md) indicates.) If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “and the rest of the people who had returned to Jerusalem from where their enemies had taken them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) -EZR 3 8 uyam figs-ellipsis הֵחֵ֡לּוּ 1 Here the book leaves out some of the words that a sentence would ordinarily need in order to be complete. This most likely means "began to build a new temple." You could say that as an alternate translation if it would be helpful to your readers. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) -EZR 3 8 tliz grammar-connect-logic-goal וַ⁠יַּעֲמִ֣ידוּ 1 This phrase describes the purpose for which the Jewish leaders took the actions that the rest of the verse describes. If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a term such as "so" to indicate this. Alternate translation: “so they appointed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-goal]]) +EZR 3 8 uyam figs-ellipsis הֵחֵ֡לּוּ 1 Here the book leaves out some of the words that a sentence would ordinarily need in order to be complete. This most likely means “began to build a new temple.” You could say that as an alternate translation if it would be helpful to your readers. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) +EZR 3 8 tliz grammar-connect-logic-goal וַ⁠יַּעֲמִ֣ידוּ 1 This phrase describes the purpose for which the Jewish leaders took the actions that the rest of the verse describes. If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a term such as “so” to indicate this. Alternate translation: “so they appointed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-goal]]) EZR 3 8 hf5n figs-idiom אֶת־הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֗ם מִ⁠בֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָ⁠מַ֔עְלָ⁠ה 1 from twenty years old Here, **son of 20 years and above** is an idiom that indicates a person’s age. Alternate translation: “the Levites who were at least 20 years old” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 3 8 vyhg figs-ellipsis לְ⁠נַצֵּ֖חַ עַל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־יְהוָֽה 1 In this context, **the work of the house** is an abbreviated way of referring to the project of constructing a new temple. Alternate translation: “to supervise the construction of a new temple for Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 3 8 jfho בֵּית־יְהוָֽה 1 See how you translated this expression in [1:3](../01/03.md). Alternate translation: “a new temple for Yahweh” @@ -292,13 +292,13 @@ EZR 3 9 r3rx translate-names קַדְמִיאֵ֨ל 1 Kadmiel **Kadmiel** is is EZR 3 9 sc2u וּ⁠בָנָ֤י⁠ו 1 Here as well, the term **sons** does not seem to be figurative. Rather, it describes the biological sons of Kadmiel as people who helped supervise the temple construction. EZR 3 9 w4q7 figs-metaphor בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָה֙ 1 But here, **sons** does figuratively mean descendants. As [2:40](../02/40.md) explains, Jeshua and Kadmiel were the leaders of two Levite clans that were both descended from a man named Hodaviah. Alternate translation: “who were all descendants of Hodaviah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 9 mrij translate-names יְהוּדָה֙ 1 **Judah** is the name of a man. See how you translated it in [2:40](../02/40.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 3 9 xr9e figs-metaphor וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֣ד…כְּ⁠אֶחָ֔ד לְ⁠נַצֵּ֛חַ עַל־עֹשֵׂ֥ה הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֖ה 1 As in [2:63](../02/63.md), **stood** is a figurative way of saying that a person assumed
the duties of their office. Alternate translation: "joined together to supervise the workers” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 3 9 xr9e figs-metaphor וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֣ד…כְּ⁠אֶחָ֔ד לְ⁠נַצֵּ֛חַ עַל־עֹשֵׂ֥ה הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֖ה 1 As in [2:63](../02/63.md), **stood** is a figurative way of saying that a person assumed
the duties of their office. Alternate translation: “joined together to supervise the workers” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 9 myu1 figs-idiom כְּ⁠אֶחָ֔ד 1 **As one** is an idiom that means these men all behaved as if they were a single person, that is, they all did the same thing, they worked unitedly towards a common goal. Alternate translation: “together” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 3 9 mgw2 הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֖ה בְּ⁠בֵ֣ית הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֑ים 1 As in [2:69](../02/69.md) and [3:8](../03/08.md), **the work** means the project of rebuilding the temple. Alternate translation: “the workers who were rebuilding the temple” EZR 3 9 ihtd figs-explicit בְּנֵי֙ חֵֽנָדָ֔ד בְּנֵי⁠הֶ֥ם וַ⁠אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֖ם הַ⁠לְוִיִּֽם 1 The relationship of this list of names to the rest of the verse is not entirely clear. (1) One possibility is that it is a list of the people who did the actual construction work on the new temple under the supervision of Jeshua, Kadmiel, and their relatives. (2) Another possibility is that the people listed here helped Jeshua, Kadmiel, and their relatives supervise other people who did the construction work. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say one of those things explicitly. Alternate translations: (1) “those workers were the sons and grandsons of a man named Henadad and all the other Levites” or, (2) “the sons and grandsons of a man named Henadad and all the other Levites helped them supervise the workers” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 3 9 q6vn figs-metaphor בְּנֵי֙ חֵֽנָדָ֔ד בְּנֵי⁠הֶ֥ם וַ⁠אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֖ם הַ⁠לְוִיִּֽם 1 (1) **Their** could refer to Jeshua and Kadmiel, in which case **their brothers the Levites** would be a figurative way of saying "their fellow Levites," as opposed to the biological brothers mentioned earlier in the verse. The phrase would refer to all the other Levites who had returned from exile. (2) However, **their** could also refer to the sons of Henadad. It would still mean "fellow Levites," and it would indicate that those men were Levites themselves. Alternate translations: (1) “the sons and grandsons of a man named Henadad and all the other Levites who had returned from exile” or (2) “the sons and grandsons of a man named Henadad and the others who were Levites as they were” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 3 9 q6vn figs-metaphor בְּנֵי֙ חֵֽנָדָ֔ד בְּנֵי⁠הֶ֥ם וַ⁠אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֖ם הַ⁠לְוִיִּֽם 1 (1) **Their** could refer to Jeshua and Kadmiel, in which case **their brothers the Levites** would be a figurative way of saying “their fellow Levites,” as opposed to the biological brothers mentioned earlier in the verse. The phrase would refer to all the other Levites who had returned from exile. (2) However, **their** could also refer to the sons of Henadad. It would still mean “fellow Levites,” and it would indicate that those men were Levites themselves. Alternate translations: (1) “the sons and grandsons of a man named Henadad and all the other Levites who had returned from exile” or (2) “the sons and grandsons of a man named Henadad and the others who were Levites as they were” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 9 nyal translate-names בְּנֵי֙ חֵֽנָדָ֔ד בְּנֵי⁠הֶ֥ם 1 The **sons of Henadad** seems to mean the actual sons of a man named Henadad. **Their sons** seems to mean the actual sons of those men. The book does not mention Henadad anywhere else and it does not provide any further information about him, so it would probably be best simply to state his name. Alternate translation: “the sons and grandsons of a man named Henadad” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 3 10 zkmw grammar-connect-time-sequential וְ⁠יִסְּד֥וּ הַ⁠בֹּנִ֖ים אֶת־הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה 1 The word **and** at the beginning of this sentence indicates that it will describe something that took place after the event the story has just related. (Specifically, now that all the necessary supervisors were in place, the construction work could begin.) If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as "then." Alternate translation: “Then the builders laid the foundation of the new temple for Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) +EZR 3 10 zkmw grammar-connect-time-sequential וְ⁠יִסְּד֥וּ הַ⁠בֹּנִ֖ים אֶת־הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה 1 The word **and** at the beginning of this sentence indicates that it will describe something that took place after the event the story has just related. (Specifically, now that all the necessary supervisors were in place, the construction work could begin.) If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as “then.” Alternate translation: “Then the builders laid the foundation of the new temple for Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 3 10 w1j9 figs-explicit וְ⁠יִסְּד֥וּ…אֶת־הֵיכַ֣ל 1 laid the foundation This likely means that the workers had done more than set stone blocks in place to support the temple walls. They had probably set the entire temple floor in stone. This would have allowed many of the people who had come for this celebration to stand within the site of the future temple. It would also have enabled the priests to wear their special garments and keep them clean. Alternate translation: “And … set the temple floor in stone” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 3 10 y39g figs-metaphor וַ⁠יַּעֲמִידוּ֩ הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֨ים מְלֻבָּשִׁ֜ים בַּ⁠חֲצֹֽצְר֗וֹת 1 As in [2:63](../02/63.md) and [3:9](../03/09.md), **stand** is a figurative way of saying that a person assumes the duties of their office. Alternate translation: “And they had the priests, wearing their sacred garments, come to the temple site and play their trumpets” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 10 kh7e figs-activepassive מְלֻבָּשִׁ֜ים 1 in their garments If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind this passive verb form with a phrase that uses an active form. Alternate translation: “wearing their sacred garments” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) @@ -306,19 +306,19 @@ EZR 3 10 dhpq figs-explicit וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־א EZR 3 10 i9ce figs-metaphor וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־אָסָף֙ 1 Here, **sons** figuratively means descendants. Alternate translation: “the Levites who were descendants of Asaph” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 10 fvas translate-names אָסָף֙ 1 **Asaph** is a man’s name. See how you translated it in [2:41](../02/41.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 3 10 v35v translate-unknown בַּֽ⁠מְצִלְתַּ֔יִם 1 with cymbals **Cymbals** are two thin, round metal plates that are hit together to make a loud sound. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) -EZR 3 10 wpry grammar-connect-logic-result לְ⁠הַלֵּל֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה עַל־יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 You could place this phrase before the one that describes how the priests and Levites were positioned, since it explains why the leaders put them in those positions. You could then show the connection by using a word like "so" to introduce the information about the priests and Levites. Alternate translation: “To celebrate this occasion, the leaders wanted to worship Yahweh in the way that King David of Israel had commanded, so" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) +EZR 3 10 wpry grammar-connect-logic-result לְ⁠הַלֵּל֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה עַל־יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 You could place this phrase before the one that describes how the priests and Levites were positioned, since it explains why the leaders put them in those positions. You could then show the connection by using a word like “so” to introduce the information about the priests and Levites. Alternate translation: “To celebrate this occasion, the leaders wanted to worship Yahweh in the way that King David of Israel had commanded, so” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 3 10 t64z figs-metonymy יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד 1 the hands of David Here, the phrase **the hands of David, the king** is used figuratively to represent his authority to give commands. Alternate translation: “as David had commanded” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 3 10 zb0l figs-informremind דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 Here the book provides some background information to describe more fully who David was. Alternate translation: “King David of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) EZR 3 11 ajjk grammar-connect-time-sequential וַֽ֠⁠יַּעֲנוּ 1 The word **then** indicates that the sentence it introduces it will describe something that took place after the event the story has just related. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “once all the musicians were in place” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 3 11 bw1v וַֽ֠⁠יַּעֲנוּ 1 **They** means the Levite singers. **In response** means that first one group of them sang something, and then a second group of them sang something in reply, possibly playing instruments as well. The groups likely did this repeatedly over the course of a given song. Alternate translations: “Then the Levites sang responsively” or “Then the Levites sang antiphonally” EZR 3 11 hgd5 figs-quotemarks כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב כִּֽי־לְ⁠עוֹלָ֥ם חַסְדּ֖⁠וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל 1 giving thanks These are at least some of the words that the Levites sang on this occasion. Based on their other occurrences in the Bible, they may be the words to a refrain that the second group sang in response to verses that the first group sang. Or they may be the entire lyrics to a song that was sung for this celebration. Either way, it may be helpful to your readers to indicate that they are the words of the singers by setting off them with quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) -EZR 3 11 ut4a figs-abstractnouns כִּֽי־לְ⁠עוֹלָ֥ם חַסְדּ֖⁠וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל 1 His covenant faithfulness to Israel is forever The abstract noun **faithfulness** describes the quality of a person who will dependably keep their word and fulfill their responsibilities. **Covenant faithfulness** refers specifically to Yahweh keeping all of the promises he made to the people of Israel. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with an expression such as "keep promises." Alternate translation: “and Yahweh always keeps the promises he made to Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EZR 3 11 ut4a figs-abstractnouns כִּֽי־לְ⁠עוֹלָ֥ם חַסְדּ֖⁠וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל 1 His covenant faithfulness to Israel is forever The abstract noun **faithfulness** describes the quality of a person who will dependably keep their word and fulfill their responsibilities. **Covenant faithfulness** refers specifically to Yahweh keeping all of the promises he made to the people of Israel. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with an expression such as “keep promises.” Alternate translation: “and Yahweh always keeps the promises he made to Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 3 11 uqct figs-activepassive עַ֖ל הוּסַ֥ד בֵּית־יְהוָֽה 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translations: “because the builders had laid the foundation of Yahweh’s temple” or “because the builders had set the temple floor in stone” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EZR 3 12 h0i1 grammar-connect-logic-contrast וְ⁠רַבִּ֡ים 1 The word **but** indicates that the sentence it introduces will draw a contrast. That contrast is specifically between the joyful way readers would expect all the Israelites to have responded on this occasion and the sorrowful way that some of them responded. You could use a word such as "however" to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) -EZR 3 12 cq1v figs-ellipsis וְ⁠רָאשֵׁ֨י הָ⁠אָב֜וֹת 1 As in [1:5](../01/05.md), this is an abbreviated way of saying "the heads of the father's houses." Review the explanatory note to this phrase in [1:5](../01/05.md) if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “the clan leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) +EZR 3 12 h0i1 grammar-connect-logic-contrast וְ⁠רַבִּ֡ים 1 The word **but** indicates that the sentence it introduces will draw a contrast. That contrast is specifically between the joyful way readers would expect all the Israelites to have responded on this occasion and the sorrowful way that some of them responded. You could use a word such as “however” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) +EZR 3 12 cq1v figs-ellipsis וְ⁠רָאשֵׁ֨י הָ⁠אָב֜וֹת 1 As in [1:5](../01/05.md), this is an abbreviated way of saying “the heads of the father's houses.” Review the explanatory note to this phrase in [1:5](../01/05.md) if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “the clan leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 3 12 d6gu writing-background הַ⁠זְּקֵנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר רָא֜וּ אֶת־הַ⁠בַּ֤יִת 1 This phrase provides background information to identify these specific priests, Levites, and clan leaders further. Alternate translation: “who were old enough to have seen the first temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) EZR 3 12 wzqy figs-explicit בֹּכִ֖ים בְּ⁠ק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל 1 The book does not say specifically why these older leaders who had seen the first temple were weeping. One possibility is that they felt grief and loss because they remembered the first temple in all of its glory and they could not imagine that this replacement would ever be as splendid. Another possibility is that seeing the community begin to restore its temple brought back memories of the terrible days in which the original temple had been destroyed and the people had had to leave their homes and go into exile. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say one of these things explicitly. Alternate translations: “wept loudly because they thought this new temple could never be as glorious as the first one” or “wept loudly because they remembered how the first temple had been destroyed” or just “wept loudly, remembering the past” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 3 12 yarf figs-metonymy בְּ⁠יָסְד֔⁠וֹ זֶ֤ה הַ⁠בַּ֨יִת֙ בְּ⁠עֵ֣ינֵי⁠הֶ֔ם 1 As in [3:6](../03/06.md), **founding** means to begin construction on a building. It is a reference to the first step, laying a foundation, though it may mean starting the project generally. **Eyes** figuratively represent sight. So this phrase means "when construction began on the temple in their sight." Alternate translation: “when they saw the foundation the builders laid for this temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) +EZR 3 12 yarf figs-metonymy בְּ⁠יָסְד֔⁠וֹ זֶ֤ה הַ⁠בַּ֨יִת֙ בְּ⁠עֵ֣ינֵי⁠הֶ֔ם 1 As in [3:6](../03/06.md), **founding** means to begin construction on a building. It is a reference to the first step, laying a foundation, though it may mean starting the project generally. **Eyes** figuratively represent sight. So this phrase means “when construction began on the temple in their sight.” Alternate translation: “when they saw the foundation the builders laid for this temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 3 12 xj13 figs-metaphor אֶת־הַ⁠בַּ֤יִת הָֽ⁠רִאשׁוֹן֙…זֶ֤ה הַ⁠בַּ֨יִת֙ 1 first house As often in this book, **house** is a metaphor for **temple**. Alternate translation: “the first temple … this temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 3 12 rmy5 grammar-connect-logic-contrast וְ⁠רַבִּ֛ים 1 before their eyes The word **yet** indicates a contrast between what the people just described were doing and what the people who will be described next were doing. Alternate translation: “but many others” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) EZR 3 12 d9tw figs-idiom וְ⁠רַבִּ֛ים בִּ⁠תְרוּעָ֥ה בְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֖ה לְ⁠הָרִ֥ים קֽוֹל 1 wept with a loud voice To be **lifting up a voice** is an idiom that means to be speaking, shouting, or singing loudly. Alternate translation: “many others were giving loud, happy shouts.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) @@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ EZR 3 13 isem grammar-connect-logic-result וְ⁠אֵ֣ין 1 The word **so** EZR 3 13 fpsh grammar-connect-logic-result וְ⁠אֵ֣ין הָ⁠עָ֗ם מַכִּירִים֙ ק֚וֹל תְּרוּעַ֣ת הַ⁠שִּׂמְחָ֔ה לְ⁠ק֖וֹל בְּכִ֣י הָ⁠עָ֑ם כִּ֣י הָ⁠עָ֗ם מְרִיעִים֙ תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the action that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Because the people who were happy were shouting so loudly, no one could distinguish their cries from the sounds of weeping of other people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 3 13 u6pc figs-explicit וְ⁠אֵ֣ין הָ⁠עָ֗ם מַכִּירִים֙ ק֚וֹל תְּרוּעַ֣ת הַ⁠שִּׂמְחָ֔ה לְ⁠ק֖וֹל בְּכִ֣י הָ⁠עָ֑ם כִּ֣י הָ⁠עָ֗ם מְרִיעִים֙ תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה 1 In its first occurrence here, the phrase **the people** means all the Israelites who had gathered for this ceremony. In its second occurrence, the phrase refers to one group of them, the older leaders who had seen the first temple and were weeping. In its third occurrence, it refers to another group of them, the younger Israelites who were shouting for joy. Alternate translation: “Because the people who were happy were shouting so loudly, no one at the ceremony could distinguish their cries from the sounds of people weeping” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 3 13 rvdj figs-activepassive וְ⁠הַ⁠קּ֥וֹל נִשְׁמַ֖ע עַד־לְ⁠מֵ⁠רָחֽוֹק 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “the combined sound was so loud that those who lived far away from Jerusalem could hear it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EZR 4 intro x878 0 # Ezra 04 General Notes
## Structure and formatting

The story of the building of the temple and re-establishment of the temple worship continues in this chapter. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/temple]])

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Helping to build the temple
The people of the surrounding nations offered to help to build the temple. It is unknown why the Jews refused their help. These other people became their enemies and tried to hinder the work. They even persuaded the king of Persia to stop the Jews from building. +EZR 4 intro x878 0 # Ezra 04 General Notes

## Structure and formatting

The story of the building of the temple and re-establishment of the temple worship continues in this chapter. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/temple]])

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Helping to build the temple

The people of the surrounding nations offered to help to build the temple. It is unknown why the Jews refused their help. These other people became their enemies and tried to hinder the work. They even persuaded the king of Persia to stop the Jews from building. EZR 4 1 v368 writing-background וַֽ⁠יִּשְׁמְע֔וּ 1 General Information: The word **Now** indicates that the sentence it introduces will provide background information that will be needed to understand what the book describes next. You can translate it with the word or phrase in your language that is most similar in meaning and significance. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) EZR 4 1 miqb figs-personification יְהוּדָ֖ה וּ⁠בִנְיָמִ֑ן 1 Here the book is referring figuratively to the people who came from the tribe of Judah as if they were a single person, their ancestor Judah. It is referring similarly to the people of the tribe of Benjamin as if they were a single person, their ancestor Benjamin. Alternate translation: “the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin” or see the next note for a further possibility. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]) EZR 4 1 i4dx figs-hendiadys יְהוּדָ֖ה וּ⁠בִנְיָמִ֑ן 1 Here the book may be expressing a single idea figuratively by using two words connected with **and**. Together, the two words may be a way of referring to all of the Israelites, since at this point the community consisted essentially of people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Alternate translation: “the Israelites” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) @@ -342,16 +342,16 @@ EZR 4 2 yrms figs-idiom נִדְר֖וֹשׁ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהֵי⁠כֶ֑ם 1 EZR 4 2 ffnu figs-idiom מִ⁠ימֵי֙ אֵסַ֤ר חַדֹּן֙ 1 The term **days** is used figuratively here to refer a particular period of time. Alternate translation: “since the time of Esarhaddon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 2 yx1s translate-names אֵסַ֤ר חַדֹּן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר 1 Esarhaddon, king of Assyria **Esarhaddon** is the name of a man, and **Assyria** is the name of his kingdom. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 4 2 to8y figs-idiom הַ⁠מַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖⁠נוּ פֹּֽה 1 These men say that Esarhaddon brought them **up** to this land because it is mountainous and, as [4:9](../04/09.md) indicates, their ancestors formerly lived in lowland areas. Alternate translation: “the one who brought us here” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 4 3 gkli grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠יֹּאמֶר֩ 1 The word **but** indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between what the men asked and what the Jewish leaders were prepared to allow. You could begin the sentence with a word like "however" or "nevertheless" to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) +EZR 4 3 gkli grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠יֹּאמֶר֩ 1 The word **but** indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between what the men asked and what the Jewish leaders were prepared to allow. You could begin the sentence with a word like “however” or “nevertheless” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) EZR 4 3 xp3f translate-names זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְ⁠יֵשׁ֗וּעַ 1 Jeshua These are the names of two men. See how you translated them in [2:2](../02/02.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 4 3 hbhq figs-ellipsis רָאשֵׁ֤י הָֽ⁠אָבוֹת֙ 1 This is an abbreviated way of saying **the heads of** father’s houses. Alternate translation: “the clan leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 4 3 cuza רָאשֵׁ֤י הָֽ⁠אָבוֹת֙ 1 See how you translated this expression in [1:5](../01/05.md). Review the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “the clan leaders” -EZR 4 3 isv8 figs-idiom לֹֽא־לָ֣⁠כֶם וָ⁠לָ֔⁠נוּ 1 You may not build a house for our God with us This expression is an idiom that means "it is for us alone." Alternate translation: “You may not help us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 4 3 isv8 figs-idiom לֹֽא־לָ֣⁠כֶם וָ⁠לָ֔⁠נוּ 1 You may not build a house for our God with us This expression is an idiom that means “it is for us alone.” Alternate translation: “You may not help us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 3 bl6x figs-metaphor בַּ֖יִת לֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 Alternate translation: “a temple for our God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 4 3 jpin grammar-connect-logic-contrast כִּי֩ 1 The word **but** indicates that the clause it introduces draws a contrast between what the men asked and what the Jewish leaders were prepared to allow. To indicate this contrast, you could begin the sentence with a word or phrase such as "no," "rather," or "on the contrary." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) +EZR 4 3 jpin grammar-connect-logic-contrast כִּי֩ 1 The word **but** indicates that the clause it introduces draws a contrast between what the men asked and what the Jewish leaders were prepared to allow. To indicate this contrast, you could begin the sentence with a word or phrase such as “no,” “rather,” or “on the contrary.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) EZR 4 3 jkgy figs-exclusive אֲנַ֨חְנוּ יַ֜חַד נִבְנֶ֗ה לַֽ⁠יהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל 1 **We ourselves** here does not include the addressees. If your language marks that distinction, be sure that this is clear in your translation. **Together** does not mean the Jewish people and these foreign peoples together. It means the whole Jewish community together. Alternate translation: “it is all of us Israelites who will build a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]]) EZR 4 3 vez9 figs-informremind אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל 1 See the note to [4:1](../04/01.md) about the significance of this phrase. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) -EZR 4 3 kqpr figs-explicit כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔⁠נוּ הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס 1 It is implicit in the story that the Jewish leaders know that they cannot trust these foreign leaders, whom the story describes as their enemies. The Jewish leaders suggest indirectly that they do not accept their claim to be devotees of Yahweh. They say, "It is not for you … to build a house for our God," and they describe Yahweh as the God of Israel exclusively. But apparently they cannot contradict the claim directly, perhaps for reasons of etiquette and diplomacy. Instead, it seems that they find convenient grounds to exclude foreigners from the temple project in the literal wording of the proclamation that Cyrus issued: "Whoever among you is from all his people …may he build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel." It may be possible in your translation to translate this phrase in such a way that your readers will implicitly recognize it as the convenient excuse it apparently is. Alternate translation: “for that is what King Cyrus of Persia commanded” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EZR 4 3 kqpr figs-explicit כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔⁠נוּ הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס 1 It is implicit in the story that the Jewish leaders know that they cannot trust these foreign leaders, whom the story describes as their enemies. The Jewish leaders suggest indirectly that they do not accept their claim to be devotees of Yahweh. They say, “It is not for you … to build a house for our God,” and they describe Yahweh as the God of Israel exclusively. But apparently they cannot contradict the claim directly, perhaps for reasons of etiquette and diplomacy. Instead, it seems that they find convenient grounds to exclude foreigners from the temple project in the literal wording of the proclamation that Cyrus issued: “Whoever among you is from all his people …may he build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel.” It may be possible in your translation to translate this phrase in such a way that your readers will implicitly recognize it as the convenient excuse it apparently is. Alternate translation: “for that is what King Cyrus of Persia commanded” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 4 4 j0ej writing-newevent וַ⁠יְהִי֙ 1 The phrase **and it happened that** introduces a new event in the story. You do not need to represent it in your translation unless your language has a similar expression that it characteristically uses. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EZR 4 4 d9da figs-idiom עַם־הָ⁠אָ֔רֶץ 1 the people of the land This expression refers to the non-Israelite people groups, listed in [4:9](../04/09.md), whom the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal had brought to live in the area just north of Judah in the century before the Jews were taken away into exile themselves. When the Jews returned to their homeland, those foreign groups were still living nearby. Alternate translation: “the foreign people groups living nearby” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 4 n1m9 figs-parallelism וַ⁠יְהִי֙…מְרַפִּ֖ים יְדֵ֣י עַם־יְהוּדָ֑ה וּֽמְבַהֲלִ֥ים אוֹתָ֖⁠ם לִ⁠בְנֽוֹת 1 made the hands of the people of Judah weak These two phrases mean similar things. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine them. Alternate translation: “making the people of Judah so intimidated that they stopped working on the temple” However, there is a slight distinction between the phrases. The first one describes how the people felt inwardly, and the second one explains what effect this had on their outward actions. So you could also translate the phrases separately. Alternate translation: “were intimidating the people of Judah so that they were afraid to keep working on the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) @@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ EZR 4 6 z7sk figs-abstractnouns כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה 1 The abs EZR 4 6 o4k9 figs-metonymy כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה 1 The noun **accusation** might be referring figuratively to the actual letter itself by substituting a description of the content of the letter. If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a concrete term that explains the meaning of the figurative expression. Alternate translation: “they wrote a letter of complaint” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 4 6 kzu9 יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָֽם 1 In this context, this expression does not mean all the inhabitants of the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem, whatever their nationality, but rather the Jews who returned from exile and settled in those places. Alternate translation: “the Jews who had returned from exile and settled in Judah and Jerusalem” EZR 4 7 995w writing-newevent וּ⁠בִ⁠ימֵ֣י 1 The word **and** introduces a new event in the story. You do not need to represent it in your translation unless your language has a similar expression that it characteristically uses. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) -EZR 4 7 mmwa grammar-connect-time-sequential וּ⁠בִ⁠ימֵ֣י 1 This phrase indicates that the events the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as "then." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) +EZR 4 7 mmwa grammar-connect-time-sequential וּ⁠בִ⁠ימֵ֣י 1 This phrase indicates that the events the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as “then.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 4 7 qdrm figs-idiom וּ⁠בִ⁠ימֵ֣י אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא 1 The term **days** is used figuratively here to refers to a particular period of time. In this context, it means during the reign of the next Persian king, Artaxerxes, the son of Ahasuerus (Xerxes). Alternate translation: “during the reign of Artaxerxes” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 7 r5xb figs-explicit וּ⁠בִ⁠ימֵ֣י אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא 1 If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain that Artaxerxes was the next king of Persia. Alternate translation: “during the reign of the next Persian king, Artaxerxes” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 4 7 xw38 translate-names אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא 1 **Artaxerxes** is the name of a man. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) @@ -403,33 +403,33 @@ EZR 4 11 v61f translate-names אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא 1 **Arta EZR 4 11 n6mp figs-123person עַבְדָ֛י⁠ךְ אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖⁠ה 1 the Province Beyond the River Here the officials identify themselves as the senders of this letter, and they refer to themselves in the third person as **your servants** in order to address the king as their superior with humility and respect. Alternate translation: “from your officials in the province of Beyond-the-River” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 4 11 uupo figs-idiom עַבְדָ֛י⁠ךְ אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖⁠ה 1 In this context, **men** means people, so this phrase means people who live in Beyond-the-River province. But together with the preceding phrase, **your servants**, it means specifically those who work for the king there, that is, his royal officials. Alternate translation: “your officials in the province of Beyond-the-River” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 11 a2bi grammar-connect-words-phrases וּ⁠כְעֶֽנֶת 1 As in [4:10](../04/10.md), **and now** is an Aramaic expression that introduces the main business of a letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this expression. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) -EZR 4 12 bqu1 figs-123person יְדִ֨יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 These officials address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “we would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EZR 4 12 bqu1 figs-123person יְדִ֨יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 These officials address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as “O king.” Alternate translation: “we would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 4 12 u168 figs-activepassive יְדִ֨יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who is doing the action. Alternate translation: “we would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EZR 4 12 alqa figs-idiom יְהוּדָיֵ֗⁠א דִּ֤י סְלִ֨קוּ֙ מִן־לְוָתָ֔⁠ךְ 1 Here, as in several instances earlier in the book, **went up** means "traveled from Babylon to Judah," since that involves going from a river valley up into the mountains. The officials describe Babylon to the king as **near you** because it was relatively much closer to the Persian royal court and more distant from Samaria. Alternate translation: “the Jews who returned to Judah from Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 4 12 alqa figs-idiom יְהוּדָיֵ֗⁠א דִּ֤י סְלִ֨קוּ֙ מִן־לְוָתָ֔⁠ךְ 1 Here, as in several instances earlier in the book, **went up** means “traveled from Babylon to Judah,” since that involves going from a river valley up into the mountains. The officials describe Babylon to the king as **near you** because it was relatively much closer to the Persian royal court and more distant from Samaria. Alternate translation: “the Jews who returned to Judah from Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 12 ns5b עֲלֶ֥י⁠נָא אֲת֖וֹ לִ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם 1 Alternate translation: “have settled near us in Jerusalem” EZR 4 12 fu8s figs-metonymy קִרְיְתָ֨⁠א מָֽרָדְתָּ֤⁠א ו⁠באישת⁠א 1 the rebellious and evil city Here the officials are describing the inhabitants of Jerusalem figuratively by reference to something associated with them, the **city** where they live. The officials are not saying that the walls and buildings would be rebellious if they were rebuilt. Rather, they are saying that the people who have lived in this city have continually revolted against their foreign rulers. Alternate translation: “that city whose people are constantly rebelling” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 4 12 kke9 figs-doublet מָֽרָדְתָּ֤⁠א ו⁠באישת⁠א 1 **Rebellious and evil** mean similar things. The officials use them together to emphasize their certainty that, because the people of Jerusalem are so evil or wicked (in this context meaning rebellious against authority), they would revolt against Artaxerxes if they were able to rebuild and fortify their city. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these words into a single expression. Alternate translation: “constantly rebelling” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) -EZR 4 12 jr26 figs-parallelism וְשׁוּרַיָּ֣א שַׁכְלִ֔ילוּ וְ⁠אֻשַּׁיָּ֖⁠א יַחִֽיטוּ 1 repairing the foundations Here, **completing** is a way of saying "building." Several times in this section of Ezra, the text uses the two words **repairing** and **completing** together to mean that one thing, or it uses them as poetic parallels. (For example, "which a great king of Israel built and completed," [5:11](../05/11.md), and "to build this house and to complete this structure," [5:3](../05/03.md).) The term **completing** by itself here seems similarly to have the meaning of build. **Repairing** could also mean digging out. Either way, this is a reference to preparing foundations so that buildings can be set up on them. So the officials are describing the project of restoring the city by referring to the work on two parallel parts of it, its walls and its buildings. If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this without using a similar figure of speech. Alternate translations: “they are working throughout the city to restore it” or “they are rebuilding the walls and preparing foundations for buildings” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EZR 4 13 daq3 כְּעַ֗ן 1 The word **now** is similar to the expression "and now" in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md). Here, **now** introduces an important point within the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. -EZR 4 13 vkk4 figs-123person יְדִ֨יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 As in [4:12](../04/12.md), the officials address the king here in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “we would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EZR 4 12 jr26 figs-parallelism וְשׁוּרַיָּ֣א שַׁכְלִ֔ילוּ וְ⁠אֻשַּׁיָּ֖⁠א יַחִֽיטוּ 1 repairing the foundations Here, **completing** is a way of saying “building.” Several times in this section of Ezra, the text uses the two words **repairing** and **completing** together to mean that one thing, or it uses them as poetic parallels. (For example, “which a great king of Israel built and completed,” [5:11](../05/11.md), and “to build this house and to complete this structure,” [5:3](../05/03.md).) The term **completing** by itself here seems similarly to have the meaning of build. **Repairing** could also mean digging out. Either way, this is a reference to preparing foundations so that buildings can be set up on them. So the officials are describing the project of restoring the city by referring to the work on two parallel parts of it, its walls and its buildings. If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this without using a similar figure of speech. Alternate translations: “they are working throughout the city to restore it” or “they are rebuilding the walls and preparing foundations for buildings” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) +EZR 4 13 daq3 כְּעַ֗ן 1 The word **now** is similar to the expression “and now” in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md). Here, **now** introduces an important point within the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. +EZR 4 13 vkk4 figs-123person יְדִ֨יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 As in [4:12](../04/12.md), the officials address the king here in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as “O king.” Alternate translation: “we would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 4 13 cd84 figs-activepassive יְדִ֨יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who is doing the action. Alternate translation: “we would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 4 13 wj7f figs-parallelism הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥⁠א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְ⁠שׁוּרַיָּ֖⁠ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן 1 These two phrases mean similar things. (As noted in [4:12](../04/12.md), **completed** is another way of saying **built** when the terms are paired like this.) Likely for emphasis, the officials say essentially the same thing twice to create an ominous sense of threat. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “if they are able to rebuild that city” However, there is a slight difference in meaning, and you could also choose to bring that out in your translation. The second phrase is actually stronger and more threatening, because the city walls could prevent Artaxerxes from reasserting his sovereignty by force. Alternate translation: “if they rebuild the city, and especially if they restore its protective walls” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EZR 4 13 wj57 figs-activepassive הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥⁠א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְ⁠שׁוּרַיָּ֖⁠ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן 1 if this city is built and the wall is completed If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “if the Jews are able to rebuild the city and restore its walls” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 4 13 x47o figs-doublet מִנְדָּֽה־בְל֤וֹ וַ⁠הֲלָךְ֙ לָ֣א יִנְתְּנ֔וּן 1 **Tax**, **tribute**, and **custom** mean similar things. The officials use the three terms together to emphasize that the king could lose all of his income from the Jews living in Jerusalem and the province of Judah. You do not need to represent all three words in your translation if that would might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation, as in UST: “they will stop paying any taxes” However, there is a slight difference between the three terms. While their exact meaning is uncertain, they may refer to things such as taxes based on a percentage of income, tribute money that subjects would pay on a per-person basis, and duty that they would pay on articles purchased for use or transported for sale. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could also translate these terms separately. Alternate translation: “they will no longer pay taxes, tribute, or duty.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]. A doublet can involve the use of more than two words.) EZR 4 13 pgs2 figs-explicit וְ⁠אַפְּתֹ֥ם מַלְכִ֖ים תְּהַנְזִֽק 1 the treasury of the king will suffer loss The officials are writing to a king who is the sole ruler of his empire, but they may be using the plural **kings** here because previous kings had accumulated much of the royal treasures. The officials may also be suggesting implicitly that not only Artaxerxes, but also his successors, will get no further revenue from the Jews if Jerusalem is rebuilt and fortified. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “this will reduce the income of kings” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 4 14 ye9h grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַ֗ן 1 As in [4:13](../04/13.md), the word **now** is similar to the expression "and now" found in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md). Here it introduces another important point within the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) +EZR 4 14 ye9h grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַ֗ן 1 As in [4:13](../04/13.md), the word **now** is similar to the expression “and now” found in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md). Here it introduces another important point within the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) EZR 4 14 m7yw figs-idiom מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָ⁠א֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא 1 we have eaten the salt of the palace This expression means that these officials are paid from the royal treasury. Alternate translation: “we are paid from the royal treasury” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 14 y5g9 figs-explicit דִּֽי־מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָ⁠א֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא 1 The implication is that, because these officials are paid from the royal treasury, they feel a loyalty and a sense of obligation to the king. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “because we are paid from the royal treasury” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 4 14 uggy figs-123person עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה שְׁלַ֖חְנָא וְ⁠הוֹדַ֥עְנָא לְ⁠מַלְכָּֽ⁠א 1 The officials continue to address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “and that is why we have written to you, O king, to let you know about this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EZR 4 14 uggy figs-123person עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה שְׁלַ֖חְנָא וְ⁠הוֹדַ֥עְנָא לְ⁠מַלְכָּֽ⁠א 1 The officials continue to address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as “O king.” Alternate translation: “and that is why we have written to you, O king, to let you know about this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 4 15 mcvp figs-123person דִּ֡י יְבַקַּר֩ 1 Here again the officials are addressing the king in the third person as a sign of respect. They are also making their suggestion very diplomatically so that they do not appear to be telling the king what to do. Alternate translation: “may we suggest that you search” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 4 15 fujm figs-idiom בִּֽ⁠סְפַר־דָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜⁠א דִּ֣י אֲבָהָתָ֗⁠ךְ 1 Although **book** is singular, this expression actually refers to the collection of documents that Artaxerxes possessed that recorded events and decrees from the reigns of earlier kings. He responds in [4:19](../04/19.md) that he had his court officials search in this collection. Verses [6:1–2](../06/01.md) describe how Darius earlier made a similar search. Alternate translation: “the royal chronicles” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 15 u1i3 figs-metaphor בִּֽ⁠סְפַר־דָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜⁠א דִּ֣י אֲבָהָתָ֗⁠ךְ 1 Here**, fathers** figuratively means predecessors. This would include some who were direct ancestors of Artaxerxes, including his father Ahasuerus (Xerxes) and grandfather Darius. But it also seems to include the Assyrian and Babylonian kings to whose empires the Persian kings were now the heirs. The revolts of Jerusalem that this search discovered, as reported in [4:19](../04/19.md), were against the Babylonians. Indeed, Artaxerxes says that his officials investigated the matter back to ancient days, presumably back to the times of earlier empires. Alternate translation: “the chronicles of previous kings” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 4 15 zvmc figs-doublet וּ֠⁠תְהַשְׁכַּח בִּ⁠סְפַ֣ר דָּכְרָנַיָּ⁠א֮ וְ⁠תִנְדַּע֒ 1 **Discover** and **learn** mean similar things. The officials use the two words together to emphasize how certain it is that the chronicles will show that Jerusalem has always been rebellious. You do not need to repeat both words in your translation if that would make the meaning less clear for your readers. Alternate translation: “The chronicles will certainly confirm for you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) EZR 4 15 sa9b figs-parallelism דִּי֩ קִרְיְתָ֨⁠א דָ֜ךְ קִרְיָ֣א מָֽרָדָ֗א וּֽ⁠מְהַנְזְקַ֤ת מַלְכִין֙ וּ⁠מְדִנָ֔ן וְ⁠אֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ עָבְדִ֣ין בְּ⁠גַוַּ֔⁠הּ מִן־יוֹמָ֖ת עָלְמָ֑⁠א 1 a rebellious city These two phrases mean similar things. The officials say essentially the same thing twice for emphasis. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “that the people living in Jerusalem have constantly rebelled against their kings and governors and refused to pay tribute” However, there is a slight difference in meaning. The second phrase intensifies the first phrase, and you could also choose to bring that out in your translation. Alternate translation: “that the people of Jerusalem have rebelled against emperors and governors and refused to pay tribute, long being a center of revolt ” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EZR 4 15 z1fu figs-idiom וּֽ⁠מְהַנְזְקַ֤ת 1 In light of the similar expression in [4:13](../04/13.md), "and the revenue of the kings will suffer harm," this likely means that the people of Jerusalem have refused to pay tribute to foreign emperors. Alternate translation: “and refused to pay tribute to” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 4 15 z1fu figs-idiom וּֽ⁠מְהַנְזְקַ֤ת 1 In light of the similar expression in [4:13](../04/13.md), “and the revenue of the kings will suffer harm,” this likely means that the people of Jerusalem have refused to pay tribute to foreign emperors. Alternate translation: “and refused to pay tribute to” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 15 iw58 figs-metonymy וּ⁠מְדִנָ֔ן 1 Here, **provinces** refers to the rulers of provinces, that is, governors. The officials are describing them figuratively by reference to something associated with them, the jurisdictions that they rule. Alternate translation: “and governors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 4 15 au5i figs-activepassive עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה קִרְיְתָ֥⁠א דָ֖ךְ הָֽחָרְבַֽת 1 this city was destroyed If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “Because the people of Jerusalem kept rebelling against them, the Babylonians finally came and destroyed that city” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EZR 4 16 qw5y figs-123person מְהוֹדְעִ֤ין אֲנַ֨חְנָה֙ לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 These officials address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “We would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EZR 4 16 qw5y figs-123person מְהוֹדְעִ֤ין אֲנַ֨חְנָה֙ לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 These officials address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as “O king.” Alternate translation: “We would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 4 16 cr21 הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥⁠א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְ⁠שׁוּרַיָּ֖⁠ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן 1 if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed See how you translated this expression in [4:13](../04/13.md). (It may be helpful to review the two notes there that discuss the parallelism and the passive form.) EZR 4 16 n9kz figs-explicit לָ⁠קֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֔ה חֲלָק֙ בַּ⁠עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔⁠א לָ֥א אִיתַ֖י לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 you will have no control The implication is that if Jerusalem became a stronghold, not only would its people rebel against Artaxerxes, they would lead all of the surrounding peoples to do the same, and the Persian Empire would lose all of its territories west of the Euphrates. Alternate translation: “they would lead the entire province of Beyond-the-River to revolt against you.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 4 16 keh5 figs-hyperbole לָ⁠קֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֔ה חֲלָק֙ בַּ⁠עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔⁠א לָ֥א אִיתַ֖י לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 the Province Beyond the River The expression **no share for you** likely also has the implication that the king would receive no further tribute or other revenue from the entire province. This is an exaggeration for emphasis and rhetorical effect. Alternate translation: “they would lead the province of Beyond-the-River to revolt against you and stop paying tribute” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole]]) @@ -454,10 +454,10 @@ EZR 4 20 ewxu writing-background וְ⁠שַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין 1 This word EZR 4 20 vmb6 וְ⁠שַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין בְּ⁠כֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑⁠ה 1 the Province Beyond the River Alternate translation: “in fact, they ruled over the whole area that is Beyond-the-River province” EZR 4 20 s7mv figs-activepassive וּ⁠מִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַ⁠הֲלָ֖ךְ מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְ⁠הֽוֹן 1 Tax,tribute, and custom were paid to them If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “these kings conquered other nations and made them pay tribute” or “these kings conquered other nations and made them pay taxes, tribute, and duty” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 4 20 bo7z figs-doublet וּ⁠מִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַ⁠הֲלָ֖ךְ 1 Tax,tribute, and custom were paid to them See how you translated this phrase in [4:13](../04/13.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]. A doublet can involve the use of more than two words.) -EZR 4 21 c4sp grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַן֙ 1 give a command The word **now** is similar to the expression "and now" in [4:10](../04/10.md), [11](../04/11.md), and [17](../04/17.md). As in [4:13](../04/13.md) and [4:14](../04/14.md), it introduces an important point within a letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) -EZR 4 21 ie6i figs-explicit שִׂ֣ימוּ טְּעֵ֔ם לְ⁠בַטָּלָ֖א גֻּבְרַיָּ֣⁠א אִלֵּ֑ךְ 1 give a command **These men** means the Jews. This is a reference back to the letter from the Samaritan officials in which they speak of "the Jews who went up from near you" and who "have come to us at Jerusalem" ([4:12](../04/12.md)). The implication is that the Jews are to stop rebuilding the walls and buildings in Jerusalem. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “issue a decree to make those Jews who returned to Jerusalem from exile stop rebuilding the walls and buildings in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EZR 4 21 c4sp grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַן֙ 1 give a command The word **now** is similar to the expression “and now” in [4:10](../04/10.md), [11](../04/11.md), and [17](../04/17.md). As in [4:13](../04/13.md) and [4:14](../04/14.md), it introduces an important point within a letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) +EZR 4 21 ie6i figs-explicit שִׂ֣ימוּ טְּעֵ֔ם לְ⁠בַטָּלָ֖א גֻּבְרַיָּ֣⁠א אִלֵּ֑ךְ 1 give a command **These men** means the Jews. This is a reference back to the letter from the Samaritan officials in which they speak of “the Jews who went up from near you” and who “have come to us at Jerusalem” ([4:12](../04/12.md)). The implication is that the Jews are to stop rebuilding the walls and buildings in Jerusalem. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “issue a decree to make those Jews who returned to Jerusalem from exile stop rebuilding the walls and buildings in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 4 21 emg2 grammar-connect-logic-goal וְ⁠קִרְיְתָ֥⁠א דָךְ֙ לָ֣א תִתְבְּנֵ֔א עַד־מִנִּ֖⁠י טַעְמָ֥⁠א יִתְּשָֽׂם 1 give a command **So,** at the beginning of this clause, indicates that the clause describes the purpose for which Artaxerxes wants the officials to make the Jews stop work on the walls and houses. He does not want there to be any rebuilding in Jerusalem unless he authorizes it personally. Alternate translation: “because I want this decree to prevent all rebuilding unless I issue a decree permitting it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-goal]]) -EZR 4 22 xxy6 figs-litotes וּ⁠זְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְ⁠מֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־דְּנָ֑ה 1 Be careful not to neglect This means "Do not neglect to act concerning this." This is a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative expression, **be careful of**, that is, "avoid," together with an expression, **negligence of action**, that is the opposite of the intended meaning, which is that Artaxerxes wants the officials to take action. Alternate translation: “Be sure to take action in response to this situation” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]]) +EZR 4 22 xxy6 figs-litotes וּ⁠זְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְ⁠מֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־דְּנָ֑ה 1 Be careful not to neglect This means “Do not neglect to act concerning this.” This is a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative expression, **be careful of**, that is, “avoid,” together with an expression, **negligence of action**, that is the opposite of the intended meaning, which is that Artaxerxes wants the officials to take action. Alternate translation: “Be sure to take action in response to this situation” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]]) EZR 4 22 snhn figs-explicit לְ⁠מָה֙ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔⁠א לְ⁠הַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין 1 Why should this damage increase, to the hurt of the kings? The implication is that if the Jews were able to rebuild and fortify Jerusalem and they revolted, then the interests of the king would be damaged because he would lose honor, as the officials suggest in their letter ([4:14](../04/14.md)), and he would also lose revenue ([4:13](../04/13.md)). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “Why should I and other kings suffer dishonor or lose tribute money” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 4 22 t7e7 figs-rquestion לְ⁠מָה֙ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔⁠א לְ⁠הַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין 1 Why should this damage increase, to the hurt of the kings? Artaxerxes is making a statement, not asking a question. He does not expect the Samaritan officials to tell him why he should experience greater damage. Instead, he is using the question form to emphasize how important it is for the officials to get the Jews to stop rebuilding Jerusalem. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could translate these words as a statement. Alternate translation: “I should not suffer dishonor or lose tribute money.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]]) EZR 4 22 kqp4 figs-123person לְ⁠מָה֙ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔⁠א לְ⁠הַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין 1 this damage increase As in [4:13](../04/13.md), the plural **kings** here may envision that not just Artaxerxes but also his successors would lose revenue if Jerusalem leads a revolt that spreads throughout Beyond-the-River, as the Samaritan officials suggest it would. But Artaxerxes is speaking primarily of himself, in the third person, as kings sometimes did, just as their subjects addressed them in the third person to show humility and respect. (Compare, for example, the way Cyrus speaks of himself in the third person in [6:4](../06/04.md), and Darius speaks of himself that way in [6:8](../06/08.md) and [6:10](../06/10.md)). Alternate translation: “Why should kings suffer dishonor or lose tribute money” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) @@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ EZR 4 23 s349 translate-names רְח֛וּם 1 Rehum Rehum is the name of a man. EZR 4 23 qu4l translate-names וְ⁠שִׁמְשַׁ֥י סָפְרָ֖⁠א 1 Shimshai **Shimshai** is the name of a man and his title. See how you translated them in [4:8](../04/08.md). Alternate translation: “Shimshai the state secretary” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 4 23 eiff figs-idiom וּ⁠כְנָוָתְ⁠ה֑וֹן 1 Shimshai As in [4:7](../04/07.md), [4:9](../04/09.md) and [4:17](../04/17.md), the term **companions** here indicates people who hold similar positions. Alternate translation: “and their associates,” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 4 23 vkzx אֲזַ֨לוּ בִ⁠בְהִיל֤וּ לִ⁠ירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ עַל־יְה֣וּדָיֵ֔⁠א 1 Shimshai Alternate translation: “they hurried to Jerusalem to confront the Jews” -EZR 4 23 yg0y figs-hendiadys וּ⁠בַטִּ֥לוּ הִמּ֖וֹ בְּ⁠אֶדְרָ֥ע וְ⁠חָֽיִל 1 Shimshai The phrase **an arm and strength** expresses a single idea by using two words connected with "and." The word **strength** tells what kind of **arm** or influence these officials used: a strong arm, that is, a forcibly coercive one. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the meaning of the two words in a single phrase. Alternate translation: “and they compelled them to stop” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) +EZR 4 23 yg0y figs-hendiadys וּ⁠בַטִּ֥לוּ הִמּ֖וֹ בְּ⁠אֶדְרָ֥ע וְ⁠חָֽיִל 1 Shimshai The phrase **an arm and strength** expresses a single idea by using two words connected with “and.” The word **strength** tells what kind of **arm** or influence these officials used: a strong arm, that is, a forcibly coercive one. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the meaning of the two words in a single phrase. Alternate translation: “and they compelled them to stop” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) EZR 4 23 ck1l figs-metaphor וּ⁠בַטִּ֥לוּ הִמּ֖וֹ בְּ⁠אֶדְרָ֥ע וְ⁠חָֽיִל 1 Shimshai Here, **arm** is a figurative way of referring to a person’s power, influence, and capacity for action. Alternate translation: “and they compelled them to stop” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 4 23 v0na figs-explicit וּ⁠בַטִּ֥לוּ הִמּ֖וֹ בְּ⁠אֶדְרָ֥ע וְ⁠חָֽיִל 1 Shimshai The implication is that these officials made the Jews stop rebuilding the walls and houses in Jerusalem. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and they compelled them to stop rebuilding the walls and houses in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 4 24 kj9i figs-explicit בֵּ⁠אדַ֗יִן בְּטֵלַת֙ עֲבִידַ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֔⁠א דִּ֖י בִּ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם 1 the work on the house of God which is in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius The book now returns to the point in the story where it left off at the end of [4:5](../04/05.md). (If it would be helpful, review the note to [4:6](../04/06.md). That note explains how the book tells of later events in [4:6–23](../04/06.md) to show that the Jews were wise not to trust the Samaritans when they offered to help rebuild the temple during the reign of Cyrus, since they demonstrated by their repeated future opposition that they really were the enemies of the Jews.) If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say something explicitly here that would show how the book is returning to the time of Cyrus and his immediate successors. Alternate translation: “the enemies of the Jews tried, under later kings, to stop them from rebuilding Jerusalem. They attempted the same thing under Cyrus and his successors and they were able to stop the work on the temple for a time” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -498,9 +498,9 @@ EZR 5 3 kq8c figs-idiom וּ⁠כְנָוָתְ⁠ה֑וֹן 1 the Province Beyo EZR 5 3 zz1b מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְ⁠כֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם 1 the Province Beyond the River Alternate translation: “Who gave you permission” or “Who authorized you” EZR 5 3 a23k figs-parallelism בַּיְתָ֤⁠א דְנָה֙ לִ⁠בְּנֵ֔א וְ⁠אֻשַּׁרְנָ֥⁠א דְנָ֖ה לְ⁠שַׁכְלָלָֽה 1 the Province Beyond the River These two phrases mean essentially the same thing. As noted in [4:12](../04/12.md), **complete** is another way of saying **build** when the terms are paired like this. The officials say essentially the same thing twice for emphasis. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “to rebuild this temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EZR 5 3 rp2r figs-metaphor בַּיְתָ֤⁠א דְנָה֙ 1 the Province Beyond the River Alternate translation: “this temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 5 4 jznw grammar-connect-logic-result אֱדַ֥יִן 1 the Province Beyond the River The word **then** is indicating that Jews asked the question in this verse in a response to what their enemies asked them in the previous verse. Alternate translation: "In response" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) -EZR 5 4 jk0p grammar-connect-time-sequential אֱדַ֥יִן 1 However, see the next note about the possibility that this verse should read "they said to them" rather than we said to them. In that case, this word is indicating that the enemies asked the question in this verse right after the question they asked in the previous verse. (The word is not indicating that the two questions were asked on separate occasions.) Alternate translation: "In addition" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) -EZR 5 4 tp1s translate-textvariants אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּ⁠הֹ֑ם מַן־אִנּוּן֙ שְׁמָהָ֣ת גֻּבְרַיָּ֔⁠א 1 Here, the Aramaic text reads **we said** but does not specify who "we" is. The pronoun does not seem to fit the context here, although the author uses first person pronouns later in the book. In [5:10](../05/10.md), in their letter to Darius, Tattenai and his associates say that they were the ones who asked this question. So the word "we" could be a copy mistake that has crept into the Aramaic text here. Other ancient versions say “they,” and it will likely be clearest for your readers if you translate the phrase that way. Alternate translation: "they said to them, 'Who are the men …?" It is also possible that the verse is not reporting a direct speech but simply describing what was said. Alternate translation: "we told them who the men were" or "we told them the names of the men" It is also possible that the book of Ezra was compiled from various sources, which might explain why sometimes Ezra is sometimes referred to in the third person and sometimes in the first person. This could account for why the pronoun "we" appears out of place in this context. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-textvariants]]) +EZR 5 4 jznw grammar-connect-logic-result אֱדַ֥יִן 1 the Province Beyond the River The word **then** is indicating that Jews asked the question in this verse in a response to what their enemies asked them in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “In response” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) +EZR 5 4 jk0p grammar-connect-time-sequential אֱדַ֥יִן 1 However, see the next note about the possibility that this verse should read “they said to them” rather than we said to them. In that case, this word is indicating that the enemies asked the question in this verse right after the question they asked in the previous verse. (The word is not indicating that the two questions were asked on separate occasions.) Alternate translation: “In addition” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) +EZR 5 4 tp1s translate-textvariants אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּ⁠הֹ֑ם מַן־אִנּוּן֙ שְׁמָהָ֣ת גֻּבְרַיָּ֔⁠א 1 Here, the Aramaic text reads **we said** but does not specify who “we” is. The pronoun does not seem to fit the context here, although the author uses first person pronouns later in the book. In [5:10](../05/10.md), in their letter to Darius, Tattenai and his associates say that they were the ones who asked this question. So the word “we” could be a copy mistake that has crept into the Aramaic text here. Other ancient versions say “they,” and it will likely be clearest for your readers if you translate the phrase that way. Alternate translation: “they said to them, 'Who are the men …?” It is also possible that the verse is not reporting a direct speech but simply describing what was said. Alternate translation: “we told them who the men were” or “we told them the names of the men” It is also possible that the book of Ezra was compiled from various sources, which might explain why sometimes Ezra is sometimes referred to in the third person and sometimes in the first person. This could account for why the pronoun “we” appears out of place in this context. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-textvariants]]) EZR 5 5 ewqj grammar-connect-logic-contrast וְ⁠עֵ֣ין 1 the Province Beyond the River The word **but** indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between what Tattenai and his associates were trying to accomplish, an immediate end to the rebuilding of the temple, and what actually happened. You could begin the sentence with a word such as “however” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) EZR 5 5 gv23 figs-metaphor וְ⁠עֵ֣ין אֱלָהֲ⁠הֹ֗ם הֲוָת֙ עַל־שָׂבֵ֣י יְהוּדָיֵ֔⁠א 1 the eye of God was on Here, **eye** stands for seeing, and in this context seeing figuratively means giving care, protection, and favor. Alternate translation: “God was making sure that the Jewish leaders would be alright” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 5 5 mvci grammar-connect-logic-result וְ⁠לָא 1 the eye of God was on The word **and** might indicate that the clause it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. Alternate translation: “as a result … not” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) @@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ EZR 5 6 uq1x וּ⁠כְנָ֣וָתֵ֔⁠הּ 1 the Province Beyond the River EZR 5 7 tqh1 figs-quotemarks לְ⁠דָרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖⁠א שְׁלָמָ֥⁠א כֹֽלָּ⁠א 1 the Province Beyond the River Here the book begins to quote the letter that Tattenai and his associates sent to King Darius. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 5 7 xf0z לְ⁠דָרְיָ֥וֶשׁ 1 the Province Beyond the River **Darius** is the name of a man. See how you translated it in [4:5](../04/05.md). EZR 5 7 mho8 שְׁלָמָ֥⁠א כֹֽלָּ⁠א 1 the Province Beyond the River As in [4:17](../04/17.md), this is a conventional greeting or good wish that senders at this time often included at the beginning of a letter. If your language has a similar expression that it uses for the same purpose, you can use it here. Alternate translation: “Greetings” or “We hope all is well with you” -EZR 5 8 sp27 figs-123person יְדִ֣יעַ ׀ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֗⁠א 1 General Information: These officials address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “We would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EZR 5 8 sp27 figs-123person יְדִ֣יעַ ׀ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֗⁠א 1 General Information: These officials address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as “O king.” Alternate translation: “We would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 5 8 wizf figs-activepassive יְדִ֣יעַ ׀ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְ⁠מַלְכָּ֗⁠א 1 General Information: If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who is doing the action. Alternate translation: “We would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 5 8 nv7q אֲזַ֜לְנָא לִ⁠יה֤וּד מְדִֽינְתָּ⁠א֙ 1 General Information: Alternate translation: “we went to the province of Judah” EZR 5 8 avmn figs-metaphor לְ⁠בֵית֙ אֱלָהָ֣⁠א רַבָּ֔⁠א 1 General Information: This means the temple. The officials speak of it figuratively as if it were a place in which God would live. (They likely say **the great God** because the Jews told them, as they report in [5:11](../05/11.md), that it would be a temple for the God who made heaven and earth.) Alternate translation: “to the temple of the great God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) @@ -526,18 +526,18 @@ EZR 5 10 qn28 figs-metaphor גֻּבְרַיָּ֖⁠א דִּ֥י בְ⁠רָא EZR 5 11 f9fm figs-quotemarks אֲנַ֣חְנָא הִמּ֡וֹ עַבְדוֹ⁠הִי֩ דִֽי־אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֜⁠א וְ⁠אַרְעָ֗⁠א 1 General Information: Starting here, and through [5:16](../05/16.md), there is another quotation within a quotation. The book is quoting from the letter that Tattenai and his associates sent to King Darius, and within that letter, they are quoting what the Jewish elders told them in response to their question. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening secondary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation within a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 5 11 m5y2 figs-idiom אֲנַ֣חְנָא הִמּ֡וֹ עַבְדוֹ⁠הִי֩ דִֽי־אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֜⁠א וְ⁠אַרְעָ֗⁠א 1 We are servants of the God The Jewish leaders describe themselves as **servants** of God because they are speaking of a superior with humility and respect. However, in this context, the expression is also an idiom that indicates that this is the God whom they worship. Alternate translation: “We worship the God who created heaven and earth” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 5 11 r5fg figs-explicit אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֜⁠א וְ⁠אַרְעָ֗⁠א 1 We are servants of the God The implications of this phrase are that God created heaven and earth and therefore rightfully rules over them. Alternate translation: “is the God who created heaven and earth and rules over them.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 5 11 a1ui figs-metaphor וּ⁠בָנַ֤יִן בַּיְתָ⁠א֙ 1 that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed **House** means the temple. This seems to be an abbreviated way of saying the "house of God," a figurative description of the temple as the place where God lived. Alternate translation: “and we are rebuilding the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 5 11 a1ui figs-metaphor וּ⁠בָנַ֤יִן בַּיְתָ⁠א֙ 1 that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed **House** means the temple. This seems to be an abbreviated way of saying the “house of God,” a figurative description of the temple as the place where God lived. Alternate translation: “and we are rebuilding the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 5 11 y9hr figs-hendiadys וּ⁠מֶ֤לֶךְ לְ⁠יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ רַ֔ב בְּנָ֖⁠הִי וְ⁠שַׁכְלְלֵֽ⁠הּ 1 completed In this section of the book, **completed** is another way of saying **built** when the two words are used together. (Review the note about this at [4:12](../04/12.md) if that would be helpful.) So the Jewish elders are expressing a single idea by using two words connected with **and**. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the meaning with a single word. Alternate translation: “which a great king of Israel constructed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) -EZR 5 12 mnpe grammar-connect-logic-contrast לָהֵ֗ן 1 completed The word **however** indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between what someone would hope and expect to happen after a great king built a temple for God, and what actually happened. You could begin the sentence with a word such as "unfortunately" to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) +EZR 5 12 mnpe grammar-connect-logic-contrast לָהֵ֗ן 1 completed The word **however** indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between what someone would hope and expect to happen after a great king built a temple for God, and what actually happened. You could begin the sentence with a word such as “unfortunately” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) EZR 5 12 un5r figs-metaphor מִן־דִּ֨י הַרְגִּ֤זוּ אֲבָהֳתַ֨⁠נָא֙ לֶ⁠אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔⁠א 1 General Information: Here, **fathers** figuratively means ancestors. Alternate translation: “because our ancestors angered the God who rules in heaven” (See:[[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 5 12 pqp8 figs-metaphor יְהַ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּ⁠יַ֛ד נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר 1 provoked the God of heaven to wrath Here, **hand** figuratively represents power and control. Alternate translation: “God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to conquer them” (See:[[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 5 12 cy4x figs-metonymy יְהַ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּ⁠יַ֛ד נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר 1 he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and deported the people Nebuchadnezzar alone did not conquer the kingdom of Judah. Rather, the elders are describing his armies figuratively by reference to something associated with them, the emperor who commanded them. Alternate translation: “God allowed them to be conquered by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 5 12 lfdn translate-names נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל 1 he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and deported the people **Nebuchadnezzar** is the name of a man, and **Babylon** is the name of the empire that he ruled. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 5 12 soz8 figs-informremind כַּסְדָּאָ֑ה 1 he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and deported the people Here the elders provide some further background information about who Nebuchadnezzar was. Even though he was the ruler of the Babylonian Empire, he was not from the Babylonian people group himself, but rather from the Chaldean people group. Alternate translation: “who was from the Chaldean people group” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) EZR 5 12 wqnc translate-names כַּסְדָּאָ֑ה 1 he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and deported the people **Chaldean** is the name of a people group. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 5 12 sgt7 figs-metaphor וּ⁠בַיְתָ֤⁠ה דְנָה֙ סַתְרֵ֔⁠הּ 1 destroyed this house As in [5:11](../05/11.md), **house** seems to be an abbreviated way of saying "house of God" or "temple." Alternate translation: “and Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the original temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 5 12 sgt7 figs-metaphor וּ⁠בַיְתָ֤⁠ה דְנָה֙ סַתְרֵ֔⁠הּ 1 destroyed this house As in [5:11](../05/11.md), **house** seems to be an abbreviated way of saying “house of God” or “temple.” Alternate translation: “and Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the original temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 5 13 e3wn grammar-connect-logic-contrast בְּרַם֙ 1 King Cyrus issued a command to rebuild the house of God The word **but** indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between the way Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and the way Cyrus commanded it to be rebuilt. You could begin the sentence with a word such as “however” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) -EZR 5 13 fnbe translate-ordinal בִּ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת חֲדָ֔ה לְ⁠כ֥וֹרֶשׁ 1 King Cyrus issued a command to rebuild the house of God The Hebrew uses a cardinal number here, **one**, but there is not a significant difference in meaning between that and the way the Hebrew uses an ordinal number, "first," in similar contexts elsewhere. If your language customarily uses ordinals for the numbers of years, you can do that here in your translation. Alternate translation: “in the first year of Cyrus” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) +EZR 5 13 fnbe translate-ordinal בִּ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת חֲדָ֔ה לְ⁠כ֥וֹרֶשׁ 1 King Cyrus issued a command to rebuild the house of God The Hebrew uses a cardinal number here, **one**, but there is not a significant difference in meaning between that and the way the Hebrew uses an ordinal number, “first,” in similar contexts elsewhere. If your language customarily uses ordinals for the numbers of years, you can do that here in your translation. Alternate translation: “in the first year of Cyrus” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EZR 5 13 t6xc translate-names לְ⁠כ֥וֹרֶשׁ 1 King Cyrus issued a command to rebuild the house of God **Cyrus** is the name of a man. See how you translated it in [1:1](../01/01.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 5 13 g9o0 figs-explicit מַלְכָּ֖⁠א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל 1 King Cyrus issued a command to rebuild the house of God Cyrus was the king of the Persian Empire, but since under his leadership the Persians had conquered the Babylonians, he also had the right to use the title **king of Babylon**. The implication may be that as the heir and successor to the throne of Babylon, Cyrus had the same power over the temple as Nebuchadnezzar, and so he could order it to be rebuilt. Alternate translation: “who conquered Babylon.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 5 14 q6am וְ֠⁠אַף מָאנַיָּ֣⁠א דִֽי־בֵית־אֱלָהָ⁠א֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣⁠ה וְ⁠כַסְפָּ⁠א֒ דִּ֣י נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר הַנְפֵּק֙ מִן־הֵֽיכְלָ⁠א֙ דִּ֣י בִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְ⁠הֵיבֵ֣ל הִמּ֔וֹ לְ⁠הֵיכְלָ֖⁠א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל הַנְפֵּ֨ק הִמּ֜וֹ כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֗⁠א מִן־הֵֽיכְלָ⁠א֙ דִּ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וִ⁠יהִ֨יבוּ֙ לְ⁠שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר 1 General Information: This sentence may be hard for readers to follow because, in it, the direct object (that is, the thing that receives the action) comes first, and it consists of a very long phrase. If it would be clearer in your language, you could break this sentence into three sentences. Alternate translation: “Nebuchadnezzar had taken the gold and silver objects that were used in worship out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to the temple in Babylon. King Cyrus took them out of the temple in Babylon and gave them to Sheshbazzar” @@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ EZR 5 14 ukn9 translate-unknown מָאנַיָּ֣⁠א דִֽי־בֵית־אֱ EZR 5 14 qsv0 figs-activepassive וִ⁠יהִ֨יבוּ֙ 1 General Information: If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “and Cyrus gave them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 5 14 w7ix translate-names לְ⁠שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר 1 Sheshbazzar **Sheshbazzar** is the name of a man. See how you translated it in [1:8](../01/08.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 5 15 kwvp grammar-connect-time-sequential וַ⁠אֲמַר 1 Let the house of God be rebuilt The elders use the word **then** to indicate that the event they will now describe came after the events they have just described. In your translation, you can use the expression in your language that would best indicate this relationship. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) -EZR 5 15 pdri figs-quotemarks וַ⁠אֲמַר־לֵ֓⁠הּ 1 Let the house of God be rebuilt This means "Cyrus said to Sheshbazzar." What follows in the rest of the verse is a quotation within a quotation within a quotation. The book is quoting from the letter that Tattenai and his associates sent to King Darius. Within that letter, they are quoting what the Jewish elders told them in response to their question. And within that response, the elders are quoting what King Cyrus told Sheshbazzar to do. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off the rest of the verse within tertiary quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation within a quotation within a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) +EZR 5 15 pdri figs-quotemarks וַ⁠אֲמַר־לֵ֓⁠הּ 1 Let the house of God be rebuilt This means “Cyrus said to Sheshbazzar.” What follows in the rest of the verse is a quotation within a quotation within a quotation. The book is quoting from the letter that Tattenai and his associates sent to King Darius. Within that letter, they are quoting what the Jewish elders told them in response to their question. And within that response, the elders are quoting what King Cyrus told Sheshbazzar to do. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off the rest of the verse within tertiary quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation within a quotation within a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 5 15 q6r3 figs-activepassive וּ⁠בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖⁠א יִתְבְּנֵ֥א עַל־אַתְרֵֽ⁠הּ 1 Let the house of God be rebuilt If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “I authorize you to rebuild the temple on its original site” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 5 16 x9zt grammar-connect-time-sequential אֱדַ֨יִן֙ 1 General Information: The elders use the word **then** to indicate that the event they will now describe came after the events they have just described. In your translation, you can use the expression in your language that would best indicate this relationship. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 5 16 batc שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר דֵּ֔ךְ אֲתָ֗א 1 General Information: The implication is that he came here, that is, from the perspective of the elders who are speaking, he came to Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “that man named Sheshbazzar came here” @@ -553,12 +553,12 @@ EZR 5 16 iuxm וּ⁠מִן־אֱדַ֧יִן וְ⁠עַד־כְּעַ֛ן מ EZR 5 16 d7m8 figs-activepassive מִתְבְּנֵ֖א וְ⁠לָ֥א שְׁלִֽם 1 it has been under construction, but is not complete If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “we have been trying to rebuild the temple, but we still have much work to do on it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 5 16 myr8 figs-quotemarks וְ⁠לָ֥א שְׁלִֽם 1 under construction Here the letter ends its quotation of what the Jewish elders told Tattenai and his associates. If you decided in [5:11](../05/11.md) to mark their words as a secondary quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing secondary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation within a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 5 17 f4m4 grammar-connect-words-phrases וּ⁠כְעַ֞ן 1 General Information: As in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md), **and now** is an Aramaic expression that introduces the main business of a letter. In this case, it comes near the end of the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this phrase. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) -EZR 5 17 kviz figs-idiom הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣⁠א טָ֗ב 1 let a search be made This is an idiom that means "if the king thinks this is a good idea" or "if this advice is acceptable to the king." Alternate translation: “if it seems good to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 5 17 hlsk figs-123person הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣⁠א טָ֗ב 1 let a search be made Tattenai and his associates address the king in third person as a form of respect. Even if your language would conventionally use the second person in a context like this, you can indicate this respect by adding an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “if it seems good to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EZR 5 17 kviz figs-idiom הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣⁠א טָ֗ב 1 let a search be made This is an idiom that means “if the king thinks this is a good idea” or “if this advice is acceptable to the king.” Alternate translation: “if it seems good to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 5 17 hlsk figs-123person הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣⁠א טָ֗ב 1 let a search be made Tattenai and his associates address the king in third person as a form of respect. Even if your language would conventionally use the second person in a context like this, you can indicate this respect by adding an expression such as “O king.” Alternate translation: “if it seems good to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 5 17 abm5 figs-activepassive יִ֠תְבַּקַּר 1 let a search be made If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “have your officials search” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 5 17 gidq figs-metaphor בְּ⁠בֵ֨ית גִּנְזַיָּ֜⁠א דִּי־מַלְכָּ֣⁠א 1 let a search be made [6:1](../06/01.md) explains more specifically that this was the house of the books where the treasures had been deposited, that is, the building where valuable documents such as royal chronicles were stored and kept safe. It is called a house metaphorically as if these documents lived there. Alternate translation: “in the building where the royal archives are kept” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 5 17 vii9 figs-activepassive הֵ֣ן אִיתַ֗י דִּֽי־מִן־כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ⁠א֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְ⁠מִבְנֵ֛א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥⁠א דֵ֖ךְ בִּ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם 1 if it is so that a command was issued by King Cyrus If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “whether King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EZR 5 17 fzez figs-123person וּ⁠רְע֥וּת מַלְכָּ֛⁠א עַל־דְּנָ֖ה יִשְׁלַ֥ח עֲלֶֽי⁠נָא 1 if it is so that a command was issued by King Cyrus Tattenai and his associates continue to address the king in third person as a form of respect. Here again you can indicate this respect by adding an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “Please tell us, O king, what you would like us to do about this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EZR 5 17 fzez figs-123person וּ⁠רְע֥וּת מַלְכָּ֛⁠א עַל־דְּנָ֖ה יִשְׁלַ֥ח עֲלֶֽי⁠נָא 1 if it is so that a command was issued by King Cyrus Tattenai and his associates continue to address the king in third person as a form of respect. Here again you can indicate this respect by adding an expression such as “O king.” Alternate translation: “Please tell us, O king, what you would like us to do about this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 5 17 ieh1 figs-quotemarks וּ⁠רְע֥וּת מַלְכָּ֛⁠א עַל־דְּנָ֖ה…עֲלֶֽי⁠נָא 1 if it is so that a command was issued by King Cyrus Here the book ends its quotation of the letter that Tattenai and his associates sent to King Darius. If you decided in [5:7](../05/07.md) to mark their words as a quotation, you should indicate that ending the quotation here with a closing quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 6 intro y5d8 0 # Ezra 06 General Notes

## Structure and formatting

The completion of the story of the building of the temple and re-establishment of the temple worship occurs in this chapter. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/temple]])

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Temple taxes

The king said the Jews were right and ordered money from his taxes to be used to help them with their sacrifices.

## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

### Darius

In this chapter, Darius is called the king of Assyria. In reality, besides ruling over the former Assyrian Empire, Darius was also king of Persia. Persia had conquered Babylon, which had previously conquered Assyria. This made the king of Persia to be the king of Assyria as well. It was unusual to refer to Darius as the king or ruler of Assyria. Ezra may have referred to him in this way to contrast Darius’ actions with those of the former rulers of Assyria, who had treated the Jews very cruelly. It was those earlier Assyrian rulers who had conquered the northern tribes of Israel and deported them to other lands. It was for this reason that the northern tribes lost their identity and were no longer a distinct people group. EZR 6 1 cmmn grammar-connect-logic-result בֵּ⁠אדַ֛יִן 1 issued a command and a search was made The word **then** indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentences described. Alternate translation: “As a result” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) @@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ EZR 6 4 q3hv figs-explicit נִדְבָּכִ֞ין דִּי־אֶ֤בֶן גּ EZR 6 4 tny3 figs-metaphor וְ⁠נִ֨פְקְתָ֔⁠א מִן־בֵּ֥ית מַלְכָּ֖⁠א תִּתְיְהִֽב 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house Here, **house** figuratively represents the wealth and income of the king. **House** is a metaphor for property, meaning everything a person keeps in their house, and by extension, everything they own. Alternate translation: “I will pay the expenses from the royal revenue” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 6 4 yh2n figs-activepassive וְ⁠נִ֨פְקְתָ֔⁠א מִן־בֵּ֥ית מַלְכָּ֖⁠א תִּתְיְהִֽב 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who will do the action. Alternate translation: “I will pay the expenses from the royal revenue” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 6 4 wjxj figs-123person וְ⁠נִ֨פְקְתָ֔⁠א מִן־בֵּ֥ית מַלְכָּ֖⁠א תִּתְיְהִֽב 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house Cyrus speaks of himself here in the third person. Alternate translation: “I will pay the expenses from the royal revenue” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) -EZR 6 5 ujut מָאנֵ֣י בֵית־אֱלָהָ⁠א֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣⁠ה וְ⁠כַסְפָּ⁠א֒ דִּ֣י נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר הַנְפֵּ֛ק מִן־הֵיכְלָ֥⁠א דִי־בִ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם וְ⁠הֵיבֵ֣ל לְ⁠בָבֶ֑ל יַהֲתִיב֗וּן 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house See how you translated the very similar sentence in [5:14](../05/14.md). If it would be clearer in your language, you could change the order of the phrases of this sentence. Alternate translation: “return to the Jews the gold and silver objects which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon" +EZR 6 5 ujut מָאנֵ֣י בֵית־אֱלָהָ⁠א֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣⁠ה וְ⁠כַסְפָּ⁠א֒ דִּ֣י נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר הַנְפֵּ֛ק מִן־הֵיכְלָ֥⁠א דִי־בִ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם וְ⁠הֵיבֵ֣ל לְ⁠בָבֶ֑ל יַהֲתִיב֗וּן 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house See how you translated the very similar sentence in [5:14](../05/14.md). If it would be clearer in your language, you could change the order of the phrases of this sentence. Alternate translation: “return to the Jews the gold and silver objects which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon” EZR 6 5 vlhj figs-activepassive מָאנֵ֣י…יַהֲתִיב֗וּן 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, as an imperative. Alternate translation: “return these objects to the Jews” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 6 5 bwim translate-unknown מָאנֵ֣י בֵית־אֱלָהָ⁠א֮ 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house **Vessels** specifically means the bowls, basins, and other objects listed in [1:9–10](../01/09.md). These were used during worship in the temple. Alternate translation: “the objects that were used in worship in the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EZR 6 5 wl8e figs-parallelism וִ֠⁠יהָךְ לְ⁠הֵיכְלָ֤⁠א דִי־בִ⁠ירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ לְ⁠אַתְרֵ֔⁠הּ וְ⁠תַחֵ֖ת בְּ⁠בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָֽ⁠א 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house These two phrases mean similar things. Cyrus is saying basically the same thing twice to emphasize how important it is for his officials to carry out this command. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “Make sure that you put these objects back in the temple, right where they belong in the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) @@ -590,14 +590,14 @@ EZR 6 5 vo0d figs-quotemarks וְ⁠תַחֵ֖ת בְּ⁠בֵ֥ית אֱלָה EZR 6 5 xrzz figs-quotemarks וְ⁠תַחֵ֖ת בְּ⁠בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָֽ⁠א 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house Here, the text also ends its quotation from the scroll. If you decided at the start of [6:3](../06/03.md) to mark its words as a quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing primary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 6 6 f9x5 figs-ellipsis כְּעַ֡ן 1 General Information: Here the book leaves out some of the material that a story would ordinarily need in order to be complete. It jumps right from its quotation from the scroll that was discovered at Ecbatana into the letter that King Darius wrote to Tattenai and his associates in response to what the scroll said. You could say this explicitly if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “When King Darius learned from the scroll that Cyrus had ordered the temple to be rebuilt, he sent Tattenai and his associates a letter in answer to their inquiry. He told them what he had learned and then warned them, “Now Tattaenai” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 6 6 ks97 figs-quotemarks כְּעַ֡ן 1 General Information: Since the book here begins to quote the letter that King Darius sent in reply to Tattenai and his associates, it may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) -EZR 6 6 wtim grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַ֡ן 1 General Information: As in [4:13](../04/13.md), [4:14](../04/14.md), and [4:21](../04/21.md), **now** introduces an important point within a letter. (It is similar to the expression "and now" in [4:10](../04/10.md), [4:11](../04/11.md), [4:17](../04/17.md), and [5:17](../05/17.md).) If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) -EZR 6 6 qpqv figs-123person תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֨ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֜⁠ה שְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ וּ⁠כְנָוָ֣תְ⁠ה֔וֹן אֲפַרְסְכָיֵ֔⁠א דִּ֖י בַּ⁠עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑⁠ה רַחִיקִ֥ין הֲו֖וֹ מִן־תַּמָּֽה 1 General Information: Since Darius addresses these men directly at the end of the sentence, we would expect him to say your **companions**, in the second person, rather than **their companions**, in the third person. So it seems that the book is compressing the letter as it quotes it. Based on the other letters that the book quotes in [4:11–16](../04/11.md), [4:17–22](../04/17.md), and [5:7–17](../05/07.md), the full letter probably said something like "To Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their companions, the officials who are in Beyond-the-River. Peace. And now," followed by an explanation that the court officials had discovered a scroll that recorded the decree of Cyrus. Then would follow instructions to these men, beginning "Be far away from there!" But since the quotation from this letter in the book jumps from the list of the recipients’ names right to these instructions, if it would be clearer in your language, you could use the second person throughout. Alternate translation: “Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and your associates, you officials who are in Beyond-the-River: Be far away from there" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EZR 6 6 wtim grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַ֡ן 1 General Information: As in [4:13](../04/13.md), [4:14](../04/14.md), and [4:21](../04/21.md), **now** introduces an important point within a letter. (It is similar to the expression “and now” in [4:10](../04/10.md), [4:11](../04/11.md), [4:17](../04/17.md), and [5:17](../05/17.md).) If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) +EZR 6 6 qpqv figs-123person תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֨ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֜⁠ה שְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ וּ⁠כְנָוָ֣תְ⁠ה֔וֹן אֲפַרְסְכָיֵ֔⁠א דִּ֖י בַּ⁠עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑⁠ה רַחִיקִ֥ין הֲו֖וֹ מִן־תַּמָּֽה 1 General Information: Since Darius addresses these men directly at the end of the sentence, we would expect him to say your **companions**, in the second person, rather than **their companions**, in the third person. So it seems that the book is compressing the letter as it quotes it. Based on the other letters that the book quotes in [4:11–16](../04/11.md), [4:17–22](../04/17.md), and [5:7–17](../05/07.md), the full letter probably said something like “To Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their companions, the officials who are in Beyond-the-River. Peace. And now,” followed by an explanation that the court officials had discovered a scroll that recorded the decree of Cyrus. Then would follow instructions to these men, beginning “Be far away from there!” But since the quotation from this letter in the book jumps from the list of the recipients’ names right to these instructions, if it would be clearer in your language, you could use the second person throughout. Alternate translation: “Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and your associates, you officials who are in Beyond-the-River: Be far away from there” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 6 6 xd9g translate-names תַּ֠תְּנַי…שְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai These are the names of two men. See how you translated them in [5:3](../05/03.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 6 6 xk9x וּ⁠כְנָוָ֣תְ⁠ה֔וֹן 1 the Province Beyond the River Alternate translation: “and their associates” or “and your associates” EZR 6 6 akg1 figs-metaphor רַחִיקִ֥ין הֲו֖וֹ מִן־תַּמָּֽה 1 the Province Beyond the River King Darius uses a spatial metaphor to indicate figuratively that he wants Tattenai and his associates not to interfere with what the Jews are doing in Jerusalem. The meaning is not simply that they are to stay away physically from that area, since they could still plot against the Jews from a distance (for example, by bribing officials in the royal court, as [4:5](../04/05.md) describes). Alternate translation: “do not interfere with what is happening in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 6 7 k1ks figs-parallelism שְׁבֻ֕קוּ לַ⁠עֲבִידַ֖ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣⁠א דֵ֑ךְ 1 the Province Beyond the River This sentence means basically the same thing as the last sentence in [6:6](../06/06.md). Darius says essentially the same thing twice for emphasis. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation for both sentences: “do not interfere with the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem” However, there is a slight difference in meaning, and you could also choose to bring that out in your translation. The second phrase is more specific. It says precisely what Darius wants these Samaritan officials to leave alone. Alternate translation: “Do not interfere with what is happening in Jerusalem. Do not disturb the work on the temple there!” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EZR 6 7 xw40 בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥⁠א דֵ֖ךְ יִבְנ֥וֹן עַל־אַתְרֵֽ⁠הּ 1 the Province Beyond the River As in [5:15](../05/15.md), this expression means "rebuild the temple on its original site." You could say that as an alternate translation. -EZR 6 8 ci97 figs-activepassive וּ⁠מִנִּ⁠י֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ לְ⁠מָ֣א דִֽי־תַֽעַבְד֗וּן עִם־שָׂבֵ֤י יְהוּדָיֵ⁠א֙ אִלֵּ֔ךְ לְ⁠מִבְנֵ֖א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣⁠א דֵ֑ךְ 1 General Information: If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: "This is what I am commanding you to do to help the elders of the Jews rebuild that temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) +EZR 6 7 xw40 בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥⁠א דֵ֖ךְ יִבְנ֥וֹן עַל־אַתְרֵֽ⁠הּ 1 the Province Beyond the River As in [5:15](../05/15.md), this expression means “rebuild the temple on its original site.” You could say that as an alternate translation. +EZR 6 8 ci97 figs-activepassive וּ⁠מִנִּ⁠י֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ לְ⁠מָ֣א דִֽי־תַֽעַבְד֗וּן עִם־שָׂבֵ֤י יְהוּדָיֵ⁠א֙ אִלֵּ֔ךְ לְ⁠מִבְנֵ֖א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣⁠א דֵ֑ךְ 1 General Information: If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “This is what I am commanding you to do to help the elders of the Jews rebuild that temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 6 8 njb9 figs-activepassive וּ⁠מִ⁠נִּכְסֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֗⁠א דִּ֚י מִדַּת֙ עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔⁠ה אָסְפַּ֗רְנָא נִפְקְתָ֛⁠א תֶּהֱוֵ֧א מִֽתְיַהֲבָ֛א לְ⁠גֻבְרַיָּ֥⁠א אִלֵּ֖ךְ 1 Let this cost be paid diligently at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who would do the action. Alternate translation: “I want you officials to carefully pay the full costs of the rebuilding from the royal treasury from the tribute that you receive in Beyond-the-River province” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 6 8 te7b figs-123person וּ⁠מִ⁠נִּכְסֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֗⁠א 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River Darius speaks of himself here in the third person. Alternate translation: “And from my royal revenue” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 6 8 xfsc figs-litotes דִּי־לָ֥א לְ⁠בַטָּלָֽא 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River **It** here means the work of rebuilding the temple. Darius is using a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word, **not**, together with a word, **stop**, that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this in a non-figurative way. Alternate translation: “in order to make sure that the rebuilding is completed successfully” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]]) @@ -608,10 +608,10 @@ EZR 6 9 fn3z לַ⁠עֲלָוָ֣ן 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes bey EZR 6 9 zxb9 לֶ⁠אֱלָ֪הּ שְׁמַיָּ֟⁠א 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River See how you translated this expression in [5:11](../05/11.md). Alternate translation: “the God who rules in heaven” EZR 6 9 n37a figs-idiom י֥וֹם ׀ בְּ⁠י֖וֹם 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River **Day by day** is an idiom that means every day or every single day. Alternate translation: “every single day” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 6 9 wlto figs-litotes דִּי־לָ֥א שָׁלֽוּ 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River Here the king uses a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. Alternate translation: “make sure that you do this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]]) -EZR 6 10 it87 grammar-connect-logic-goal דִּֽי־לֶהֱוֺ֧ן מְהַקְרְבִ֛ין נִיחוֹחִ֖ין לֶ⁠אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֑⁠א וּ⁠מְצַלַּ֕יִן לְ⁠חַיֵּ֥י מַלְכָּ֖⁠א וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River In this phrase, Darius explains the purpose for which he is commanding the actions described in the previous part of this sentence, in [6:9](../06/09.md). If you decided to break that verse into three sentences, you can make this verse a fourth sentence of its own. If it would be clearer in your language, you also could use a term such as "that way" to indicate that Darius is explaining his purpose here. Alternate translation: “that way, the priests can continually offer sweet-smelling sacrifices to the God who rules in heaven and pray that God will preserve my life and the life of my sons.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-goal]]) +EZR 6 10 it87 grammar-connect-logic-goal דִּֽי־לֶהֱוֺ֧ן מְהַקְרְבִ֛ין נִיחוֹחִ֖ין לֶ⁠אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֑⁠א וּ⁠מְצַלַּ֕יִן לְ⁠חַיֵּ֥י מַלְכָּ֖⁠א וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River In this phrase, Darius explains the purpose for which he is commanding the actions described in the previous part of this sentence, in [6:9](../06/09.md). If you decided to break that verse into three sentences, you can make this verse a fourth sentence of its own. If it would be clearer in your language, you also could use a term such as “that way” to indicate that Darius is explaining his purpose here. Alternate translation: “that way, the priests can continually offer sweet-smelling sacrifices to the God who rules in heaven and pray that God will preserve my life and the life of my sons.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-goal]]) EZR 6 10 mchh לֶ⁠אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֑⁠א 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River See how you translated this expression in [5:11](../05/11.md). Alternate translation: “the God who rules in heaven” EZR 6 10 xq28 figs-123person לְ⁠חַיֵּ֥י מַלְכָּ֖⁠א וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River Darius speaks of himself here in the third person. Alternate translation: “that God will preserve my life and the life of my sons” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) -EZR 6 10 a820 figs-metaphor וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River This could mean one of two things. (1) It could mean the biological sons of King Darius. Alternate translation: “my sons” (2) **Sons** could figuratively mean descendants, and specifically those whom Darius hoped would succeed him on the throne. As the note to [4:15](../04/15.md) explains, the Persian kings spoke of predecessor kings as their "fathers," so they may also have spoken of successor kings as their "sons." Alternate translation: “his successors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 6 10 a820 figs-metaphor וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי 1 at the expense of the king’s taxes beyond the River This could mean one of two things. (1) It could mean the biological sons of King Darius. Alternate translation: “my sons” (2) **Sons** could figuratively mean descendants, and specifically those whom Darius hoped would succeed him on the throne. As the note to [4:15](../04/15.md) explains, the Persian kings spoke of predecessor kings as their “fathers,” so they may also have spoken of successor kings as their “sons.” Alternate translation: “his successors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 6 11 em18 figs-activepassive וּ⁠מִנִּ⁠י֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י 1 General Information: If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “and I am commanding that” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 6 11 zdzd figs-idiom כָל־אֱנָ֗שׁ דִּ֤י יְהַשְׁנֵא֙ פִּתְגָמָ֣⁠א דְנָ֔ה 1 General Information: **Change** could mean giving different instructions from what the king had commanded, but it could also mean doing something other than what his decree commands. [6:12](../06/12.md) suggests that changing could mean destroying the temple rather than ensuring that it was rebuilt and maintained. Alternate translation: “if anyone disobeys this edict” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 6 11 uqt8 figs-explicit יִתְנְסַ֥ח אָע֙ מִן־בַּיְתֵ֔⁠הּ וּ⁠זְקִ֖יף יִתְמְחֵ֣א עֲלֹ֑⁠הִי 1 a beam must be pulled from his house and he must be impaled on it. His house must then be turned into a rubbish heap This is an implicit reference to one form of capital punishment that the Persians used. Darius assumes that the officials know what he means. Anyone who violates his order is to be lifted up and impaled on a beam of wood from his own house. That is, one end of the beam is to be sharpened so that it will pass through the body of the offender, and he is to be suspended in the air on the beam. Alternate translation: “pull a beam out of his house, sharpen one end, and lift him up and impale him on it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ EZR 6 14 iu9r figs-hendiadys וְ⁠שָׂבֵ֤י יְהוּדָיֵ⁠א֙ ב EZR 6 14 mibx figs-explicit בִּ⁠נְבוּאַת֙ חַגַּ֣י נביא⁠ה וּ⁠זְכַרְיָ֖ה בַּר־עִדּ֑וֹא 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai As in [5:1](../05/01.md), the implication is that these two men, as God’s messengers, encouraged the Jewish leaders to persevere in the project of rebuilding the temple. Alternate translation: “thanks to the encouragement that Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo gave them in messages from God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 6 14 l5ag translate-names חַגַּ֣י 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai **Haggai** is the name of a man. See how you translated it in [5:1](../05/01.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 6 14 tetn translate-names וּ⁠זְכַרְיָ֖ה בַּר־עִדּ֑וֹא 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai **Zechariah** is the name of a man, and **Iddo** is the name of his father. See how you translated their names in [5:1](../05/01.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 6 14 s1jd figs-hendiadys וּ⁠בְנ֣וֹ וְ⁠שַׁכְלִ֗לוּ 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai As in [5:11](../05/11.md), the words **built** and **completed** connected with **and** express a single idea. In this section of the book, when the two words are used together, "completed" is another way of saying "built." (Review the note about this at [4:12](../04/12.md) if that would be helpful.) If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the meaning with a single word. Alternate translation: “And they were able to construct the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) +EZR 6 14 s1jd figs-hendiadys וּ⁠בְנ֣וֹ וְ⁠שַׁכְלִ֗לוּ 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai As in [5:11](../05/11.md), the words **built** and **completed** connected with **and** express a single idea. In this section of the book, when the two words are used together, “completed” is another way of saying “built.” (Review the note about this at [4:12](../04/12.md) if that would be helpful.) If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the meaning with a single word. Alternate translation: “And they were able to construct the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) EZR 6 14 d77p figs-explicit וּ⁠בְנ֣וֹ וְ⁠שַׁכְלִ֗לוּ 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai The implication is that what the Jewish leaders **built and completed**, that is, constructed, was the temple. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “And they were able to construct the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 6 14 mgzk figs-metaphor מִן־טַ֨עַם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai Here the book speaks figuratively of the messages that God had sent through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah as a **decree** or command that God had issued to the Jewish leaders to rebuild the temple, much like the decrees that the Persian kings had issued. If it would be clearer in your language, you could describe these messages in a non-figurative way. Alternate translation: “just as the God of Israel had commanded them to do through the prophets” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 6 14 j4jr figs-explicit וּ⁠מִ⁠טְּעֵם֙ כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ וְ⁠דָרְיָ֔וֶשׁ וְ⁠אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא מֶ֥לֶךְ פָּרָֽס 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai Here, the book assumes some knowledge on the part of readers, because by this point in time, only King Cyrus [(1:2–4)](../01/02.md) and King Darius [(6:6–12)](../06/06.md) had issued decrees for the Jerusalem temple to be rebuilt. Artaxerxes was the grandson of Darius, and he would not become king for another 50 years. Moreover, while the book anticipated the reign of Artaxerxes in [4:7–23](../04/07.md), there it recounted how he ordered the temple rebuilding to stop. But the book is assuming that readers will know that Artaxerxes eventually did reverse himself and issue a decree for the maintenance of the Jerusalem temple. The book describes this in [7:12–26](../07/12.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and just as King Cyrus and King Darius of Persia had decreed they should do. King Artaxerxes of Persia later decreed that they should finish the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -650,14 +650,14 @@ EZR 6 15 bhp9 translate-ordinal שְׁנַת־שֵׁ֔ת לְ⁠מַלְכ֖וּ EZR 6 16 xnpw grammar-connect-time-sequential וַ⁠עֲבַ֣דוּ 1 the rest of the children of the exile The word **and** indicates that the event the story will now relate came after the events it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as **then**. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 6 16 ajjz figs-metaphor בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל 1 the rest of the children of the exile **Sons** figuratively means descendants. Here the book envisions all of the Israelites as descendants of the patriarch Jacob, who was also known as Israel. The expression comprises the three groups that are listed next, the priests, Levites, and other Jews. Alternate translation: “the Israelites” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 6 16 cq1q figs-idiom וּ⁠שְׁאָ֣ר בְּנֵי־גָלוּתָ֗⁠א 1 the rest of the children of the exile As indicated in [2:1](../02/01.md) and [8:35](../08/35.md), the phrase **the sons of the exile** refers specifically to the group of Jewish people who returned to the land of Judah from Babylon after King Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Jerusalem and had taken many Jews as captives to Babylon. Alternate translation: “and the Jews who had returned from exile” or “and the Jews who had returned to their homeland” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 6 16 z1u1 figs-abstractnouns וַ⁠עֲבַ֣דוּ…חֲנֻכַּ֛ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥⁠א דְנָ֖ה בְּ⁠חֶדְוָֽה 1 the rest of the children of the exile The abstract noun **dedication** refers to a special ceremony the Israelites conducted to set the temple apart as a place for the worship of Yahweh. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as "dedicate." Alternate translation: “joyfully dedicated this temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) -EZR 6 17 iel9 figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠הַקְרִ֗בוּ לַ⁠חֲנֻכַּת֮ בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣⁠א דְנָה֒ 1 one hundred bulls…four hundred lambs As in the previous sentence, the abstract noun **dedication** refers to a special ceremony that the Israelites conducted. Once again you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as "dedicate." Alternate translation: “As they dedicated this temple, they offered” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
+EZR 6 16 z1u1 figs-abstractnouns וַ⁠עֲבַ֣דוּ…חֲנֻכַּ֛ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥⁠א דְנָ֖ה בְּ⁠חֶדְוָֽה 1 the rest of the children of the exile The abstract noun **dedication** refers to a special ceremony the Israelites conducted to set the temple apart as a place for the worship of Yahweh. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as “dedicate.” Alternate translation: “joyfully dedicated this temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EZR 6 17 iel9 figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠הַקְרִ֗בוּ לַ⁠חֲנֻכַּת֮ בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣⁠א דְנָה֒ 1 one hundred bulls…four hundred lambs As in the previous sentence, the abstract noun **dedication** refers to a special ceremony that the Israelites conducted. Once again you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as “dedicate.” Alternate translation: “As they dedicated this temple, they offered” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
EZR 6 17 r49v figs-explicit וְ⁠הַקְרִ֗בוּ…תּוֹרִ֣ין מְאָ֔ה דִּכְרִ֣ין מָאתַ֔יִן אִמְּרִ֖ין אַרְבַּ֣ע מְאָ֑ה וּ⁠צְפִירֵ֨י עִזִּ֜ין ל⁠חטיא…תְּרֵֽי־עֲשַׂ֔ר 1 one hundred bulls…four hundred lambs The implication, as [6:9](../06/09.md) indicates explicitly, is that the bulls, rams, and lambs were used for whole burnt offerings. If it would be helpful, review the note to [3:2](../03/02.md) about what whole burnt offerings were and why they were offered. Alternate translation: “they offered 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs as whole burnt offerings and 12 male goats as a sin offering” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 6 17 j5b6 figs-idiom וּ⁠צְפִירֵ֨י עִזִּ֜ין 1 one hundred bulls…four hundred lambs A male goat is called a buck. So this expression, **bucks of goats**, means the same thing as male goats in [8:35](../08/35.md) (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 6 17 quwd figs-explicit וּ⁠צְפִירֵ֨י עִזִּ֜ין…תְּרֵֽי־עֲשַׂ֔ר לְ⁠מִנְיָ֖ן שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 one hundred bulls…four hundred lambs The book assumes that readers will know that there were twelve tribes in Israel, so the twelve goats could symbolically represent the entire nation. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “12 male goats … one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 6 18 r0gx grammar-connect-time-sequential וַ⁠הֲקִ֨ימוּ 1 to their divisions The word **and** indicates that the event the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as "then." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) +EZR 6 18 r0gx grammar-connect-time-sequential וַ⁠הֲקִ֨ימוּ 1 to their divisions The word **and** indicates that the event the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as “then.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 6 18 zkjf figs-metaphor וַ⁠הֲקִ֨ימוּ כָהֲנַיָּ֜⁠א…וְ⁠לֵוָיֵ⁠א֙ 1 to their divisions Here, **stand** is a figurative way of saying that a person has assumed the duties of their office. So to cause someone to stand is to appoint them to those duties and install them in that office. Alternate translation: “And they appointed the priests and Levites to serve in the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 6 18 iix1 figs-explicit כָהֲנַיָּ֜⁠א בִּ⁠פְלֻגָּתְ⁠ה֗וֹן וְ⁠לֵוָיֵ⁠א֙ בְּ⁠מַחְלְקָ֣תְ⁠ה֔וֹן 1 to their divisions The book assumes that readers will know that these **divisions** and **sections** were groups of priests and Levites, respectively, that served in the temple for a week at a time. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: "They appointed that priests and the Levites to serve in the temple in groups for a week at a time” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EZR 6 18 iix1 figs-explicit כָהֲנַיָּ֜⁠א בִּ⁠פְלֻגָּתְ⁠ה֗וֹן וְ⁠לֵוָיֵ⁠א֙ בְּ⁠מַחְלְקָ֣תְ⁠ה֔וֹן 1 to their divisions The book assumes that readers will know that these **divisions** and **sections** were groups of priests and Levites, respectively, that served in the temple for a week at a time. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “They appointed that priests and the Levites to serve in the temple in groups for a week at a time” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 6 18 ba06 figs-metaphor עַל־עֲבִידַ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖⁠א דִּ֣י בִ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם 1 to their divisions Here the book describes God in a spatial metaphor as if he lived in the city of Jerusalem. This is a figurative reference to the way God’s presence was in the temple in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “to lead the worship of God in the temple in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 6 18 vt19 כִּ⁠כְתָ֖ב סְפַ֥ר מֹשֶֽׁה 1 to their divisions Alternate translation: “as it is written in the book of Moses” or “as God commanded in the law of Moses” EZR 6 19 g898 grammar-connect-logic-result וַ⁠יַּעֲשׂ֥וּ בְנֵי־הַ⁠גּוֹלָ֖ה אֶת־הַ⁠פָּ֑סַח 1 to their divisions The phrase at the beginning of this sentence indicates that it explains the results of what the previous sentence described. (As [6:20](../06/20.md) explains, because the priests and Levites had been assigned to their duties, festivals like this could be observed again.) Alternate translation: “As a result, the Jews who had returned from exile were able to celebrate Passover” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) @@ -683,29 +683,29 @@ EZR 6 21 alu2 figs-metaphor מִ⁠טֻּמְאַ֥ת גּוֹיֵֽ־הָ⁠א EZR 6 21 slp3 figs-idiom גּוֹיֵֽ־הָ⁠אָ֖רֶץ 1 the uncleanness of the nations of the land Like **the people of the land** in [4:4](../04/04.md), this expression refers to the non-Israelite people groups who were living in this area. (Review the note at [4:4](../04/04.md) if that would be helpful.) Alternate translation: “the foreign people groups living nearby” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 6 21 tyz7 figs-metaphor לִ⁠דְרֹ֕שׁ לַֽ⁠יהוָ֖ה 1 to seek Yahweh To **seek** Yahweh figuratively means to choose to know, worship, and obey him. Alternate translation: “to worship and obey Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 6 21 mamh figs-informremind אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 to seek Yahweh As in [4:1](../04/01.md), this phrase provides further background information about who Yahweh is. In context, it helps distinguish Yahweh from the gods of the nations of the land. Alternate translation: “Yahweh, the God whom the people of Israel worshiped” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) -EZR 6 22 mk5t grammar-connect-time-sequential וַ⁠יַּֽעֲשׂ֧וּ 1 turned the heart of the king of Assyria This phrase indicates that the event the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as "then." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) +EZR 6 22 mk5t grammar-connect-time-sequential וַ⁠יַּֽעֲשׂ֧וּ 1 turned the heart of the king of Assyria This phrase indicates that the event the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as “then.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 6 22 nq0t translate-names וַ⁠יַּֽעֲשׂ֧וּ חַג־מַצּ֛וֹת שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים בְּ⁠שִׂמְחָ֑ה 1 turned the heart of the king of Assyria **Feast of Unleavened Bread** is the name of another religious festival that the law of Moses commanded the Jews to celebrate every year to remember how God had rescued their ancestors from slavery in Egypt. The term **Unleavened Bread** refers to bread that is made without yeast or other leavening. When God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, he told them to flee quickly without waiting for their bread to rise. Unleavened bread is served in the yearly Passover meal in remembrance of that time. For the next week after Passover, the Jews are still not to eat any leavened bread. The beginning and end of that week are marked by special ceremonies. Alternate translation: “For the next seven days, they joyfully celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 6 22 p2re grammar-connect-logic-result כִּ֣י ׀ שִׂמְּחָ֣⁠ם יְהוָ֗ה וְֽ⁠הֵסֵ֞ב לֵ֤ב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֔ם לְ⁠חַזֵּ֣ק יְדֵי⁠הֶ֔ם בִּ⁠מְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֖ים 1 turned the heart of the king of Assyria This part of the sentence gives the reason for the results that the earlier part of the sentence describes, the joyful celebration of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Within this part of the sentence, the first phrase describes the results of what comes afterwards. If it would be clearer in your language, you could break the entire sentence into several sentences, and make the earlier part about the festival to come at the end. You also could show the connection by using a phrase such as “and so” before the third sentence. Alternate translation: “Yahweh had made King Darius of Persia to feel favorable toward the Jews so that he supported the rebuilding of the temple. This had made the people very happy, and so" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) +EZR 6 22 p2re grammar-connect-logic-result כִּ֣י ׀ שִׂמְּחָ֣⁠ם יְהוָ֗ה וְֽ⁠הֵסֵ֞ב לֵ֤ב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֔ם לְ⁠חַזֵּ֣ק יְדֵי⁠הֶ֔ם בִּ⁠מְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֖ים 1 turned the heart of the king of Assyria This part of the sentence gives the reason for the results that the earlier part of the sentence describes, the joyful celebration of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Within this part of the sentence, the first phrase describes the results of what comes afterwards. If it would be clearer in your language, you could break the entire sentence into several sentences, and make the earlier part about the festival to come at the end. You also could show the connection by using a phrase such as “and so” before the third sentence. Alternate translation: “Yahweh had made King Darius of Persia to feel favorable toward the Jews so that he supported the rebuilding of the temple. This had made the people very happy, and so” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 6 22 k6q8 figs-metaphor וְֽ⁠הֵסֵ֞ב לֵ֤ב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֔ם 1 turned the heart of the king of Assyria Here, **the heart** figuratively represents the thoughts and the will. Turning the king’s heart towards the Jews figuratively means that Yahweh made him think and feel differently about the work of the temple. Alternate translation: “and made King Darius of Persia favorable toward the Jews” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 6 22 x9ls מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ 1 to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God This phrase actually refers to Darius, the king of Persia. But since the Persian Empire was the heir to the Assyrian Empire, Darius could be addressed by this title as well. (See the note to [4:15](../04/15.md) that explains that the Persian kings considered their "fathers" or predecessor kings to include the Assyrian and Babylonian kings whose empires they had absorbed.) Alternate translation: “King Darius of Persia” +EZR 6 22 x9ls מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ 1 to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God This phrase actually refers to Darius, the king of Persia. But since the Persian Empire was the heir to the Assyrian Empire, Darius could be addressed by this title as well. (See the note to [4:15](../04/15.md) that explains that the Persian kings considered their “fathers” or predecessor kings to include the Assyrian and Babylonian kings whose empires they had absorbed.) Alternate translation: “King Darius of Persia” EZR 6 22 m7l7 figs-informremind אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 the work of the house of God As in [4:1](../04/01.md), this phrase provides further background information about who Yahweh is. In context, it helps distinguish Yahweh from the gods of the nations of the land. Alternate translation: “Yahweh, the God whom the people of Israel worshiped” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) -EZR 7 intro p3he 0 # Ezra 07 General Notes
## Structure and formatting

Ezra begins his religious reforms.

## Special concepts in this chapter

### God’s Law
The people no longer know the law of Moses. Therefore, the king allows Ezra to return to Judea to teach the people about God’s law. Many people go with him. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]]) +EZR 7 intro p3he 0 # Ezra 07 General Notes

## Structure and formatting

Ezra begins his religious reforms.

## Special concepts in this chapter

### God’s Law

The people no longer know the law of Moses. Therefore, the king allows Ezra to return to Judea to teach the people about God’s law. Many people go with him. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]]) EZR 7 1 h549 writing-newevent וְ⁠אַחַר֙ הַ⁠דְּבָרִ֣ים הָ⁠אֵ֔לֶּה 1 General Information: This phrase, common in Hebrew storytelling, indicates that the book will now relate events that occurred some time after the events it has described to this point. (Nearly sixty years went by between the sixth year of the reign of Darius, when the Jews finished rebuilding the temple, [6:15](../06/15.md), and the seventh year of Artaxerxes, who was the grandson of Darius, when Ezra traveled to Jerusalem, [7:6](../07/06.md).) If your language has a similar phrase that indicates this same thing, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EZR 7 1 qol2 translate-names אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא 1 General Information: **Artaxerxes** is the name of a man. See how you translated it in [4:7](../04/07.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 7 1 uerz figs-explicit עֶזְרָא֙ 1 General Information: Ezra’s genealogy in [7:1–6](../07/01.md) traces Ezra back to Aaron in a list of 16 ancestors. As is common in ancient genealogies, this list almost certainly does not include all of the generations between Aaron and Ezra. Aaron [(7:5)](../07/05.md) was the first high priest under the law of Moses and the first to serve in the tabernacle. Azariah [(7:3)](../07/03.md) was the first high priest to serve in the temple that Solomon built, which this book describes in [5:11](../05/11.md). Seraiah was the last high priest to serve in that temple. The Babylonians executed him when they conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. The names in the list are arranged so that there will be seven generations between Aaron and Azariah, and seven generations between Azariah and Ezra, with Seraiah listed as the last generation before Ezra. If you have the freedom to use formatting creatively in your translation, you could make the implicit information about Aaron, Azariah, and Seraiah explicit and format this genealogy in a way that will highlight its purpose and design. Alternate translation and formatting:

Ezra—

the descendant of Seraiah, the last high priest in Solomon’s temple,
the son of Azariah,
the son of Hilkiah,
the son of Shallum,
the son of Zadok,
the descendant of Ahitub,
the descendant of Amariah,

the son of Azariah, the first high priest in Solomon’s temple,

the descendant of Meraioth,
the son of Zerahiah,
the son of Uzzi,
the son of Bukki,
the son of Abishua,
the son of Phinehas,
the son of Eleazar,

the son of Aaron, the first high priest in the tabernacle

—this Ezra

(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 7 1 u6xs translate-names עֶזְרָא֙ 1 General Information: **Ezra** is the name of a man. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 7 1 n9di figs-metaphor בֶּן־שְׂרָיָ֔ה בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּֽה 1 Seraiah In general, in the list in [7:1–6](../07/01.md), **son** figuratively means descendant. However, in many cases a man actually is the biological son of the next man on the list. So for your translation, you will need to decide whether to use the figurative expression **son**, which can also be literally true in many cases, or the non-figurative expression "descendant," which is true in every case, or to say "son" for actual sons and "descendant" for descendants who are not actual sons. Choosing that last option would help show that the men on the list have been selected to make a certain number and arrangement, as explained in an earlier note. Alternative translations will illustrate this last option for each verse. Here, Alternate translation: “the descendant of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 7 1 n9di figs-metaphor בֶּן־שְׂרָיָ֔ה בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּֽה 1 Seraiah In general, in the list in [7:1–6](../07/01.md), **son** figuratively means descendant. However, in many cases a man actually is the biological son of the next man on the list. So for your translation, you will need to decide whether to use the figurative expression **son**, which can also be literally true in many cases, or the non-figurative expression “descendant,” which is true in every case, or to say “son” for actual sons and “descendant” for descendants who are not actual sons. Choosing that last option would help show that the men on the list have been selected to make a certain number and arrangement, as explained in an earlier note. Alternative translations will illustrate this last option for each verse. Here, Alternate translation: “the descendant of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 7 1 gcr6 translate-names שְׂרָיָ֔ה…עֲזַרְיָ֖ה…חִלְקִיָּֽה 1 Azariah…Hilkiah These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 7 2 iy78 בֶּן־שַׁלּ֥וּם בֶּן־צָד֖וֹק בֶּן־אֲחִיטֽוּב 1 Shallum Alternate translation: “the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the descendant of Ahitub” EZR 7 2 e2ek translate-names שַׁלּ֥וּם…צָד֖וֹק…אֲחִיטֽוּב 1 Zadok…Ahitub These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 7 3 rqiw בֶּן־אֲמַרְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מְרָיֽוֹת 1 Amariah…Azariah…Meraioth Alternate translation: “the descendant of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the descendant of Meraioth” EZR 7 3 h5gv translate-names אֲמַרְיָ֥ה…עֲזַרְיָ֖ה…מְרָיֽוֹת 1 Amariah…Azariah…Meraioth These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 7 4 swtv בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֻזִּ֖י בֶּן־בֻּקִּֽי 1 Zerahiah…Uzzi…Bukki Even if you have decided to use non-figurative terminology, unless you have chosen to use the term "descendant" throughout this list, you can say "son" in each case here because each of these men was the actual father of the man whose name precedes his. Alternate translation: “the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki” +EZR 7 4 swtv בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֻזִּ֖י בֶּן־בֻּקִּֽי 1 Zerahiah…Uzzi…Bukki Even if you have decided to use non-figurative terminology, unless you have chosen to use the term “descendant” throughout this list, you can say “son” in each case here because each of these men was the actual father of the man whose name precedes his. Alternate translation: “the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki” EZR 7 4 zd73 translate-names זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה…עֻזִּ֖י…בֻּקִּֽי 1 Zerahiah…Uzzi…Bukki These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 7 5 sj6v בֶּן־אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָס֙ בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֔ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֥ן 1 Abishua…Phinehas…Eleazar Here again, unless you have chosen to use the term "descendant" throughout this list, you can say "son" in each case here because each of these men was the actual father of the man whose name precedes his. Alternate translation: “the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron” +EZR 7 5 sj6v בֶּן־אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָס֙ בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֔ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֥ן 1 Abishua…Phinehas…Eleazar Here again, unless you have chosen to use the term “descendant” throughout this list, you can say “son” in each case here because each of these men was the actual father of the man whose name precedes his. Alternate translation: “the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron” EZR 7 5 jvt2 translate-names אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ…פִּֽינְחָס֙…אֶלְעָזָ֔ר…אַהֲרֹ֥ן 1 Abishua…Phinehas…Eleazar These are the names of four men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 7 5 t064 figs-informremind הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֖ן הָ⁠רֹֽאשׁ 1 Abishua…Phinehas…Eleazar Here the book provides some background information to remind readers of who Aaron was. Alternate translation: “the high priest” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) -EZR 7 5 z67m figs-metaphor הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֖ן הָ⁠רֹֽאשׁ 1 Abishua…Phinehas…Eleazar Here, **head** is a figurative way of saying "leader." Specifically, it means that Aaron was the leader of the priests, or the high priest. Alternate translation: “the high priest” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 7 5 z67m figs-metaphor הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֖ן הָ⁠רֹֽאשׁ 1 Abishua…Phinehas…Eleazar Here, **head** is a figurative way of saying “leader.” Specifically, it means that Aaron was the leader of the priests, or the high priest. Alternate translation: “the high priest” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 7 5 pqgw figs-explicit הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֖ן הָ⁠רֹֽאשׁ 1 Abishua…Phinehas…Eleazar The book assumes that readers will know that Aaron was the first high priest to serve in the tabernacle when God gave the law to Moses, his brother. Alternate translation: “the first high priest” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 7 6 ol9o figs-idiom ה֤וּא עֶזְרָא֙ עָלָ֣ה מִ⁠בָּבֶ֔ל 1 The king granted to him all his request The book says that Ezra **went up** because he needed to travel from a river valley up into the mountains in order to return from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “this Ezra returned from Babylon to Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 7 6 xd8u writing-background וְ⁠הֽוּא־סֹפֵ֤ר מָהִיר֙ בְּ⁠תוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל 1 The king granted to him all his request This is background information that helps identify Ezra further. Alternate translation: “and he had carefully studied the law that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given through Moses” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) @@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ EZR 7 8 cr7y translate-hebrewmonths וַ⁠יָּבֹ֥א יְרוּשָׁלַ֖ EZR 7 8 vee2 translate-ordinal בַּ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ⁠חֲמִישִׁ֑י 1 the fifth month Alternate translation: “in month five” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EZR 7 8 co12 translate-ordinal הִ֛יא שְׁנַ֥ת הַ⁠שְּׁבִיעִ֖ית לַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 the fifth month Alternate translation: “in year seven of the reign of Artaxerxes,” or, since the year was mentioned at the end of the previous verse, “of that year” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EZR 7 9 fsqw writing-background כִּ֗י 1 the first day of the first month The word **for** indicates that the sentence it introduces will provide background information that will help readers appreciate what the book describes next. You can translate it with the word or phrase in your language that is most similar in meaning and significance. Alternate translation: “Now” (See: Connect – [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) -EZR 7 9 wl5l figs-idiom בְּ⁠אֶחָד֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן ה֣וּא יְסֻ֔ד הַֽ⁠מַּעֲלָ֖ה מִ⁠בָּבֶ֑ל 1 the first day of the first month The book says **ascent** to characterize the journey once again as involving a significant climb in elevation. Alternate translation: “the group began its uphill trip
from Babylon on the first day of the first month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 7 9 wl5l figs-idiom בְּ⁠אֶחָד֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן ה֣וּא יְסֻ֔ד הַֽ⁠מַּעֲלָ֖ה מִ⁠בָּבֶ֑ל 1 the first day of the first month The book says **ascent** to characterize the journey once again as involving a significant climb in elevation. Alternate translation: “the group began its uphill trip
from Babylon on the first day of the first month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 7 9 f68n translate-hebrewmonths בְּ⁠אֶחָד֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 the first day of the first month The **first month** means the first month in the Jewish calendar. You could convert the Hebrew month into an equivalent on the calendar that your culture uses. However, the Jews used a lunar calendar, so if you use a solar calendar, the equivalency will be different every year and the translation will not be entirely accurate. So you may just want to use the name or number of the Hebrew month. Alternate translation: “on the first day of the first month of that year” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]]) EZR 7 9 s9by translate-ordinal בְּ⁠אֶחָד֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 the first day of the fifth month Alternate translation: “on day one of month one” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EZR 7 9 khid grammar-connect-logic-contrast וּ⁠בְ⁠אֶחָ֞ד 1 the first day of the fifth month This word **and** might indicate that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between how long this journey would be expect to take and how quickly Ezra and his companions reached Jerusalem. You could begin the sentence with a word such as “but” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) @@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ EZR 7 10 w9d8 figs-hendiadys וּ⁠לְ⁠לַמֵּ֥ד בְּ⁠יִשְׂר EZR 7 10 x92b figs-personification בְּ⁠יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל 1 its statutes and ordinances Here, the story refers to all of the Israelites figuratively as if they were a single person, their ancestor, Israel. Alternate translation: “the people of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]) EZR 7 11 qjr1 translate-names הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא 1 This is a copy of the letter Artaxerxes is the name of a man. It also occurs in [7:12](../07/12.md) and [7:21](../07/21.md) in this chapter. See how you translated it in [4:7](../04/07.md). Alternate translation: “King Artaxerxes of Persia” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 7 11 xf26 writing-newevent וְ⁠זֶ֣ה 1 This is a copy of the letter The word **now** introduces a new event in the story. You do not need to represent it in your translation unless your language has a similar expression that it characteristically uses. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) -EZR 7 11 xatp figs-informremind לְ⁠עֶזְרָ֥א הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֖ן הַ⁠סֹּפֵ֑ר סֹפֵ֞ר דִּבְרֵ֧י מִצְוֺת־יְהוָ֛ה וְ⁠חֻקָּ֖י⁠ו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 This is a copy of the letter Here, the book repeats some background information to remind readers who Ezra was. Alternate translation: “Ezra, who was a priest and a scribe, and who had carefully studied everything that Yahweh, in the law, had commanded the people of Israel to do" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) +EZR 7 11 xatp figs-informremind לְ⁠עֶזְרָ֥א הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֖ן הַ⁠סֹּפֵ֑ר סֹפֵ֞ר דִּבְרֵ֧י מִצְוֺת־יְהוָ֛ה וְ⁠חֻקָּ֖י⁠ו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 This is a copy of the letter Here, the book repeats some background information to remind readers who Ezra was. Alternate translation: “Ezra, who was a priest and a scribe, and who had carefully studied everything that Yahweh, in the law, had commanded the people of Israel to do” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) EZR 7 11 w5oy figs-doublet מִצְוֺת־יְהוָ֛ה וְ⁠חֻקָּ֖י⁠ו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 This is a copy of the letter These two phrases mean similar things. The book uses them together to refer comprehensively to everything in the law. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that would make the meaning less clear for your readers. Alternate translation: “everything that Yahweh, in the law, had commanded the people of Israel to do” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) EZR 7 11 y4s9 figs-personification יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 This is a copy of the letter As in [7:10](../07/10.md), the story refers here to all of the Israelites figuratively as if they were a single person, their ancestor, Israel. Alternate translation: “the people of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]) EZR 7 12 zcfw figs-quotemarks אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא מֶ֖לֶךְ מַלְכַיָּ֑⁠א לְ⁠עֶזְרָ֣א כָ֠הֲנָ⁠א 1 Artaxerxes, king of kings Here, the book begins to quote a letter of introduction and authorization that Artaxerxes gave to Ezra. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) @@ -755,11 +755,11 @@ EZR 7 14 tpvw figs-metaphor מִן־קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜⁠א…שְׁ EZR 7 14 u9he translate-unknown וְ⁠שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֨⁠הִי֙ 1 the king, and his seven counselors As in [4:5](../04/05.md), **counselors** means royal advisors in the Persian court. The seven mentioned here appear to have been the king’s closest and most important advisors. Alternate translation: “and his seven chief royal advisors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EZR 7 14 dnqr figs-metonymy לְ⁠בַקָּרָ֥א עַל־יְה֖וּד וְ⁠לִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּ⁠דָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖⁠ךְ 1 the king, and his seven counselors Artaxerxes is describing the Jews who in the province of Judah, and especially its capital city of Jerusalem, figuratively, by reference to things that are associated with them, the province and city where they live. Alternate translation: “to see how carefully the Jews living in the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem are following the law of your God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 7 14 v44t figs-explicit לְ⁠בַקָּרָ֥א עַל־יְה֖וּד וְ⁠לִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּ⁠דָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖⁠ךְ 1 to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God The implication, particularly in light of the powers that the king gives Ezra at the end of the letter ([7:25–26](../07/25.md)), is that **inquire** means more than just to find out about. It also implies do something about. Alternate translation: “to make sure that the Jews living in the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem follow the law of your God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 7 14 bwvo figs-metaphor דִּ֥י בִ⁠ידָֽ⁠ךְ 1 to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God Most likely, the word **hand** here means possession, indicating that Ezra was going to bring a written copy of the law of God with him. The phrase **in your hand** could mean that Ezra literally carried a scroll of the law in his hands or that he personally owned a written copy of the law. However, the phrase **in your hand** could also imply that Ezra will use the law as he performs his responsibilities in Judah and Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "that you carry with you" or "that you have with you" or "that you will use" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
+EZR 7 14 bwvo figs-metaphor דִּ֥י בִ⁠ידָֽ⁠ךְ 1 to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God Most likely, the word **hand** here means possession, indicating that Ezra was going to bring a written copy of the law of God with him. The phrase **in your hand** could mean that Ezra literally carried a scroll of the law in his hands or that he personally owned a written copy of the law. However, the phrase **in your hand** could also imply that Ezra will use the law as he performs his responsibilities in Judah and Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “that you carry with you” or “that you have with you” or “that you will use” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
EZR 7 15 m1pn grammar-connect-logic-result וּ⁠לְ⁠הֵיבָלָ֖ה כְּסַ֣ף וּ⁠דְהַ֑ב דִּֽי־מַלְכָּ֣⁠א וְ⁠יָעֲט֗וֹ⁠הִי הִתְנַדַּ֨בוּ֙ לֶ⁠אֱלָ֣הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דִּ֥י בִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם מִשְׁכְּנֵֽ⁠הּ 1 You are to bring the silver and gold Verses [7:14–17](../07/14.md) are one long sentence in Aramaic. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could break up that sentence into several parts. You could make [7:14](../07/14.md) a sentence of its own, and you could divide this verse into two sentences, one describing a reason and the other describing a result. Alternate translation: “and my counselors and I have freely given silver and gold as offerings to the God of Israel. I am also sending you to deliver those gifts to his temple in Jerusalem.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 7 15 uu8a figs-123person מַלְכָּ֣⁠א 1 have freely offered As in [7:14](../07/14.md), Artaxerxes speaks of himself here in the third person. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 7 15 qy1s figs-personification דִּ֥י בִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם מִשְׁכְּנֵֽ⁠הּ 1 have freely offered Artaxerxes speaks of the God of Israel as if he actually lived in Jerusalem. Like Darius in [6:12](../06/12.md), he seems to be echoing Jewish usage, likely to show his respect for the God of Israel. The phrase indicates that Jerusalem is the place from which God chose to start making himself known throughout the world. In this context it seems to refer specifically to the temple since, in the next verse, Artaxerxes associates the silver and gold that he and his counselors have given with further gifts that others may give for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “whose temple is in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]) -EZR 7 16 j69i figs-idiom וְ⁠כֹל֙ כְּסַ֣ף וּ⁠דְהַ֔ב דִּ֣י תְהַשְׁכַּ֔ח בְּ⁠כֹ֖ל מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֑ל 1 the freewill offering of the people and the priests If it would be helpful to your readers, you could also divide this verse into two sentences. This phrase could be the first sentence. **Find** is an idiom that in this context means "can obtain." Artaxerxes is giving Ezra permission to invite everyone in the province of Babylon to contribute. Alternate translation: “I give you permission to ask everyone living in the province of Babylon to contribute silver and gold as well” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 7 16 j69i figs-idiom וְ⁠כֹל֙ כְּסַ֣ף וּ⁠דְהַ֔ב דִּ֣י תְהַשְׁכַּ֔ח בְּ⁠כֹ֖ל מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֑ל 1 the freewill offering of the people and the priests If it would be helpful to your readers, you could also divide this verse into two sentences. This phrase could be the first sentence. **Find** is an idiom that in this context means “can obtain.” Artaxerxes is giving Ezra permission to invite everyone in the province of Babylon to contribute. Alternate translation: “I give you permission to ask everyone living in the province of Babylon to contribute silver and gold as well” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 7 16 p3du figs-explicit וְ⁠כֹל֙ כְּסַ֣ף וּ⁠דְהַ֔ב דִּ֣י תְהַשְׁכַּ֔ח בְּ⁠כֹ֖ל מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֑ל 1 the freewill offering of the people and the priests The implication is that these would be contributions towards the expenses of the worship of Yahweh in the temple in Jerusalem, just like the gifts described in the rest of the verse. The further implication is that, just as the king and his counselors were sympathetic to the Jews in Jerusalem and eager to please the **God of heaven** ([7:23](../07/23.md)), others in the province might be as well. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “I authorize you to ask everyone living in the province of Babylon to contribute silver and gold towards the expenses of the worship of Yahweh in the temple in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 7 16 epbi figs-metonymy בְּ⁠כֹ֖ל מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֑ל 1 the freewill offering of the people and the priests Artaxerxes is describing the people who live in the province of Babylon figuratively, by reference to something associated with them, the province where they live. Alternate translation: “among everyone living in the province of Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 7 16 i0eg translate-names בָּבֶ֑ל 1 the freewill offering of the people and the priests **Babylon** is the name of one of the provinces in the Persian Empire. See how you translated it in [1:11](../01/11.md). Review the note there if that would be helpful. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) @@ -776,10 +776,10 @@ EZR 7 19 yho1 figs-abstractnouns לְ⁠פָלְחָ֖ן בֵּ֣ית אֱלָה EZR 7 19 bkk8 figs-idiom הַשְׁלֵ֕ם 1 deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem This Aramaic expression means to **make complete**. It is the same one that the Jewish leaders use in [5:16](../05/16.md) when they say that the temple is not “finished” yet. In context it means that Ezra must be sure to deliver every single one of the contributed objects to the temple, so that the complete set that was donated will be reassembled there. (We see him doing this carefully in [8:26–27](../08/26.md)). Alternate translation: “make sure that you deliver every one of them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 7 19 a3tf figs-metaphor קֳדָ֖ם אֱלָ֥הּ יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם 1 for the service of the house of your God In a spatial [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]], Artaxerxes says that Ezra must place the objects **in front of** God, figuratively meaning in God’s presence. Alternate translation: “to Jerusalem, where they can be used in God’s presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 7 19 wsrv figs-metaphor קֳדָ֖ם אֱלָ֥הּ יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם 1 for the service of the house of your God As in [6:18](../06/18.md), in another spatial metaphor, Artaxerxes describes God as if he lived in the city of Jerusalem. This is a figurative reference to the way God’s presence was in the temple in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “to Jerusalem, where they can be used in God’s presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 7 20 tytf figs-idiom וּ⁠שְׁאָ֗ר חַשְׁחוּת֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֔⁠ךְ דִּ֥י יִפֶּל־לָ֖⁠ךְ לְ⁠מִנְתַּ֑ן 1 treasury **That falls to you to give** is an idiom that means "that you have occasion to give," in other words, "that you have to provide.* Alternate translation: “And anything else that you need to provide for the temple of your God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 7 20 tytf figs-idiom וּ⁠שְׁאָ֗ר חַשְׁחוּת֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֔⁠ךְ דִּ֥י יִפֶּל־לָ֖⁠ךְ לְ⁠מִנְתַּ֑ן 1 treasury **That falls to you to give** is an idiom that means “that you have occasion to give,” in other words, “that you have to provide.* Alternate translation: “And anything else that you need to provide for the temple of your God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 7 20 gshw figs-synecdoche תִּנְתֵּ֕ן מִן־בֵּ֖ית גִּנְזֵ֥י מַלְכָּֽ⁠א 1 treasury This does not mean, as in [5:17](../05/17.md), the place where valuable royal documents were stored. Rather, as with the shorter expression **the treasures of the king** in [6:8](../06/08.md), it means the royal treasury or the royal revenue. It is not necessarily a physical building. **House** likely represents all the wealth of the king figuratively. It is a metaphor for **property**, meaning everything a person owns and keeps in their house, and by extension everything they own. Alternate translation: “ pay for from my royal treasury” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) EZR 7 20 hgu9 figs-123person בֵּ֖ית גִּנְזֵ֥י מַלְכָּֽ⁠א 1 treasury Artaxerxes speaks of himself here in the third person. Alternate translation: “my royal treasury” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) -EZR 7 21 wiy2 grammar-connect-logic-result וּ֠⁠מִנִּ⁠י 1 Connecting Statement: This phrase indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. Specifically, Artaxerxes has just said that Ezra may pay for additional expenses out of the royal treasury. Consequently, regarding providing funds to Ezra, he will now give instructions to the officials responsible for administering the royal revenue in the province where Jerusalem is located. Alternate translation: "Consequently, from me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) +EZR 7 21 wiy2 grammar-connect-logic-result וּ֠⁠מִנִּ⁠י 1 Connecting Statement: This phrase indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. Specifically, Artaxerxes has just said that Ezra may pay for additional expenses out of the royal treasury. Consequently, regarding providing funds to Ezra, he will now give instructions to the officials responsible for administering the royal revenue in the province where Jerusalem is located. Alternate translation: “Consequently, from me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 7 21 rfxe figs-123person וּ֠⁠מִנִּ⁠י אֲנָ֞ה אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מַלְכָּ⁠א֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם 1 Connecting Statement: Up to this point in the letter, Artaxerxes has been addressing Ezra, and he has spoken of himself mostly in the third person. But now as he turns to address a new audience, the royal treasurers, he speaks of himself in the first person, and he uses the emphatic form **me myself** and repeats his name and title, as in [7:12](../07/12.md). If you have been translating the king’s use of the third person for himself in this letter with the second person in your language, it may be helpful to your readers if you use some emphatic form or extended phrase here to show this transition. Alternate translation: “ And I, King Artaxerxes, am personally commanding” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 7 21 h6c8 figs-activepassive וּ֠⁠מִנִּ⁠י אֲנָ֞ה אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מַלְכָּ⁠א֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם…דִּ֣י כָל־דִּ֣י יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְ⁠כוֹן עֶזְרָ֨א…אָסְפַּ֖רְנָא יִתְעֲבִֽד 1 that anything that Ezra…asks from you, let it be done diligently If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “And I, King Artaxerxes, am personally commanding you to give Ezra anything he asks from you, and to do that exactly and promptly” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 7 21 mlat figs-you יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְ⁠כוֹן 1 that anything that Ezra…asks from you, let it be done diligently The king is now addressing the treasurers, so **you** refers to the treasurers here and in [7:24](../07/24.md). If your language distinguishes between forms of you, the form for a superior addressing a group of people would be appropriate. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]]) @@ -800,16 +800,16 @@ EZR 7 23 x6h5 figs-metonymy דִּֽי־לְ⁠מָ֤ה לֶֽהֱוֵא֙ קְ EZR 7 23 jptx figs-metonymy מַלְכ֥וּת מַלְכָּ֖⁠א וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי 1 For why should his wrath come upon the kingdom of me and my sons God would not actually be angry with the realm over which Artaxerxes has authority. Rather, he uses the term **kingdom** to describe himself and his descendants figuratively by reference to something associated with them. Alternate translation: “me or any of my descendants who rule after me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 7 23 aia6 figs-123person מַלְכָּ֖⁠א וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי 1 For why should his wrath come upon the kingdom of me and my sons Artaxerxes speaks of himself here in the third person. Alternate translation: “me or any of my descendants who rule after me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 7 23 wo5t figs-metaphor וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי 1 For why should his wrath come upon the kingdom of me and my sons This could possibly mean the biological sons of King Artaxerxes, but since he speaks of the kingdom as belonging to them, it is more likely that this is a figurative reference to his descendants, and specifically the line of direct descendants who would rule Persia as his successors. (If it would be helpful, review the notes to [4:15](../04/15.md) and [6:10](../06/10.md) about how Persian kings considered their predecessors their **fathers** and their successors their **sons**.) Alternate translation: “my descendants who rule after me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 7 24 pw3i figs-exclusive וּ⁠לְ⁠כֹ֣ם מְהוֹדְעִ֗ין דִּ֣י…מִנְדָּ֤ה בְלוֹ֙ וַ⁠הֲלָ֔ךְ לָ֥א שַׁלִּ֖יט לְ⁠מִרְמֵ֥א עֲלֵי⁠הֹֽם 1 Connecting Statement: To this point in the letter, Artaxerxes has referred to himself in the singular, whether in the second person or the third person. But here he uses the plural. This could possibly indicate **I and my seven chief royal counselors**, as in [7:15](../07/15.md). However, since he spoke initially to these treasurers so individually and emphatically in [7:21](../07/21.md), it seems unlikely that he would appeal to supporting authorities when giving these further instructions to them. Rather, it seems that the king speaks in the plural here because he has just envisioned himself within a succession of kings who will rule over this kingdom. (As the expression **the revenue of the kings** in [4:13](../04/13.md) shows, the Persian emperors could envision their actions and decisions as embodying those of later kings.) So **we** most likely means "I," and you could say that as an alternate translation. On the other hand, if you decide to say **we**, you should use the form that does not include the addressees, if your language makes that distinction. Alternate translation: “And I am informing you that you have no authority to collect taxes, tribute, or duty from” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]]) +EZR 7 24 pw3i figs-exclusive וּ⁠לְ⁠כֹ֣ם מְהוֹדְעִ֗ין דִּ֣י…מִנְדָּ֤ה בְלוֹ֙ וַ⁠הֲלָ֔ךְ לָ֥א שַׁלִּ֖יט לְ⁠מִרְמֵ֥א עֲלֵי⁠הֹֽם 1 Connecting Statement: To this point in the letter, Artaxerxes has referred to himself in the singular, whether in the second person or the third person. But here he uses the plural. This could possibly indicate **I and my seven chief royal counselors**, as in [7:15](../07/15.md). However, since he spoke initially to these treasurers so individually and emphatically in [7:21](../07/21.md), it seems unlikely that he would appeal to supporting authorities when giving these further instructions to them. Rather, it seems that the king speaks in the plural here because he has just envisioned himself within a succession of kings who will rule over this kingdom. (As the expression **the revenue of the kings** in [4:13](../04/13.md) shows, the Persian emperors could envision their actions and decisions as embodying those of later kings.) So **we** most likely means “I,” and you could say that as an alternate translation. On the other hand, if you decide to say **we**, you should use the form that does not include the addressees, if your language makes that distinction. Alternate translation: “And I am informing you that you have no authority to collect taxes, tribute, or duty from” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]]) EZR 7 24 wx23 מִנְדָּ֤ה בְלוֹ֙ וַ⁠הֲלָ֔ךְ 1 We also make known to you that it is not lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom See how you translated this phrase in [4:13](../04/13.md). -EZR 7 24 kw6q grammar-connect-logic-result כָל־כָּהֲנַיָּ֣⁠א וְ֠⁠לֵוָיֵ⁠א זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤⁠א תָרָֽעַיָּ⁠א֙ נְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔⁠א וּ⁠פָ֣לְחֵ֔י בֵּ֖ית אֱלָהָ֣⁠א דְנָ֑ה 1 We also make known to you that it is not lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom The last phrase, **the servants of that house of God**, describes what the people in the five groups listed all have in common. They all work in the temple of God. In this way, the phrase gives the reason why the treasurers may not impose taxes on anyone in any of these groups. Likely as a further way of supporting the temple, and perhaps also as a gesture of respect for God, Artaxerxes is providing an exemption from taxes for all temple personnel. If it would be clearer in your language, you could make this the first part of the sentence, since it gives the reason for the results that the rest of the sentence describes. Alternate translation: “because the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinim all work in the temple of the God who rules in heaven" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) +EZR 7 24 kw6q grammar-connect-logic-result כָל־כָּהֲנַיָּ֣⁠א וְ֠⁠לֵוָיֵ⁠א זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤⁠א תָרָֽעַיָּ⁠א֙ נְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔⁠א וּ⁠פָ֣לְחֵ֔י בֵּ֖ית אֱלָהָ֣⁠א דְנָ֑ה 1 We also make known to you that it is not lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom The last phrase, **the servants of that house of God**, describes what the people in the five groups listed all have in common. They all work in the temple of God. In this way, the phrase gives the reason why the treasurers may not impose taxes on anyone in any of these groups. Likely as a further way of supporting the temple, and perhaps also as a gesture of respect for God, Artaxerxes is providing an exemption from taxes for all temple personnel. If it would be clearer in your language, you could make this the first part of the sentence, since it gives the reason for the results that the rest of the sentence describes. Alternate translation: “because the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinim all work in the temple of the God who rules in heaven” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 7 24 mgkt translate-names וְ֠⁠לֵוָיֵ⁠א 1 We also make known to you that it is not lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom See how you translated this term in [2:40](../02/40.md). Review the explanation in the note there if that would be helpful. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 7 24 ycd8 זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤⁠א 1 musicians This is the same occupational group as in [2:41](../02/41.md). Review the explanation in the note there if that would be helpful. EZR 7 24 gonv תָרָֽעַיָּ⁠א֙ 1 musicians This is the same occupational group as in [2:42](../02/42.md). Review the explanation in the note there if that would be helpful. EZR 7 24 nk0a translate-names נְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔⁠א 1 musicians See how you translated this term in [2:43](../02/43.md). Review the explanation in the note there if that would be helpful. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 7 25 r244 figs-you וְ⁠אַ֣נְתְּ עֶזְרָ֗א 1 Connecting Statement: The king now returns to address Ezra personally, so **you** refers to him here, and you and your similarly refer to him in all of their other occurrences through [7:26](../07/26.md), except in the phrase **you shall teach** at the end of this verse. If your language distinguishes between forms of you, the form for a superior addressing a respected individual would be appropriate. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]]) -EZR 7 25 qzk1 figs-metaphor אֱלָהָ֤⁠ךְ דִּֽי־בִ⁠ידָ⁠ךְ֙ 1 according to the wisdom of God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates Most likely, the term **hand** means the same thing as in [7:14](../07/14.md), where the law of God is described as being in Ezra's hand. As before, the phrase **in your hand** could mean that Ezra is literally carrying a scroll of God's wisdom or that he personally owns a scroll of God's wisdom. The phrase **in your hand** could also imply that Ezra will use God's wisdom as he performs his responsibilities to appoint magistrates and judges. Alternate translation: “that you carry with you” or "that you have with you" or "that you will use" (See:[[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 7 25 p1rc figs-abstractnouns כְּ⁠חָכְמַ֨ת אֱלָהָ֤⁠ךְ 1 according to the wisdom of God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates As the previous note illustrates, the idea behind the abstract noun **wisdom** can be expressed either with a verbal phrase, "you have become wise*", or with a noun phrase, "the law of your God." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EZR 7 25 qzk1 figs-metaphor אֱלָהָ֤⁠ךְ דִּֽי־בִ⁠ידָ⁠ךְ֙ 1 according to the wisdom of God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates Most likely, the term **hand** means the same thing as in [7:14](../07/14.md), where the law of God is described as being in Ezra's hand. As before, the phrase **in your hand** could mean that Ezra is literally carrying a scroll of God's wisdom or that he personally owns a scroll of God's wisdom. The phrase **in your hand** could also imply that Ezra will use God's wisdom as he performs his responsibilities to appoint magistrates and judges. Alternate translation: “that you carry with you” or “that you have with you” or “that you will use” (See:[[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 7 25 p1rc figs-abstractnouns כְּ⁠חָכְמַ֨ת אֱלָהָ֤⁠ךְ 1 according to the wisdom of God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates As the previous note illustrates, the idea behind the abstract noun **wisdom** can be expressed either with a verbal phrase, “you have become wise*”, or with a noun phrase, “the law of your God.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 7 25 af8j figs-metonymy דִּֽי־בִ⁠ידָ⁠ךְ֙ 1 according to the wisdom of God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates See how you translated this phrase in [7:14](../07/14.md). Review the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “that you are bringing with you” or “which will be the authority behind any measures you need to take” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 7 25 y54v figs-doublet מֶ֣נִּי שָׁפְטִ֞ין וְ⁠דַיָּנִ֗ין דִּי־לֶהֱוֺ֤ן דאנין 1 according to the wisdom of God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates There are two possibilities here. (1) The terms **magistrates** and **judges** mean similar things. Artaxerxes may be using the two words together to emphasize the authority that Ezra has to ensure that the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem follow God’s commandments. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these terms. Alternate translation: “appoint judges so that they can judge” (2) Artaxerxes could also be using these two terms to refer to people in slightly different roles. The first term may refer to officials who decide disputes between people, and the second term may refer to officials who interpret the law and apply it to specific situations. This is the reading of UST. Alternate translation: “appoint officials who can decide disputes between people and officials who can interpret and apply the law.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) EZR 7 25 waab לְ⁠כָל־עַמָּ⁠ה֙ דִּ֚י בַּ⁠עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔⁠ה לְ⁠כָל־יָדְעֵ֖י דָּתֵ֣י אֱלָהָ֑⁠ךְ 1 according to the wisdom of God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates The second phrase clarifies the meaning of the first phrase, showing that Artaxerxes is referring specifically to the Jews who live in this province. He is allowing the Jews there to have their own legal system, based on the law of Moses. Alternate translation: “all the Jews living in Beyond-the-River province, who know the laws of your God” @@ -820,10 +820,10 @@ EZR 7 26 lu8e figs-activepassive וְ⁠כָל־דִּי־לָא֩ לֶהֱוֵ EZR 7 26 vheg figs-123person וְ⁠דָתָ⁠א֙ דִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֔⁠א 1 whether death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment Artaxerxes speaks of himself in the third person. Alternate translation: “my decrees” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 7 26 sr94 figs-abstractnouns הֵ֤ן לְ⁠מוֹת֙ הֵ֣ן ל⁠שרשו הֵן־לַ⁠עֲנָ֥שׁ נִכְסִ֖ין וְ⁠לֶ⁠אֱסוּרִֽין 1 whether death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment The abstract nouns **death**, **banishment**, **confiscation**, and **imprisonment** can be translated with verbs. Alternate translation: “as they see fit, they may execute offenders, or make them leave the community, or seize the things they own, or put them in prison” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 7 26 rz8o figs-quotemarks וְ⁠לֶ⁠אֱסוּרִֽין 1 whether death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment Here, the book ends its quotation of the letter of introduction and authorization that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra. If you decided in [7:12](../07/12.md) to mark his words as a quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing primary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) -EZR 7 27 qh6m writing-participants בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 Connecting Statement: Previously in the book, Ezra has been a character in a story that someone else has been telling. Here he becomes the person telling the story, and he continues to tell it through to the end of chapter 9. In effect, the letter of introduction that King Artaxerxes wrote for him has been his introduction to us as well. The book does not say specifically that Ezra will now be the narrator, although one indication is that when Ezra is telling the story, he refers to himself as "I" and to the Jewish community as "us," and another indication is that the book is now written in Hebrew again. But if it would be helpful to your readers, you could add a phrase to indicate this. Alternate translation: “When I, Ezra, received this letter from the king, I prayed, ‘Thank you, Yahweh, the God of our ancestors’” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-participants]]) +EZR 7 27 qh6m writing-participants בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 Connecting Statement: Previously in the book, Ezra has been a character in a story that someone else has been telling. Here he becomes the person telling the story, and he continues to tell it through to the end of chapter 9. In effect, the letter of introduction that King Artaxerxes wrote for him has been his introduction to us as well. The book does not say specifically that Ezra will now be the narrator, although one indication is that when Ezra is telling the story, he refers to himself as “I” and to the Jewish community as “us,” and another indication is that the book is now written in Hebrew again. But if it would be helpful to your readers, you could add a phrase to indicate this. Alternate translation: “When I, Ezra, received this letter from the king, I prayed, ‘Thank you, Yahweh, the God of our ancestors’” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-participants]]) EZR 7 27 yfls figs-aside בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 Connecting Statement: The first thing that Ezra does when he begins to tell his own story is pray to God, rather than address the audience that will hear his story. If you decided to add a phrase to introduce him as the new narrator, you could use that same phrase to introduce this prayer as a direct quotation. Alternate translation: “When I, Ezra, received this letter from the king, I prayed, ‘Thank you, Yahweh, the God of our ancestors’” Otherwise, you could show that this prayer is distinct from the story by setting it off with quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation. The quotation should end in the middle of [7:28](../07/28.md), after “the mighty officials of the king.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-aside]]) EZR 7 27 qub7 figs-123person בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֖ה 1 Connecting Statement: Although Ezra speaks of Yahweh in the third person here, he is actually praying a prayer of thanksgiving to Yahweh. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate his words in the second person. Alternate translation: “Thank you, Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) -EZR 7 27 nlii figs-metaphor אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 Connecting Statement: **Fathers** here figuratively means "ancestors." Alternate translation: “the God of our ancestors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 7 27 nlii figs-metaphor אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 Connecting Statement: **Fathers** here figuratively means “ancestors.” Alternate translation: “the God of our ancestors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 7 27 t4cz figs-metaphor נָתַ֤ן כָּ⁠זֹאת֙ בְּ⁠לֵ֣ב הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ לְ⁠פָאֵ֕ר אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָֽם 1 placed such a thing into the heart of the king to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem Giving something in the king’s heart, that is, putting something in it, means leading him to have certain thoughts and desires. Alternate translation: “led the king to want to glorify the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 7 27 w14w figs-metaphor לְ⁠פָאֵ֕ר אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה 1 the house of Yahweh This expression means to make something bright, glorious, or beautiful. Artaxerxes was not doing this literally, the way Cyrus and Darius did by supporting the physical rebuilding of the temple. Rather, Artaxerxes was making sure that the temple would always have everything it needed to keep operating. In that way he was making sure that the temple would not languish and be disrespected, but rather, always be a vibrant place that was held in honor. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the meaning in a non-figurative way. Alternate translation: “to honor the temple of Yahweh” or “to make sure that the temple of Yahweh would always be a vibrant place” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 7 28 y4zu figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠עָלַ֣⁠י הִטָּה־חֶ֗סֶד לִ⁠פְנֵ֤י הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ⁠יֽוֹעֲצָ֔י⁠ו וּ⁠לְ⁠כָל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ⁠גִּבֹּרִ֑ים 1 who has extended covenant faithfulness to me Here, the abstract noun **faithfulness** refers to a person wanting to do everything they can to help another person. As in [3:11](../03/11.md), **covenant faithfulness** refers specifically to Yahweh doing that for the people of Israel in order to keep the promises he had made to them. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as **help**. Alternate translation: “and helped me get everything I needed from the king, as I was in his presence and in the presence of his counselors and mighty officials” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) @@ -833,65 +833,65 @@ EZR 7 28 pb8i figs-quotemarks שָׂרֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ⁠גּ EZR 7 28 q1iu figs-metonymy הִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּי כְּ⁠יַד־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהַ⁠י֙ עָלַ֔⁠י 1 So I was strengthened As in [7:6](../07/06.md), **hand** figuratively represents power and control, and the expression **the hand of Yahweh my God upon me** indicates that Ezra enjoyed Yahweh’s care, protection, and favor. Alternate translation: “I was encouraged because I recognized that Yahweh my God was helping me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 7 28 gxx2 figs-ellipsis מִ⁠יִּשְׂרָאֵ֛ל רָאשִׁ֖ים 1 as the hand of Yahweh my God was upon me As [8:1](../08/01.md) shows, **heads** here is an abbreviated way of saying **heads of father’s houses**. Alternate translation: “clan leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 7 28 agha figs-idiom לַ⁠עֲל֥וֹת עִמִּֽ⁠י 1 as the hand of Yahweh my God was upon me Ezra says **go up** because he and the group he was leading would have to travel from a river valley up into the mountains in order to return from their places of exile to Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “to return to Jerusalem with me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 8 intro ye9m 0 # Ezra 08 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### The people’s return to Judah
Many people went back to Judah with Ezra. They trusted God to protect them and the precious items they carried with them, which had been given for the temple. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/trust]]) +EZR 8 intro ye9m 0 # Ezra 08 General Notes

## Special concepts in this chapter

### The people’s return to Judah

Many people went back to Judah with Ezra. They trusted God to protect them and the precious items they carried with them, which had been given for the temple. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/trust]]) EZR 8 1 6wtp writing-newevent וְ⁠אֵ֛לֶּה 1 General Information: The word **now** introduces a new event in the story. You do not need to represent it in your translation unless your language has a similar expression that it characteristically uses. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) -EZR 8 1 ss8d figs-ellipsis וְ⁠אֵ֛לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֥י אֲבֹתֵי⁠הֶ֖ם וְ⁠הִתְיַחְשָׂ֑⁠ם הָ⁠עֹלִ֣ים עִמִּ֗⁠י 1 General Information: As in [4:3](../04/03.md), **heads of fathers** is an abbreviated way of saying "heads of father’s houses." Review the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “These are the names of the clan leaders, along with the names of their clans, of those who traveled with me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) +EZR 8 1 ss8d figs-ellipsis וְ⁠אֵ֛לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֥י אֲבֹתֵי⁠הֶ֖ם וְ⁠הִתְיַחְשָׂ֑⁠ם הָ⁠עֹלִ֣ים עִמִּ֗⁠י 1 General Information: As in [4:3](../04/03.md), **heads of fathers** is an abbreviated way of saying “heads of father’s houses.” Review the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “These are the names of the clan leaders, along with the names of their clans, of those who traveled with me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 8 1 u9yy figs-idiom הָ⁠עֹלִ֣ים עִמִּ֗⁠י…מִ⁠בָּבֶֽל 1 General Information: As in [7:28](../07/28.md), Ezra says **go up** because the trip from Babylon to Jerusalem would involve a significant climb in elevation. Alternate translation: “who returned from Babylon with me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 8 1 f1jb figs-explicit בְּ⁠מַלְכ֛וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ 1 General Information: As [7:8–9](../07/08.md) indicates, this was specifically in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “during the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes as king of Persia.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 1 e7pk translate-ordinal בְּ⁠מַלְכ֛וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ 1 General Information: If you choose to make the implicit information explicit, but your language does not use [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]], you can say “during year seven of the reign of Artaxerxes as king of Persia.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) -EZR 8 2 m2b9 figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֤י פִֽינְחָס֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם 1 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants." Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 2 m2b9 figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֤י פִֽינְחָס֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם 1 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants.” Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 2 t1dg translate-names פִֽינְחָס֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם 1 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom These are the names of two men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 8 2 i7e9 figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י אִיתָמָ֖ר דָּנִיֵּ֑אל 1 of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants." Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 2 i7e9 figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י אִיתָמָ֖ר דָּנִיֵּ֑אל 1 of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants.” Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 2 uzuw translate-names אִיתָמָ֖ר דָּנִיֵּ֑אל 1 of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel These are the names of two men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 8 2 kb7h figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד חַטּֽוּשׁ 1 of the sons of David, Hattush Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants." Alternate translation: “From the descendants of David, Hattush” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 2 kb7h figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד חַטּֽוּשׁ 1 of the sons of David, Hattush Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants.” Alternate translation: “From the descendants of David, Hattush” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 2 xt4r translate-names דָוִ֖יד חַטּֽוּשׁ 1 Hattush These are the names of two men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 3 m91f figs-explicit מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה ס מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י פַרְעֹ֖שׁ זְכַרְיָ֑ה 1 Parosh This could mean one of two things. (1) It could mean that Zechariah was the clan leader of the descendants of Shecaniah, and that they were all descendants of a more remote ancestor named Parosh. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Shecaniah, who were descendants of Parosh, Zechariah.” (2) More likely, the phrase “from the sons of Shecaniah” applies to the end of the previous verse. 1 Chronicles 3:19–22 shows that Hattush was the grandson of Shecaniah, and that Shecaniah was either the grandson or a more distant descendant of Zerubbabel, who was a descendant of King David. (As several of the following verses show, further information like this may be provided about the clan leaders on this list.) So the end of [8:2](../08/02.md) and the beginning of [8:3](../08/03.md) could read, as an alternate translation: “From the descendants of King David, Hattush, one of the descendants of Shecaniah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 3 veab figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה ס מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י פַרְעֹ֖שׁ זְכַרְיָ֑ה 1 Parosh Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants." Alternate translation: (1) “From the descendants of Shecaniah, who were descendants of Parosh, Zechariah” or (2) “one of the descendants of Shecaniah. From the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah” (The numbers refer to the options in the previous note.) (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 3 veab figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה ס מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י פַרְעֹ֖שׁ זְכַרְיָ֑ה 1 Parosh Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants.” Alternate translation: (1) “From the descendants of Shecaniah, who were descendants of Parosh, Zechariah” or (2) “one of the descendants of Shecaniah. From the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah” (The numbers refer to the options in the previous note.) (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 3 f6xt translate-names שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה…פַרְעֹ֖שׁ זְכַרְיָ֑ה 1 Parosh These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 3 ds2y figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֛⁠וֹ הִתְיַחֵ֥שׂ לִ⁠זְכָרִ֖ים מֵאָ֥ה וַ⁠חֲמִשִּֽׁים 1 with him were registered150 males The implication is that these 150 males belonged to the same clan as Zechariah. Alternate translation: “along with 150 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 4 f7d5 figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵי֙ פַּחַ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב אֶלְיְהֽוֹעֵינַ֖י בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֑ה 1 of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants," but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 4 f7d5 figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵי֙ פַּחַ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב אֶלְיְהֽוֹעֵינַ֖י בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֑ה 1 of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants,” but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 4 c961 translate-names פַּחַ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב אֶלְיְהֽוֹעֵינַ֖י…זְרַֽחְיָ֑ה 1 General Information: These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 4 y6jz figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֖⁠וֹ מָאתַ֥יִם הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 with him were two hundred males See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 200 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 5 qrqj figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י שְׁכַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יַחֲזִיאֵ֑ל 1 three hundred Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants," but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 5 qrqj figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י שְׁכַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יַחֲזִיאֵ֑ל 1 three hundred Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants,” but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 5 sxis translate-textvariants מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י שְׁכַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יַחֲזִיאֵ֑ל 1 three hundred Since this list has been providing the name of each clan leader, it would be unusual for it to omit the leader’s name here and state only the name of his father. It seems that the name of the clan was accidentally left out at one point in the copying process. Other ancient versions of the Old Testament read, “from the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could treat that as the correct text. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-textvariants]]) EZR 8 5 c416 translate-names שְׁכַנְיָ֖ה…יַחֲזִיאֵ֑ל 1 three hundred These are the names of two men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 5 j5rk figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֕⁠וֹ שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 three hundred See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 300 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 6 x9hz figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י עָדִ֔ין עֶ֖בֶד בֶּן־יוֹנָתָ֑ן 1 Adin Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants," but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 6 x9hz figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י עָדִ֔ין עֶ֖בֶד בֶּן־יוֹנָתָ֑ן 1 Adin Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants,” but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 6 vqsg translate-names עָדִ֔ין עֶ֖בֶד…יוֹנָתָ֑ן 1 Adin These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 6 c84d figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֖⁠וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 fifty See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 50 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 7 yegf figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י עֵילָ֔ם יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה בֶּן־עֲתַלְיָ֑ה 1 seventy Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants," but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 7 yegf figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י עֵילָ֔ם יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה בֶּן־עֲתַלְיָ֑ה 1 seventy Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants,” but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 7 w1un translate-names עֵילָ֔ם יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה…עֲתַלְיָ֑ה 1 seventy These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 7 f2s8 figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֖⁠וֹ שִׁבְעִ֥ים הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 seventy See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 70 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 8 wa5l figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה זְבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מִֽיכָאֵ֑ל 1 General Information: Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants," but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 8 wa5l figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה זְבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מִֽיכָאֵ֑ל 1 General Information: Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants,” but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 8 b23z translate-names שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה זְבַדְיָ֖ה…מִֽיכָאֵ֑ל 1 General Information: These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 8 w6u1 figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֖⁠וֹ שְׁמֹנִ֥ים הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 with him eighty males See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 80 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 9 w699 figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב עֹבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יְחִיאֵ֑ל 1 218 males Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants," but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 9 w699 figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב עֹבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יְחִיאֵ֑ל 1 218 males Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants,” but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 9 u1te translate-names יוֹאָ֔ב עֹבַדְיָ֖ה…יְחִיאֵ֑ל 1 218 males These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 9 ude8 figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֕⁠וֹ מָאתַ֛יִם וּ⁠שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 218 males See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 218 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 10 x1dx figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י שְׁלוֹמִ֖ית בֶּן־יוֹסִפְיָ֑ה 1 160 males Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants", but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 10 x1dx figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י שְׁלוֹמִ֖ית בֶּן־יוֹסִפְיָ֑ה 1 160 males Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants”, but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 10 unnl translate-textvariants וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י שְׁלוֹמִ֖ית בֶּן־יוֹסִפְיָ֑ה 1 160 males It appears that, as in [8:5](../08/05.md), the name of the clan has accidentally dropped out here also. Some manuscripts of an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament read, “from the descendants of Bani, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could treat that as the correct text. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Bani, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-textvariants]]) EZR 8 10 ex7w translate-names שְׁלוֹמִ֖ית…יוֹסִפְיָ֑ה 1 160 males These are the names of two men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 10 y254 figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֕⁠וֹ מֵאָ֥ה וְ⁠שִׁשִּׁ֖ים הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 160 males See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 160 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 11 s7ng figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־בֵּבָ֑י 1 Bebai Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants," but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 11 s7ng figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־בֵּבָ֑י 1 Bebai Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants,” but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 11 ywsh translate-names בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה…בֵּבָ֑י 1 Bebai These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 11 w892 figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֕⁠וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁמֹנָ֖ה הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 twenty-eight See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 28 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 12 a3dx figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י עַזְגָּ֔ד יוֹחָנָ֖ן בֶּן־הַ⁠קָּטָ֑ן 1 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants," but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 12 a3dx figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י עַזְגָּ֔ד יוֹחָנָ֖ן בֶּן־הַ⁠קָּטָ֑ן 1 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants,” but **son** most likely means a biological son. Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 12 z7xc translate-names עַזְגָּ֔ד יוֹחָנָ֖ן…הַ⁠קָּטָ֑ן 1 General Information: These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 12 j4bn figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֕⁠וֹ מֵאָ֥ה וַ⁠עֲשָׂרָ֖ה הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 with him 110 males See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 110 men from his clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 13 rzr8 וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיקָם֮ אַחֲרֹנִים֒ וְ⁠אֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמוֹתָ֔⁠ם אֱלִיפֶ֖לֶט יְעִיאֵ֣ל וּֽ⁠שְׁמַעְיָ֑ה 1 of the sons of Adonikam The implication is that some descendants of Adonikam still remained in Babylon even after a large number of his descendants returned to Judah with Zerubbabel, as [2:13](../02/13.md) describes. The term **last** here indicates that. A further implication is that the clan leader was now in Judah, so that the names provided are instead of family leaders who led this group on its return. Alternate translation: “And from the descendants of Adonikam who had remained in Babylon, the family leaders Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah” EZR 8 13 k1ic translate-names אֲדֹנִיקָם֮…אֱלִיפֶ֖לֶט יְעִיאֵ֣ל וּֽ⁠שְׁמַעְיָ֑ה 1 Adonikam These are the names of four men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 13 hu49 figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמָּ⁠הֶ֖ם שִׁשִּׁ֥ים הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 sixty See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. Alternate translation: “along with 60 men from their clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 14 p7ej figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י בִגְוַ֖י עוּתַ֣י וְזַכּ֑וּר 1 Bigvai **Sons** here figuratively means "descendants." Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 14 p7ej figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י בִגְוַ֖י עוּתַ֣י וְזַכּ֑וּר 1 Bigvai **Sons** here figuratively means “descendants.” Alternate translation: “From the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 14 we81 figs-explicit וְ⁠עִמּ֖⁠וֹ שִׁבְעִ֥ים הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים 1 seventy See the note to [8:3](../08/03.md) about this expression. **Him** actually refers to both Uthai and Zaccur, so you can use a plural pronoun in your translation if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “along with 70 men from their clan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 15 x4yl grammar-connect-time-sequential וָֽ⁠אֶקְבְּצֵ֗⁠ם 1 General Information: This word indicates that the events the story will now relate came after the event it has just described, that is, after the identification of all the people who would be traveling to Jerusalem with Ezra. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as “Then.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 8 15 zfwz figs-explicit וָֽ⁠אֶקְבְּצֵ֗⁠ם אֶל־הַ⁠נָּהָר֙ הַ⁠בָּ֣א אֶֽל־אַהֲוָ֔א וַ⁠נַּחֲנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֣ים שְׁלֹשָׁ֑ה 1 General Information: **Them** means everyone listed in [8:2–14](../08/02.md), everyone who would be traveling with Ezra. The implication is that they all packed for the trip and set out from their homes, but then assembled at a location outside of the city of Babylon where Ezra could make sure the group was ready for the trip. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “I had everyone who was going to be traveling with me assemble on the banks of the river that flows from Babylon to Ahava. We camped there for three days so that I could make sure that we had enough temple personnel with us and that we could transport the gold and silver safely” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 15 gl34 translate-names הַ⁠נָּהָר֙ הַ⁠בָּ֣א אֶֽל־אַהֲוָ֔א 1 the river that flows to Ahava The exact location of this river on whose banks the group assembled can no longer be identified. In [8:21](../08/21.md) and [8:31](../08/31.md), Ezra calls it the Ahava River, and you could use that same name here if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “the Ahava River” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 15 cl4j grammar-connect-time-simultaneous וָ⁠אָבִ֤ינָ⁠ה 1 Ahava The word **and** at the beginning of this phrase indicates that this event took place at the same time as the event the story has just related. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship in this case by using a phrase such as “while we were there.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous]]) EZR 8 15 w7og figs-explicit וָ⁠אָבִ֤ינָ⁠ה בָ⁠עָם֙ וּ⁠בַ⁠כֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִ֖י לֹא־מָצָ֥אתִי שָֽׁם 1 Ahava Here, we learn that one purpose of this preliminary encampment was for Ezra to see whether he had all the temple personnel he needed. The implication behind this statement is that Ezra looked over the whole group to make sure that he did. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. (We learn in [8:25](../08/25.md) that a further purpose of the encampment was to make arrangements for the safe transportation of the money and objects that had been donated for the temple.) Alternate translation: “I looked over the whole group and discovered that it consisted of lay people and priests, but there were no Levites among us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 15 o9vg figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִ֖י 1 Ahava Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants." The Levites were descendants of Levi. Alternate translation: “Levites” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 15 o9vg figs-metaphor וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִ֖י 1 Ahava Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants.” The Levites were descendants of Levi. Alternate translation: “Levites” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 16 ufp7 grammar-connect-logic-result וָ⁠אֶשְׁלְחָ֡⁠ה 1 Shemaiah The word **then** indicates that the sentence it introduces explains what Ezra did as a result of what the previous sentence described. Alternate translation: “As a result” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 8 16 sw7e translate-names וָ⁠אֶשְׁלְחָ֡⁠ה לֶ⁠אֱלִיעֶ֡זֶר לַ⁠אֲרִיאֵ֡ל לִֽ֠⁠שְׁמַעְיָה וּ⁠לְ⁠אֶלְנָתָ֨ן וּ⁠לְ⁠יָרִ֜יב וּ⁠לְ⁠אֶלְנָתָ֧ן וּ⁠לְ⁠נָתָ֛ן וְ⁠לִ⁠זְכַרְיָ֥ה וְ⁠לִ⁠מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם 1 Elnathan…Elnathan…Elnathan Here, Ezra lists the names of nine men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 8 16 admv figs-metaphor רָאשִׁ֑ים 1 Elnathan…Elnathan…Elnathan Unlike in [7:28](../07/28.md), here this expression does not mean heads of father’s houses, that is, clan leaders. Rather, **heads** here is simply a figurative way of saying "leaders." None of these nine men, with the possible exception of Zechariah, are among the clan leaders listed in [8:2–14](../08/02.md). (And considering that three of the men whom Ezra summoned were named Elnathan, which shows that several individuals could share the same name, it’s quite possible that this is a different Zechariah from either the one named in [8:3](../08/03.md) or the one named in [8:11](../08/11.md).) Alternate translation: “who were all leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 16 admv figs-metaphor רָאשִׁ֑ים 1 Elnathan…Elnathan…Elnathan Unlike in [7:28](../07/28.md), here this expression does not mean heads of father’s houses, that is, clan leaders. Rather, **heads** here is simply a figurative way of saying “leaders.” None of these nine men, with the possible exception of Zechariah, are among the clan leaders listed in [8:2–14](../08/02.md). (And considering that three of the men whom Ezra summoned were named Elnathan, which shows that several individuals could share the same name, it’s quite possible that this is a different Zechariah from either the one named in [8:3](../08/03.md) or the one named in [8:11](../08/11.md).) Alternate translation: “who were all leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 16 l322 translate-names וּ⁠לְ⁠יוֹיָרִ֥יב וּ⁠לְ⁠אֶלְנָתָ֖ן 1 Elnathan…Elnathan…Elnathan Here Ezra lists the names of two more men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 16 tf03 figs-explicit מְבִינִֽים 1 Elnathan…Elnathan…Elnathan This phrase suggests that while Joiarib and Elnathan were not community leaders like the other nine men, Ezra sent them anyway to help recruit more temple personnel because they were wise and reasonable and could be persuasive. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “because, even though they were not leaders, they were wise” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 17 a4dg figs-explicit אוֹתָ⁠ם֙ עַל־אִדּ֣וֹ הָ⁠רֹ֔אשׁ בְּ⁠כָסִפְיָ֖א הַ⁠מָּק֑וֹם 1 Iddo The implication, since Ezra is trying to recruit Levites, is that Iddo was the leader of the Levites in that place. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “them to speak to a man named Iddo, who was the leader of the Levites at a place called Kasiphia” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -903,10 +903,10 @@ EZR 8 17 p5pg figs-quotations לְ⁠הָֽבִיא־לָ֥⁠נוּ מְשָׁ EZR 8 18 kbq4 grammar-connect-logic-result וַ⁠יָּבִ֨יאּוּ 1 Sherebiah…Mahli This word indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. Alternate translation: “As a result … they brought” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 8 18 a7cr figs-metaphor כְּ⁠יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ הַ⁠טּוֹבָ֤ה עָלֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ 1 So they sent to us by the good hand of our God a man As in the expression **according to the good hand of his God upon him** in [7:6](../07/06.md), **hand** figuratively represents action, and the expression indicates that God showed Ezra favor and helped him on this occasion. Alternate translation: “because our God was helping us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 18 kue1 figs-metaphor אִ֣ישׁ שֶׂ֔כֶל 1 a man of understanding Here, **insight**, that is, the ability to “see into” things, figuratively means to have good judgment. Alternate translation: “a very prudent man” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 8 18 o1sr figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י מַחְלִ֔י בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְ⁠שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה 1 a man of understanding **Sons** figuratively means "descendants" in reference to Mahli, since he was a distant ancestor of the group that Sherebiah belonged to. **Son** figuratively means "descendant" when applied to Levi, since Mahli was actually his grandson. But Levi actually was the biological son of Israel. Alternate translation: “named Sherebiah, one of the descendants of Mahli, the grandson of Levi, the son of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 18 o1sr figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י מַחְלִ֔י בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְ⁠שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה 1 a man of understanding **Sons** figuratively means “descendants” in reference to Mahli, since he was a distant ancestor of the group that Sherebiah belonged to. **Son** figuratively means “descendant” when applied to Levi, since Mahli was actually his grandson. But Levi actually was the biological son of Israel. Alternate translation: “named Sherebiah, one of the descendants of Mahli, the grandson of Levi, the son of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 18 d8n9 translate-names מַחְלִ֔י…לֵוִ֖י…יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְ⁠שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה 1 the son of Levi, the son of Israel These are the names of four men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 8 18 pp9z figs-metaphor וּ⁠בָנָ֥י⁠ו וְ⁠אֶחָ֖י⁠ו שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר 1 eighteen Since this was a small group of related people, it is quite possible that it consisted largely, if not entirely, of Sherebiah’s actual sons and brothers. So you could, in your translation, decide to treat the terms as literal. On the other hand, they could also be figurative, with **sons** meaning "descendants" and **brothers** meaning "relatives." Alternate translation: “along with 18 of his sons and brothers” or “along with 18 of his descendants and relatives” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 8 19 vsm6 figs-metaphor וְ⁠אֶת־חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְ⁠אִתּ֥⁠וֹ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֑י 1 Hashabiah…Merari Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants." Alternate translation: “and they also sent us Hashabiah and Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 18 pp9z figs-metaphor וּ⁠בָנָ֥י⁠ו וְ⁠אֶחָ֖י⁠ו שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר 1 eighteen Since this was a small group of related people, it is quite possible that it consisted largely, if not entirely, of Sherebiah’s actual sons and brothers. So you could, in your translation, decide to treat the terms as literal. On the other hand, they could also be figurative, with **sons** meaning “descendants” and **brothers** meaning “relatives.” Alternate translation: “along with 18 of his sons and brothers” or “along with 18 of his descendants and relatives” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 19 vsm6 figs-metaphor וְ⁠אֶת־חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְ⁠אִתּ֥⁠וֹ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֑י 1 Hashabiah…Merari Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants.” Alternate translation: “and they also sent us Hashabiah and Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 19 mf7n translate-names חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה…יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה…מְרָרִ֑י 1 Jeshaiah These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 19 bwf7 figs-metaphor אֶחָ֥י⁠ו וּ⁠בְנֵי⁠הֶ֖ם 1 twenty This most likely means the brothers of Jeshaiah and the sons of Jeshaiah and his brothers. Since, as in [8:18](../08/18.md), this is a small group of related people, you could decide to treat the terms **brothers** and **sons** as either literal or figurative. Alternate translation: “along with his brothers and their sons” or “along with his relatives and their descendants” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 20 f9pd translate-names נְתִינִ֖ים מָאתַ֣יִם וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִ֑ים 1 officials See how you translated this term in [2:43](../02/43.md). Review the explanation in the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “220 temple servants” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) @@ -918,11 +918,11 @@ EZR 8 21 zh8n translate-names הַ⁠נָּהָ֣ר אַהֲוָ֔א 1 the river EZR 8 21 baiq figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 the river Ahava Here, **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. Alternate translation: “in the presence of our God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 8 21 sq2q figs-metaphor לְ⁠בַקֵּ֤שׁ מִמֶּ֨⁠נּוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֔ה לָ֥⁠נוּ וּ⁠לְ⁠טַפֵּ֖⁠נוּ וּ⁠לְ⁠כָל־רְכוּשֵֽׁ⁠נוּ 1 to seek a straight way from him for us and our little ones, and all our possessions The word **seek** represents asking God to do something for them. A **straight way** figuratively represents safety during travel. Alternate translation: “and to ask God to protect us, our children, and all our possessions while we traveled” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 22 kq0z grammar-connect-logic-result כִּ֣י 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good The word **for** indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the reasons for what the previous sentence described. Alternate translation: “I did this because” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) -EZR 8 22 cb97 בֹ֗שְׁתִּי לִ⁠שְׁא֤וֹל מִן־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ חַ֣יִל וּ⁠פָרָשִׁ֔ים לְ⁠עָזְרֵ֥⁠נוּ מֵ⁠אוֹיֵ֖ב בַּ⁠דָּ֑רֶךְ 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good **An enemy** means "any enemy," and **on the way** means "during our journey." Alternate translation: “I would have been embarrassed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from anyone who might try to harm or rob us during our journey.” +EZR 8 22 cb97 בֹ֗שְׁתִּי לִ⁠שְׁא֤וֹל מִן־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ חַ֣יִל וּ⁠פָרָשִׁ֔ים לְ⁠עָזְרֵ֥⁠נוּ מֵ⁠אוֹיֵ֖ב בַּ⁠דָּ֑רֶךְ 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good **An enemy** means “any enemy,” and **on the way** means “during our journey.” Alternate translation: “I would have been embarrassed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from anyone who might try to harm or rob us during our journey.” EZR 8 22 i43j grammar-connect-logic-result כִּֽי 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good This word indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the reasons for what the previous sentence described. Alternate translation: “Because” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) -EZR 8 22 p625 grammar-connect-logic-result אָמַ֨רְנוּ לַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ לֵ⁠אמֹ֗ר יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤י⁠נוּ עַל־כָּל־מְבַקְשָׁי⁠ו֙ לְ⁠טוֹבָ֔ה וְ⁠עֻזּ֣⁠וֹ וְ⁠אַפּ֔⁠וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־עֹזְבָֽי⁠ו 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good If it would be clearer in your language, you could put this sentence first in the verse, since it gives the reason for the results that the previous sentence in the verse describes. You could show that connection by using a phrase such as "and so" after this sentence. Alternate translation: “We had told the king, ‘Our God protects everyone who obeys him, but he punishes everyone who refuses to serve him.’ And so" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) +EZR 8 22 p625 grammar-connect-logic-result אָמַ֨רְנוּ לַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ לֵ⁠אמֹ֗ר יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤י⁠נוּ עַל־כָּל־מְבַקְשָׁי⁠ו֙ לְ⁠טוֹבָ֔ה וְ⁠עֻזּ֣⁠וֹ וְ⁠אַפּ֔⁠וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־עֹזְבָֽי⁠ו 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good If it would be clearer in your language, you could put this sentence first in the verse, since it gives the reason for the results that the previous sentence in the verse describes. You could show that connection by using a phrase such as “and so” after this sentence. Alternate translation: “We had told the king, ‘Our God protects everyone who obeys him, but he punishes everyone who refuses to serve him.’ And so” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 8 22 hlkg figs-quotemarks יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤י⁠נוּ עַל־כָּל־מְבַקְשָׁי⁠ו֙ לְ⁠טוֹבָ֔ה וְ⁠עֻזּ֣⁠וֹ וְ⁠אַפּ֔⁠וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־עֹזְבָֽי⁠ו 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good This is a direct quotation. Ezra is quoting what he and his fellow travelers had told King Artaxerxes. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off these words within quotation marks or by following whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) -EZR 8 22 n4fd figs-metaphor יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤י⁠נוּ…לְ⁠טוֹבָ֔ה 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good This expression has the same meaning as **the good hand of God** in [7:6](../07/06.md). Here, the word **hand** figuratively represents action, and the phrase **the hand of our God is for good** means the care, protection, and favor of God. Alternate translation: “The favor of our God" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 22 n4fd figs-metaphor יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤י⁠נוּ…לְ⁠טוֹבָ֔ה 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good This expression has the same meaning as **the good hand of God** in [7:6](../07/06.md). Here, the word **hand** figuratively represents action, and the phrase **the hand of our God is for good** means the care, protection, and favor of God. Alternate translation: “The favor of our God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 22 ddh2 figs-metaphor כָּל־מְבַקְשָׁי⁠ו֙ 1 The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good **Who seeking him** is a metaphor for worshiping, serving, and obeying him. Alternate translation: “everyone who loves and obeys him” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 22 fb5x figs-metonymy וְ⁠עֻזּ֣⁠וֹ וְ⁠אַפּ֔⁠וֹ עַ֖ל 1 but his strength and his wrath are against all those who forsake him God’s power and anger being on people is a metonym for him punishing them. Alternate translation: “but he punishes” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 8 22 ep6t figs-metaphor וְ⁠עֻזּ֣⁠וֹ וְ⁠אַפּ֔⁠וֹ 1 but his strength and his wrath are against all those who forsake him Here, the **nose** figuratively represents anger. Alternate translation: “his power and his wrath” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) @@ -935,12 +935,12 @@ EZR 8 24 u78j grammar-connect-time-sequential וָ⁠אַבְדִּ֛ילָ⁠ה EZR 8 24 hgbr translate-textvariants וָ⁠אַבְדִּ֛ילָ⁠ה מִ⁠שָּׂרֵ֥י הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֖ים שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר לְ⁠שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְ⁠עִמָּ⁠הֶ֥ם מֵ⁠אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah Since [8:18](../08/18.md) and [19](../08/19.md) specifically identify Sherebiah and Hashabiah as Levites, they could not have been leaders of the priests. So a mistake seems to have come into the Hebrew text here. An ancient Greek version of the book of Ezra says “and” before Sherebiah, and that agrees with [8:30](../08/30.md), which says that “the priests and the Levites” received the silver and gold and objects that Ezra weighed out to them. It will likely be clearest for your readers if you translate the verse that way. Alternate translation: “Then I selected 12 leaders of the priests, along with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their fellow Levites.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-textvariants]]) EZR 8 24 rvwg figs-idiom וָ⁠אַבְדִּ֛ילָ⁠ה 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah This expression means to set someone or something apart for a special purpose or assignment. Alternate translation: “I selected” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 8 24 v6yb translate-names לְ⁠שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah These are the names of two men. See how you translated them in [8:18](../08/18.md) and [8:19](../08/19.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EZR 8 24 jx71 figs-metaphor מֵ⁠אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֖ם 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah Here, **brothers** is a figurative way of saying "fellow Levites," although it is possible that some of the biological brothers of Sherebiah and Hashabiah were included in this group. Alternate translation: “ of their fellow Levites” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 24 jx71 figs-metaphor מֵ⁠אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֖ם 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah Here, **brothers** is a figurative way of saying “fellow Levites,” although it is possible that some of the biological brothers of Sherebiah and Hashabiah were included in this group. Alternate translation: “ of their fellow Levites” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 25 lyek translate-bmoney ו⁠אשקול⁠ה לָ⁠הֶ֔ם אֶת־הַ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף וְ⁠אֶת־הַ⁠זָּהָ֖ב וְ⁠אֶת־הַ⁠כֵּלִ֑ים 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah Ezra says he **weighed out** the money to the priests and Levites because ancient units of money such as the kikkar and the daric were actually units of the weight of precious metals. The value of the gold and silver objects would similarly have depended on their weight. Alternate translation: “I divided up the silver and gold and objects into 24 portions of equal value and gave one to each of the priests and Levites I had selected to transport them.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-bmoney]]) EZR 8 25 p4y8 figs-explicit ו⁠אשקול⁠ה לָ⁠הֶ֔ם אֶת־הַ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף וְ⁠אֶת־הַ⁠זָּהָ֖ב וְ⁠אֶת־הַ⁠כֵּלִ֑ים 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah The implication is that Ezra divided up the money and the objects into 24 portions of roughly equal value and assigned one portion to each priest and Levite to transport. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “I divided up the silver and gold and objects into 24 portions of equal value and gave one to each of the priests and Levites I had selected to transport them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 25 vuis figs-metaphor תְּרוּמַ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֗י⁠נוּ 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah Alternate translation: “the gifts for the temple of our God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 25 ke75 figs-explicit וְ⁠כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַ⁠נִּמְצָאִֽים 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah The implication is that this means all the Israelites who living specifically in the province of Babylon, since Artaxerxes had authorized Ezra to invite contributions from people living throughout that province. Alternate translation: “all the Israelites who were living in the province of Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 8 25 ptqo figs-idiom וְ⁠כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַ⁠נִּמְצָאִֽים 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah In this context, **found** is an idiom that means "could be found" or "were there." Alternate translation: “and all the Israelites who were living in the province of Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 8 25 ptqo figs-idiom וְ⁠כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַ⁠נִּמְצָאִֽים 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah In this context, **found** is an idiom that means “could be found” or “were there.” Alternate translation: “and all the Israelites who were living in the province of Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 8 25 klkw figs-personification וְ⁠כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah Here the story refers to all of the Israelites figuratively as if they were a single person, their ancestor, Israel. Alternate translation: “and all the Israelites” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]) EZR 8 26 u3bb figs-metaphor וָ⁠אֶשְׁקֲלָ֨⁠ה עַל־יָדָ֜⁠ם 1 650 talents of silver While Ezra likely did literally place the money and the objects in the hands of the priests and Levites, **hand** here figuratively represents control and action. Alternate translation: “I entrusted to them for safe delivery” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 26 kxz7 figs-explicit וָ⁠אֶשְׁקֲלָ֨⁠ה עַל־יָדָ֜⁠ם 1 650 talents of silver The implication is that the list that follows is the total amount of money and objects that Ezra entrusted to the priests and Levites. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Here are the totals of the silver, gold, and objects that I entrusted to these priests and Levites for safe delivery:” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -948,13 +948,13 @@ EZR 8 26 v4vy translate-bmoney כֶּ֗סֶף כִּכָּרִים֙ שֵֽׁש EZR 8 27 q2jm translate-bmoney וּ⁠כְפֹרֵ֤י זָהָב֙ עֶשְׂרִ֔ים לַ⁠אֲדַרְכֹנִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף 1 one thousand darics 1000 darics was the total value of the 20 bowls, not the value of each one. Here again you could express the amount using the ancient measurement, the daric, and explain in a note that it was equivalent to about 8 or 8.5 grams, or about a quarter of an ounce. Alternatively, you could specify the weight of the gold in the text, as UST does. Alternate translation: “20 golden bowls worth a total of 1000 darics” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-bmoney]]) EZR 8 28 zlh5 grammar-connect-time-sequential וָ⁠אֹמְרָ֣⁠ה 1 vessels of bronze This phrase indicates that the event the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. Ezra first weighed out the silver and gold and objects to the Levites, then he spoke the following words to them. In your translation, you can use the expression in your language that would best indicate this time sequence. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 8 28 rbg4 figs-quotemarks וָ⁠אֹמְרָ֣⁠ה אֲלֵ⁠הֶ֗ם 1 Then I said to them **Them** refers to the selected priests and Levites. In the rest of this verse and in [8:29](../08/29.md), Ezra is quoting what he told them on this occasion. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off the words that follow with quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) -EZR 8 28 afyr figs-idiom אַתֶּ֥ם קֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ לַ⁠יהוָ֔ה וְ⁠הַ⁠כֵּלִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ 1 Then I said to them **Holy** means "set apart for a special purpose." Alternate translation: “I have selected you for a special mission. People donated these objects only to be used in the temple.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 8 28 w1c9 figs-metaphor אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵי⁠כֶֽם 1 Then I said to them **Fathers** here, figuratively means "ancestors." Alternate translation: “the God of your ancestors” or “the God whom your ancestors worshiped” (See:[[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 28 afyr figs-idiom אַתֶּ֥ם קֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ לַ⁠יהוָ֔ה וְ⁠הַ⁠כֵּלִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ 1 Then I said to them **Holy** means “set apart for a special purpose.” Alternate translation: “I have selected you for a special mission. People donated these objects only to be used in the temple.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 8 28 w1c9 figs-metaphor אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵי⁠כֶֽם 1 Then I said to them **Fathers** here, figuratively means “ancestors.” Alternate translation: “the God of your ancestors” or “the God whom your ancestors worshiped” (See:[[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 29 im6g figs-ellipsis שִׁקְד֣וּ וְ⁠שִׁמְר֗וּ 1 until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses Here Ezra leaves out some of the words that a sentence would ordinarily need in order to be complete. He is describing what the priests and Levites must do with the objects, silver, and gold that were devoted to Yahweh. You could indicate that explicitly if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Take good care of those things, because their donors dedicated them to Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 8 29 z0lx figs-hendiadys שִׁקְד֣וּ וְ⁠שִׁמְר֗וּ 1 until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses These two words mean similar things. Ezra uses them together to emphasize how carefully the priests and Levites need to guard the silver and gold and objects. Alternate translation: “Take good care of them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) EZR 8 29 mtxm figs-explicit עַֽד־תִּשְׁקְל֡וּ 1 until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses The implication is that when the priests and Levites arrived in Jerusalem, they would weigh out the silver, gold, and bronze to show the authorities there that they had not taken any of it for themselves. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “until you weigh them out to prove that you have not stolen anything” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 29 y29e figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵי֩ 1 until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses Here, **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. Alternate translation: “in the presence of” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) -EZR 8 29 n925 figs-ellipsis וְ⁠שָׂרֵֽי־הָ⁠אָב֥וֹת לְ⁠יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל 1 until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses This seems to be another version of the expression **the heads of the fathers**, which is an abbreviated way of saying "the heads of father’s houses." Review the note to [1:5](../01/05.md) if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “and the clan leaders of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) +EZR 8 29 n925 figs-ellipsis וְ⁠שָׂרֵֽי־הָ⁠אָב֥וֹת לְ⁠יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל 1 until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses This seems to be another version of the expression **the heads of the fathers**, which is an abbreviated way of saying “the heads of father’s houses.” Review the note to [1:5](../01/05.md) if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “and the clan leaders of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]]) EZR 8 29 umrf figs-explicit הַ⁠לִּשְׁכ֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה 1 until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses The book assumes that readers will know that these **chambers** or rooms are specifically the storerooms in the temple, where money and objects for the temple worship were safely kept. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “in the storerooms of the temple of Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 29 ng88 figs-quotemarks בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה 1 until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses This is the end of Ezra’s quotation of what he told the selected priests and Levites. If you decided in [8:28](../08/28.md) to mark his words to them as a direct quotation, you should indicate the end of it here with a closing primary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 8 30 ia74 grammar-connect-logic-result וְ⁠קִבְּלוּ֙ הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֔ם 1 The priests and the Levites The word **so** indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. Alternate translation: “In keeping with what Ezra told them, the priests and the Levites took” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) @@ -962,10 +962,10 @@ EZR 8 30 ry58 figs-metonymy מִשְׁקַ֛ל הַ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף וְ⁠הַ EZR 8 30 phiv figs-idiom וְ⁠קִבְּלוּ֙ הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֔ם מִשְׁקַ֛ל הַ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף וְ⁠הַ⁠זָּהָ֖ב וְ⁠הַ⁠כֵּלִ֑ים 1 The priests and the Levites Ezra had already **weighed** out the silver and gold and objects to the priests and Levites ([8:26–27](../08/26.md)), so **received** here does not mean that they took physical possession of them. Rather, it means that they accepted responsibility for them, in light of the charge that Ezra had just given. Alternate translation: “the priests and Levites accepted responsibility for the silver and the gold and the objects” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 8 31 c4v2 translate-names וַֽ⁠נִּסְעָ֞⁠ה מִ⁠נְּהַ֣ר אַֽהֲוָ֗א 1 We went out from the river Ahava See how you translated this name in [8:15](../08/15.md). Alternate translation: “the Ahava River” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 8 31 ju8u translate-hebrewmonths בִּ⁠שְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 twelfth day of the first month The **first month** means the first month in the Jewish calendar. You could convert the Hebrew month into an equivalent on the calendar that your culture uses. However, the Jews used a lunar calendar, so if you use a solar calendar, the equivalency will be different every year and the translation will not be entirely accurate. So you may just want to use the number of the Hebrew month. Alternate translation: “on the twelfth day of the first month of that year” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]]) -EZR 8 31 c9im translate-ordinal בִּ⁠שְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 the river Ahava The Hebrew uses a cardinal number here, **12**, but there is not a significant difference in meaning between that and the way the Hebrew uses an ordinal number, "twelfth," in similar contexts elsewhere. If your language customarily uses ordinals for the numbers of days, you can do that here in your translation. Alternate translation: “on the twelfth day of the first month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) +EZR 8 31 c9im translate-ordinal בִּ⁠שְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 the river Ahava The Hebrew uses a cardinal number here, **12**, but there is not a significant difference in meaning between that and the way the Hebrew uses an ordinal number, “twelfth,” in similar contexts elsewhere. If your language customarily uses ordinals for the numbers of days, you can do that here in your translation. Alternate translation: “on the twelfth day of the first month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EZR 8 31 b7m1 figs-metaphor וְ⁠יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ הָיְתָ֣ה עָלֵ֔י⁠נוּ 1 The hand of our God was on us As in the expression **hand of our God upon us** in [8:18](../08/18.md), **hand** here figuratively represents power and control. The expression indicates that God protected Ezra and the rest of the travelers on their journey. Alternate translation: “God protected us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 31 dj8h figs-parallelism וַ⁠יַּ֨צִּילֵ֔⁠נוּ מִ⁠כַּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֛ב וְ⁠אוֹרֵ֖ב עַל־הַ⁠דָּֽרֶךְ 1 he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from those lying in ambush along the road These two phrases mean similar things. Ezra essentially says the same thing twice to emphasize how carefully God protected this group that was transporting so much treasure. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “God protected us and prevented anyone from robbing us.” However, there is a slight difference in meaning. The first phrase is more general, and the second phrase describes more specifically how someone might have robbed the group. You could also choose to bring that difference out in your translation. Alternate translation: “and God prevented anyone from attacking us, even though bandits lay in wait along the roadways” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EZR 8 31 qn0g figs-metaphor מִ⁠כַּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֛ב 1 he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from those lying in ambush along the road **Palm** here is another way of saying "hand," which figuratively represents strength and power. Alternate translation: “hostile attacks” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 8 31 qn0g figs-metaphor מִ⁠כַּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֛ב 1 he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from those lying in ambush along the road **Palm** here is another way of saying “hand,” which figuratively represents strength and power. Alternate translation: “hostile attacks” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 8 31 pj64 figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠אוֹרֵ֖ב עַל־הַ⁠דָּֽרֶךְ 1 those lying in ambush The abstract noun **ambush** refers to the way bandits will lie in wait along a roadside to rob travelers. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “and bandits lie in wait along the roadside” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 8 32 bhdp grammar-connect-logic-result וַ⁠נָּב֖וֹא 1 those lying in ambush The word **so** indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. The group reached Jerusalem safely because God protected them. Alternate translation: “As a result, we came” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 8 32 ragy figs-explicit וַ⁠נָּב֖וֹא יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַ⁠נֵּ֥שֶׁב שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֥ים שְׁלֹשָֽׁה 1 those lying in ambush Ezra does not say specifically why the group waited for three days before delivering the silver and gold and objects to the temple. But the implication is that this gave them a chance to rest after their journey and arrange for the delivery. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “We reached Jerusalem safely, and after we got there, we rested for three days” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -979,11 +979,11 @@ EZR 8 34 sqb5 figs-explicit בְּ⁠מִסְפָּ֥ר בְּ⁠מִשְׁקָ EZR 8 34 nh2n figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּכָּתֵ֥ב כָּֽל־הַ⁠מִּשְׁקָ֖ל 1 Jeshua If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “The priests and Levites in the temple wrote down the weight of all the silver and gold and of the objects” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 8 35 gxu7 figs-parallelism הַ֠⁠בָּאִים מֵֽ⁠הַ⁠שְּׁבִ֨י בְנֵֽי־הַ⁠גּוֹלָ֜ה 1 those who had come back from the captivity, the sons of the exiles These two phrases mean the same thing. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “The Jews who had returned from exile” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EZR 8 35 qo2t figs-idiom הַ֠⁠בָּאִים מֵֽ⁠הַ⁠שְּׁבִ֨י בְנֵֽי־הַ⁠גּוֹלָ֜ה 1 those who had come back from the captivity, the sons of the exiles As indicated in [2:1](../02/01.md) and [8:35](../08/35.md), the phrase **the sons of the exile** refers specifically to the group of Jewish people who returned to the land of Judah from Babylon after King Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Jerusalem and has taken many Jews as captives to Babylon. Alternate translation: “The Jews who had returned from exile” or “The Jews who had returned to their homeland” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 8 35 lgl7 figs-explicit הִקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹל֣וֹת ׀ לֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּרִ֨ים שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵילִ֣ים ׀ תִּשְׁעִ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁשָּׁ֗ה כְּבָשִׂים֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁבְעָ֔ה צְפִירֵ֥י חַטָּ֖את שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר הַ⁠כֹּ֖ל עוֹלָ֥ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 twelve…ninety-six…seventy-seven…twelve The book assumes that readers will recognize that the expression **burnt offering** means two different things here. In its first instance, it means a sacrifice offered in order to express a desire to be in good standing with God by creating an aroma, the smell of roasting meat, that was considered to be pleasing to God. This first instance of the expression applies to the bulls, rams, and lambs. As in [6:17](../06/17.md), the goats were instead a "sin offering," a sacrifice offered as an act of contrition and a request for forgiveness. **Burnt offering** in its second instance means a sacrifice that was entirely consumed, none of which anyone could eat. The bulls, rams, lambs, and goats were all burnt offerings in that second sense. Alternate translation: “offered as burnt offerings to the God of Israel 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, and 77 lambs, and as a sin offering 12 male goats. All of these sacrifices to Yahweh were completely burned up” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EZR 8 35 lgl7 figs-explicit הִקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹל֣וֹת ׀ לֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּרִ֨ים שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵילִ֣ים ׀ תִּשְׁעִ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁשָּׁ֗ה כְּבָשִׂים֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁבְעָ֔ה צְפִירֵ֥י חַטָּ֖את שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר הַ⁠כֹּ֖ל עוֹלָ֥ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 twelve…ninety-six…seventy-seven…twelve The book assumes that readers will recognize that the expression **burnt offering** means two different things here. In its first instance, it means a sacrifice offered in order to express a desire to be in good standing with God by creating an aroma, the smell of roasting meat, that was considered to be pleasing to God. This first instance of the expression applies to the bulls, rams, and lambs. As in [6:17](../06/17.md), the goats were instead a “sin offering,” a sacrifice offered as an act of contrition and a request for forgiveness. **Burnt offering** in its second instance means a sacrifice that was entirely consumed, none of which anyone could eat. The bulls, rams, lambs, and goats were all burnt offerings in that second sense. Alternate translation: “offered as burnt offerings to the God of Israel 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, and 77 lambs, and as a sin offering 12 male goats. All of these sacrifices to Yahweh were completely burned up” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 35 rdop translate-symaction הִקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹל֣וֹת ׀ לֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּרִ֨ים שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵילִ֣ים ׀ תִּשְׁעִ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁשָּׁ֗ה כְּבָשִׂים֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁבְעָ֔ה צְפִירֵ֥י חַטָּ֖את שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר 1 twelve…ninety-six…seventy-seven…twelve The numbers of animals offered are symbolic, as the book explains in the case of the bulls. There were 12 bulls **for all Israel** because there were twelve tribes of Israel. There were 12 goats for the same reason. The same symbolism seems to lie behind the 96 rams, since that number is eight times 12, although the significance of the number eight is no longer apparent. The number 77 is an intensive form of the number seven, which symbolizes completeness. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “offered 12 bulls, one for each of the tribes of Israel, 96 rams, eight for each of the tribes of Israel, and 77 lambs, expressing completeness, as burnt offerings to the God of Israel, and 12 male goats as a sin offering, one for each of the tribes of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EZR 8 36 r5gu figs-explicit וַֽ⁠יִּתְּנ֣וּ ׀ אֶת־דָּתֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ לַ⁠אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵי֙ הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ וּ⁠פַחֲו֖וֹת עֵ֣בֶר הַ⁠נָּהָ֑ר 1 the governors in the Province Beyond the River Here, **the laws of the king** seem to mean the decrees that Artaxerxes issued in the letter he gave to Ezra, and specifically the provisions that allowed Ezra to ask for support for the temple, exempted temple personnel from taxation, and allowed Ezra to appoint judges. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Ezra and the Jewish leaders informed the royal officials and governors in Beyond-the-River province of the decrees that Artaxerxes had issued in his letter to Ezra” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 8 36 d38g figs-metaphor וְ⁠נִשְּׂא֥וּ אֶת־הָ⁠עָ֖ם וְ⁠אֶת־בֵּֽית־הָ⁠אֱלֹהִֽים 1 the Province Beyond the River **Lifted** here, is a metaphor that means supported and sustained. Alternate translation: “The group that had returned with Ezra supported the people of Judah and Jerusalem and the temple of God.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 9 intro k1yz 0 # Ezra 09 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Intermarriage
When Ezra found out that many Jews had married Gentile wives, he prayed to God and asked God why he had been so good to them by letting these few people return from captivity even though they sinned by marrying Gentile wives. They did this before and God had punished them for it. God forbade this type of marriage because it caused the people to worship other gods. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]]) +EZR 9 intro k1yz 0 # Ezra 09 General Notes

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Intermarriage

When Ezra found out that many Jews had married Gentile wives, he prayed to God and asked God why he had been so good to them by letting these few people return from captivity even though they sinned by marrying Gentile wives. They did this before and God had punished them for it. God forbade this type of marriage because it caused the people to worship other gods. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]]) EZR 9 1 ella grammar-connect-time-sequential וּ⁠כְ⁠כַלּ֣וֹת אֵ֗לֶּה 1 have not separated themselves This phrase indicates that the events the story will now relate came right after the events it has just described. In your translation, you can use the expression in your language that would best indicate this relationship. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EZR 9 1 nhkw writing-newevent וּ⁠כְ⁠כַלּ֣וֹת 1 have not separated themselves The word **now** introduces a new event in the story. You do not need to represent it in your translation unless your language has a similar expression that it characteristically uses. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EZR 9 1 on7w figs-explicit הַ⁠שָּׂרִים֙ 1 have not separated themselves These appear to be the same **leaders** as in [8:29](../08/29.md), that is, clan leaders. But this is not a reference to all of them, since the ones who come to Ezra say that some of their fellow leaders have married foreign women. Alternate translation: “some of the clan leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -993,11 +993,11 @@ EZR 9 1 tgdv figs-idiom מֵ⁠עַמֵּ֖י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת כְּ֠ EZR 9 1 u0xi figs-idiom מֵ⁠עַמֵּ֖י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת 1 have not separated themselves See how you translated this expression in [3:3](../03/03.md). It refers to members of other people groups who were living in and around the province of Judah. Alternate translation: “the other people groups living in the land” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 1 wnt5 translate-names לַ⁠כְּנַעֲנִ֨י הַ⁠חִתִּ֜י הַ⁠פְּרִזִּ֣י הַ⁠יְבוּסִ֗י הָֽ⁠עַמֹּנִי֙ הַ⁠מֹּ֣אָבִ֔י הַ⁠מִּצְרִ֖י וְ⁠הָ⁠אֱמֹרִֽי 1 have not separated themselves These are the names of eight people groups. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EZR 9 2 r46x grammar-connect-logic-result כִּֽי 1 have not separated themselves This word indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the reasons for the statement that the leaders make in the previous sentence. Alternate translation: “You see,” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) -EZR 9 2 vrsp figs-idiom נָשְׂא֣וּ מִ⁠בְּנֹֽתֵי⁠הֶ֗ם לָ⁠הֶם֙ וְ⁠לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠הֶ֔ם 1 have not separated themselves **Lifted from their daughters** is an idiom that means "married some of their daughters." Alternate translation: “Israelite men have married women from these other groups, and they have also gotten wives for their sons from those groups.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 9 2 vrsp figs-idiom נָשְׂא֣וּ מִ⁠בְּנֹֽתֵי⁠הֶ֗ם לָ⁠הֶם֙ וְ⁠לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠הֶ֔ם 1 have not separated themselves **Lifted from their daughters** is an idiom that means “married some of their daughters.” Alternate translation: “Israelite men have married women from these other groups, and they have also gotten wives for their sons from those groups.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 2 iac7 figs-metaphor וְ⁠הִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙ זֶ֣רַע הַ⁠קֹּ֔דֶשׁ בְּ⁠עַמֵּ֖י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת 1 have not separated themselves Here, **mixed** is a [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] for blending one thing into another. Alternate translation: “so they are blending the Jewish people right in with the other people groups living in the land” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 2 mncx figs-explicit וְ⁠הִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙ זֶ֣רַע הַ⁠קֹּ֔דֶשׁ בְּ⁠עַמֵּ֖י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת 1 have not separated themselves The implication is that as a result of these marriages, not only was a distinct Jewish lineage being lost, the Jewish people were also beginning to follow the practices of these other groups rather than the commandments of God. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “so they are blending the Jewish people right in with the other people groups living in the land, and they are starting to follow their practices rather than the law of God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EZR 9 2 fyoq figs-idiom זֶ֣רַע הַ⁠קֹּ֔דֶשׁ 1 have not separated themselves As in [8:28](../08/28.md), **holiness** means "that which is set apart for a special purpose." Here, the word refers specifically to the way God set apart the Israelites to be a model community of God’s followers. Alternate translation: “the Jewish people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 9 2 wk5m figs-metaphor זֶ֣רַע הַ⁠קֹּ֔דֶשׁ 1 have not separated themselves Here, **seed** is a metaphor that means "offspring." It is a comparison: Just as plants produce seeds that grow into many more plants, so people can have many offspring. The reference here is specifically to the offspring of Jacob, who also known as Israel, and specifically to his offspring who were living in Judah and Jerusalem, that is, the Jews who had returned from exile. Alternate translation: “the Jewish people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 9 2 fyoq figs-idiom זֶ֣רַע הַ⁠קֹּ֔דֶשׁ 1 have not separated themselves As in [8:28](../08/28.md), **holiness** means “that which is set apart for a special purpose.” Here, the word refers specifically to the way God set apart the Israelites to be a model community of God’s followers. Alternate translation: “the Jewish people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 9 2 wk5m figs-metaphor זֶ֣רַע הַ⁠קֹּ֔דֶשׁ 1 have not separated themselves Here, **seed** is a metaphor that means “offspring.” It is a comparison: Just as plants produce seeds that grow into many more plants, so people can have many offspring. The reference here is specifically to the offspring of Jacob, who also known as Israel, and specifically to his offspring who were living in Judah and Jerusalem, that is, the Jews who had returned from exile. Alternate translation: “the Jewish people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 2 oxmn figs-idiom בְּ⁠עַמֵּ֖י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת 1 have not separated themselves As in [9:1](../09/01.md), this expression refers to members of other people groups who were living in and around the province of Judah. Alternate translation: “with the other people groups living in the land” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 2 iie7 figs-metaphor וְ⁠יַ֧ד הַ⁠שָּׂרִ֣ים וְ⁠הַ⁠סְּגָנִ֗ים הָֽיְתָ֛ה בַּ⁠מַּ֥עַל הַ⁠זֶּ֖ה רִאשׁוֹנָֽה 1 have not separated themselves Here, **hand** figuratively represents control and action. Alternate translation: “And our clan leaders and provincial officials were actually the first ones to disobey in this way” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 2 dwaf figs-metaphor בַּ⁠מַּ֥עַל הַ⁠זֶּ֖ה 1 have not separated themselves Here, **unfaithfulness** figuratively means disobedience. Alternate translation: “to disobey in this way” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) @@ -1009,32 +1009,32 @@ EZR 9 4 k68j figs-activepassive וְ⁠אֵלַ֣⁠י יֵאָסְפ֗וּ כּ EZR 9 4 xsvq figs-metaphor כֹּ֤ל חָרֵד֙ 1 the evening sacrifice Often in the Old Testament, **trembled** is a metaphor meaning to regard someone or something with respect and reverential fear. That is likely included in the meaning here, but in this context, the expression also seems to indicate an actual physical response to the situation, just as Ezra did not move or speak. Alternate translation: “everyone who was distressed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 4 adr0 figs-metaphor בְּ⁠דִבְרֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל 1 the evening sacrifice This phrase does not refer to something that God said on this occasion. Rather, it refers figuratively to the commandment that God had given to the Israelites earlier not to intermarry with foreign groups, which Ezra cites in his prayer in [9:10](../09/10.md) and [9:11](../09/11.md). Alternate translation: “the commandments of the God of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 4 sfvr figs-abstractnouns עַ֖ל מַ֣עַל הַ⁠גּוֹלָ֑ה 1 the evening sacrifice The abstract noun **exiles** refers in this context to the Jews who had returned to their homeland from Babylon. Here, **the exiles** seems to be equivalent to the longer phrase **the sons of the exile** in several other places in the book. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “because of the way the Jews who had returned to their homeland had disobeyed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) -EZR 9 4 ys46 figs-metaphor עַ֖ל מַ֣עַל הַ⁠גּוֹלָ֑ה 1 the evening sacrifice As in [9:2](../09/02.md), **unfaithfulness** figuratively means "disobedience." Alternate translation: “because of the disobedience of the Jews who had returned to their homeland” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 9 4 ys46 figs-metaphor עַ֖ל מַ֣עַל הַ⁠גּוֹלָ֑ה 1 the evening sacrifice As in [9:2](../09/02.md), **unfaithfulness** figuratively means “disobedience.” Alternate translation: “because of the disobedience of the Jews who had returned to their homeland” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 4 m8dw translate-unknown וַ⁠אֲנִי֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב מְשׁוֹמֵ֔ם עַ֖ד לְ⁠מִנְחַ֥ת הָ⁠עָֽרֶב 1 the evening sacrifice The **offering of the evening** was a sacrifice that the priests would offer around the time that the sun was going down. Alternate translation: “I continued to sit without moving or speaking until the time of the evening sacrifice” or “I continued to sit without moving or speaking for the rest of that day” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EZR 9 5 v2nb figs-idiom קַ֚מְתִּי מִ⁠תַּֽעֲנִיתִ֔⁠י 1 my fasting Even though Ezra had been sitting down and he now got up, in this context the word **arise** means more than that. As in [1:5](../01/05.md), [3:2](../03/02.md), and [5:2](../05/02.md), it means to take action to get an enterprise under way. Ezra had been sitting motionless to show how ashamed and upset he was. Now he began to take action to address the situation the clan leaders had told him about. Alternate translation: “I stopped sitting motionless and began to do something about the situation” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 5 zygv translate-symaction מִ⁠תַּֽעֲנִיתִ֔⁠י וּ⁠בְ⁠קָרְעִ֥⁠י בִגְדִ֖⁠י וּ⁠מְעִילִ֑⁠י 1 my fasting As the note to [9:3](../09/03.md) explains, Ezra had torn his clothes to show how wrong it was for the Israelites to have married foreign women. By not changing out of his torn clothes, Ezra was continuing to show that symbolically. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “but I kept wearing my torn clothes to show how wrong it was for the Israelites to have married foreign women” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EZR 9 5 qye1 translate-symaction וָֽ⁠אֶכְרְעָ⁠ה֙ עַל־בִּרְכַּ֔⁠י וָ⁠אֶפְרְשָׂ֥⁠ה כַפַּ֖⁠י אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽ⁠י 1 knelt down on my knees, and spread out my hands These two physical gestures showed publicly that Ezra was going to pray. Alternate translation: “I knelt down and spread out my hands in a gesture of prayer to Yahweh my God.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EZR 9 6 y5xu figs-quotemarks וָ⁠אֹמְרָ֗⁠ה 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens After this phrase Ezra begins to quote what he said out loud in prayer on this occasion. The quotation continues through [9:15](../09/15.md). It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 9 6 yz8d figs-doublet בֹּ֣שְׁתִּי וְ⁠נִכְלַ֔מְתִּי 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens **Ashamed** and **disgraced** mean similar things. Ezra uses them together to emphasize how humiliated he feels by what the Israelites have done. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these terms into a single expression. Alternate translation: “I am deeply humiliated” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) -EZR 9 6 xiue figs-metaphor לְ⁠הָרִ֧ים…פָּנַ֖⁠י אֵלֶ֑י⁠ךָ 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens This means "to look at you directly" or "to look at you face to face," and since Ezra could not do that literally with God, it is a figurative way of saying "*to address you." Alternate translation: “even to speak to you.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 9 6 xiue figs-metaphor לְ⁠הָרִ֧ים…פָּנַ֖⁠י אֵלֶ֑י⁠ךָ 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens This means “to look at you directly” or “to look at you face to face,” and since Ezra could not do that literally with God, it is a figurative way of saying “*to address you.” Alternate translation: “even to speak to you.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 6 aca6 figs-parallelism כִּ֣י עֲוֺנֹתֵ֤י⁠נוּ רָבוּ֙ לְ⁠מַ֣עְלָ⁠ה רֹּ֔אשׁ וְ⁠אַשְׁמָתֵ֥⁠נוּ גָדְלָ֖ה עַ֥ד לַ⁠שָּׁמָֽיִם 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens These two phrases mean similar things. Ezra uses the repetition to emphasize how guilty the people of Israel are. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “We have committed such great sins that our guilt over them is overwhelming us” However, there is a slight difference in meaning, and you could also choose to bring that out in your translation. The first phrase speaks of the effects of these sins on the Israelites, while the second phrase speaks of their effects on their standing with God. Alternate translation: “We have committed such great sins that they are overwhelming us, and we know that they are making us guilty before you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EZR 9 6 axnk grammar-connect-logic-result כִּ֣י עֲוֺנֹתֵ֤י⁠נוּ רָבוּ֙ לְ⁠מַ֣עְלָ⁠ה רֹּ֔אשׁ וְ⁠אַשְׁמָתֵ֥⁠נוּ גָדְלָ֖ה עַ֥ד לַ⁠שָּׁמָֽיִם 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens If it would be clearer in your language, you could put this sentence first in the prayer, since it gives the reason for the result of Ezra feeling ashamed. You could show the connection by using a word like “so” after this phrase. Alternate translation: “We have committed such great sins that we are surely guilty, and we know that we are guilty before you. And so” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 9 6 krv9 figs-metaphor עֲוֺנֹתֵ֤י⁠נוּ רָבוּ֙ לְ⁠מַ֣עְלָ⁠ה רֹּ֔אשׁ 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens Here, **multiplied** means to become much greater in number. Ezra uses that expression figuratively to describe how serious the sins of the Israelites are. Alternate translation: “we have committed such great sins that they have risen up higher than our heads” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 9 6 eimq figs-abstractnouns עֲוֺנֹתֵ֤י⁠נוּ רָבוּ֙ 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun **iniquities** with a phrase such as "sins we have committed." Alternate translation: “the great sins we have committed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EZR 9 6 eimq figs-abstractnouns עֲוֺנֹתֵ֤י⁠נוּ רָבוּ֙ 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun **iniquities** with a phrase such as “sins we have committed.” Alternate translation: “the great sins we have committed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 9 6 bzgy figs-metaphor לְ⁠מַ֣עְלָ⁠ה רֹּ֔אשׁ 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens Ezra uses a spatial metaphor to describe the degree to which the sins have figuratively become greater in number. Alternate translation: “to the point that we are surely guilty” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 9 6 c8or figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠אַשְׁמָתֵ֥⁠נוּ גָדְלָ֖ה 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun **guilt** with a phrase such as "make guilty." Alternate translation: “our sins are making us guilty” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EZR 9 6 c8or figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠אַשְׁמָתֵ֥⁠נוּ גָדְלָ֖ה 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun **guilt** with a phrase such as “make guilty.” Alternate translation: “our sins are making us guilty” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 9 6 athx figs-metonymy עַ֥ד לַ⁠שָּׁמָֽיִם 1 our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens Here, Ezra speaks figuratively of God by reference to something associated with him, **the heavens**, which was considered to be the place where God lived. The expression **and our guilt has become great, as far as to the heavens** means that the sins have become so numerous that they reach God in heaven. In other words, their sin is against God himself. Alternate translation: “our sins are making us guilty before you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 9 7 sv5f figs-idiom מִ⁠ימֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵ֗י⁠נוּ 1 the days of our fathers The term **days** is used figuratively here to refer a particular period of time. Alternate translation: “From the time of our ancestors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 9 7 aqdp figs-metaphor אֲבֹתֵ֗י⁠נוּ 1 the days of our fathers **Fathers** here, figuratively means "ancestors." Alternate translation: “our ancestors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 9 7 aqdp figs-metaphor אֲבֹתֵ֗י⁠נוּ 1 the days of our fathers **Fathers** here, figuratively means “ancestors.” Alternate translation: “our ancestors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 7 jw4h figs-idiom עַ֖ד הַ⁠יּ֣וֹם הַ⁠זֶּ֑ה 1 the days of our fathers In this context, **day** does not refer to one specific day, but rather, to a more general time. Alternate translation: “until now” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 7 ur0z figs-metonymy אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ בְּ⁠אַשְׁמָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֔ה 1 the days of our fathers Here, Ezra speaks figuratively of the disobedience of the Israelites by reference to something associated with it, the guilt that it has caused. Alternate translation: “we have consistently disobeyed you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) -EZR 9 7 wet1 figs-abstractnouns בְּ⁠אַשְׁמָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֔ה 1 very guilty…our iniquities If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun **guilt** with a verb such as "disobey." Alternate translation: “consistently disobeyed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EZR 9 7 wet1 figs-abstractnouns בְּ⁠אַשְׁמָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֔ה 1 very guilty…our iniquities If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun **guilt** with a verb such as “disobey.” Alternate translation: “consistently disobeyed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 9 7 h1bs figs-activepassive וּ⁠בַ⁠עֲוֺנֹתֵ֡י⁠נוּ נִתַּ֡נּוּ אֲנַחְנוּ֩…בְּ⁠יַ֣ד ׀ מַלְכֵ֣י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֗וֹת 1 we…have been delivered into the hand of kings If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “because we sinned against you, you allowed foreign rulers to conquer us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EZR 9 7 dr9f figs-metaphor נִתַּ֡נּוּ אֲנַחְנוּ֩…בְּ⁠יַ֣ד ׀ מַלְכֵ֣י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֗וֹת 1 we…have been delivered into the hand of kings Here, **hand** figuratively represents power and control. Alternate translation: “you allowed foreign rulers to conquer us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 9 7 v9sd figs-idiom מַלְכֵ֣י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֗וֹת 1 into the hand of kings of the lands The **kings of the lands** would be the rulers of the "people of the lands" whom Ezra mentions in [9:1](../09/01.md) and [9:2](../09/02.md), and of similar foreign people groups. Alternate translation: “foreign rulers” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 9 7 v9sd figs-idiom מַלְכֵ֣י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֗וֹת 1 into the hand of kings of the lands The **kings of the lands** would be the rulers of the “people of the lands” whom Ezra mentions in [9:1](../09/01.md) and [9:2](../09/02.md), and of similar foreign people groups. Alternate translation: “foreign rulers” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 7 f2hv figs-idiom בַּ⁠חֶ֜רֶב בַּ⁠שְּׁבִ֧י וּ⁠בַ⁠בִּזָּ֛ה וּ⁠בְ⁠בֹ֥שֶׁת פָּנִ֖ים 1 to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to ashamed faces These are not the means by which the foreign rulers conquered the Israelites. Rather, they are all things that happened to the Israelites when they were conquered. It may be helpful to make this a separate sentence. Alternate translation: “They killed some of us, they took others of us away from our homeland, they stole the things that belonged to us, and all of this has made us greatly ashamed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 7 kz7f figs-metonymy בַּ⁠חֶ֜רֶב 1 to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to ashamed faces The sword figuratively represents killing, by reference to one kind of weapon that can kill a person. Alternate translation: “who killed some of us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) -EZR 9 7 lc37 figs-abstractnouns בַּ⁠שְּׁבִ֧י וּ⁠בַ⁠בִּזָּ֛ה 1 to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to ashamed faces If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind abstract nouns **captivity** and **plunder** with verbs such as "take away" and "steal." Alternate translation: “who took others away from our homeland, who stole the things that belonged to us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EZR 9 7 lc37 figs-abstractnouns בַּ⁠שְּׁבִ֧י וּ⁠בַ⁠בִּזָּ֛ה 1 to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to ashamed faces If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind abstract nouns **captivity** and **plunder** with verbs such as “take away” and “steal.” Alternate translation: “who took others away from our homeland, who stole the things that belonged to us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 9 7 uvig figs-synecdoche וּ⁠בְ⁠בֹ֥שֶׁת פָּנִ֖ים 1 to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to ashamed faces Here, Ezra uses the **face** to describe the whole person figuratively, by reference to one part of a person, their face, which would show their shame by its expression. Alternate translation: “and made us greatly ashamed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) EZR 9 7 nj7e figs-idiom כְּ⁠הַ⁠יּ֥וֹם הַ⁠זֶּֽה 1 to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to ashamed faces In this context, **day** does not refer to one specific day, but rather to a more general time. Alternate translation: “and that is still our situation now” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 8 q4h6 figs-idiom כִּ⁠מְעַט־רֶגַע֩ 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God Alternate translation: “for just a little while” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) @@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@ EZR 9 8 ym5g figs-personification הָיְתָ֨ה תְחִנָּ֜ה מֵ⁠א EZR 9 8 rdwg figs-123person הָיְתָ֨ה תְחִנָּ֜ה מֵ⁠אֵ֣ת ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗י⁠נוּ 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God Ezra is speaking to Yahweh in prayer, and accordingly, he addresses him in the second person in [9:6](../09/06.md) and in [9:10–15](../09/10.md). But here he speaks of God in the third person to show humility and respect, as people of this time did when speaking to superiors. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate his words in the second person. Alternate translation: “you, Yahweh our God, have been merciful to us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 9 8 yszb figs-metonymy פְּלֵיטָ֔ה 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God Here, the term **escape** refers figuratively to a group of survivors. See how you translated it there. Alternate translation: “nor survivors” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 9 8 vhtl figs-metaphor וְ⁠לָ⁠תֶת־לָ֥⁠נוּ יָתֵ֖ד 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God Ezra speaks figuratively of the Jews’ current situation of safety and security as if it were a **peg**, such as one would fasten to a wall in order to hang utensils on it safely and securely. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express this in a non-figurative way. Alternate translation: “and brought us into a safe situation” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 9 8 b420 figs-idiom בִּ⁠מְק֣וֹם קָדְשׁ֑⁠וֹ 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God **Holy** means "set apart for a special purpose." The temple was God’s "holy place" because it was set apart for his worship. Alternate translation: “in his temple.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 9 8 b420 figs-idiom בִּ⁠מְק֣וֹם קָדְשׁ֑⁠וֹ 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God **Holy** means “set apart for a special purpose.” The temple was God’s “holy place” because it was set apart for his worship. Alternate translation: “in his temple.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 8 jjw0 figs-123person בִּ⁠מְק֣וֹם קָדְשׁ֑⁠וֹ 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God Here again Ezra speaks of God in the third person. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate his words in the second person. Alternate translation: “in your temple.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 9 8 q90t בִּ⁠מְק֣וֹם קָדְשׁ֑⁠וֹ 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God Ezra speaks of the **peg** figuratively as if it were in God’s temple, likely because God was considered to be present there. Alternate translation: “in your presence” EZR 9 8 lst9 figs-metonymy בִּ⁠מְק֣וֹם קָדְשׁ֑⁠וֹ 1 grace has been shown from Yahweh our God Ezra may be speaking of the presence of God figuratively by association to mean the protection of God. Alternate translation: “under your protection” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) @@ -1056,7 +1056,7 @@ EZR 9 9 psz0 figs-litotes לֹ֥א עֲזָבָ֖⁠נוּ אֱלֹהֵ֑י⁠נ EZR 9 9 n7de figs-123person לֹ֥א עֲזָבָ֖⁠נוּ אֱלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 but he extended covenant faithfulness to us Ezra continues to speak of God in the third person. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate his words in the second person. Alternate translation: “you, our God, have not abandoned us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EZR 9 9 gk7w grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַֽ⁠יַּט 1 but he extended covenant faithfulness to us This word **but** indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between what the Israelites might have expected God to do, since they were being punished for their disobedience, and what God actually did. You could begin the sentence with a phrase such as “on the contrary” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) EZR 9 9 h0hr figs-metaphor וַֽ⁠יַּט־עָלֵ֣י⁠נוּ חֶ֡סֶד 1 but he extended covenant faithfulness to us As in [7:28](../07/28.md), Ezra uses a spatial metaphor to depict help figuratively stretching out to him from Yahweh. Alternate translation: “On the contrary, he has helped us, as he promised” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 9 9 xh8d figs-abstractnouns וַֽ⁠יַּט־עָלֵ֣י⁠נוּ חֶ֡סֶד לִ⁠פְנֵי֩ מַלְכֵ֨י פָרַ֜ס 1 but he extended covenant faithfulness to us Here, the abstract noun **faithfulness** refers to a person wanting to do everything they can to help another person. As in [3:11](../03/11.md) and [7:28](../07/28.md), **covenant faithfulness** refers specifically to Yahweh doing that for the people of Israel, in order to keep the promises he made to them. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as "help." Alternate translation: “But he has helped us, as he promised, by leading the king of Persia to regard us favorably” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EZR 9 9 xh8d figs-abstractnouns וַֽ⁠יַּט־עָלֵ֣י⁠נוּ חֶ֡סֶד לִ⁠פְנֵי֩ מַלְכֵ֨י פָרַ֜ס 1 but he extended covenant faithfulness to us Here, the abstract noun **faithfulness** refers to a person wanting to do everything they can to help another person. As in [3:11](../03/11.md) and [7:28](../07/28.md), **covenant faithfulness** refers specifically to Yahweh doing that for the people of Israel, in order to keep the promises he made to them. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as “help.” Alternate translation: “But he has helped us, as he promised, by leading the king of Persia to regard us favorably” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EZR 9 9 eb2m figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵי֩ מַלְכֵ֨י פָרַ֜ס 1 in the sight of the king of Persia Here, **face** refers figuratively to the way a person regards things, by association with the way they use the eyes in their face to see things and the way their facial expression shows what they think of those things. Alternate translation: “by leading the kings of Persia to regard us favorably” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 9 9 jkj1 figs-explicit מַלְכֵ֨י פָרַ֜ס 1 in the sight of the king of Persia Ezra probably uses the plural **kings** to acknowledge implicitly that not just Artaxerxes, but also Cyrus and Darius before him, treated the Jews favorably by allowing them to rebuild the temple and by supporting the worship there. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could name these kings explicitly. Alternate translation: “King Cyrus, King Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 9 9 sc72 figs-metaphor לָֽ⁠תֶת־לָ֣⁠נוּ מִֽחְיָ֗ה 1 in the sight of the king of Persia As in [9:8](../09/08.md), **reviving** or renewed life seems in context to be a figurative expression for greater freedom. Alternate translation: “so that they gave us greater freedom” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) @@ -1071,20 +1071,20 @@ EZR 9 11 nqdl figs-quotemarks לֵ⁠אמֹר֒ 1 to give us a wall After this p EZR 9 11 cqpt figs-metaphor אֶ֤רֶץ נִדָּה֙ הִ֔יא בְּ⁠נִדַּ֖ת עַמֵּ֣י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת 1 to give us a wall The prophets speak figuratively of the land of Canaan as if it were itself impure, because it was a place where the people did things that were so displeasing to God. Alternate translation: “a land whose inhabitants do things that are displeasing to God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 11 n022 figs-metaphor בְּ⁠נִדַּ֖ת 1 to give us a wall The prophets speak figuratively of these displeasing things as if they were contaminated. Alternate translation: “by the things that are displeasing to God of” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 11 t4gi figs-idiom עַמֵּ֣י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת 1 to give us a wall See how you translated this expression in [3:3](../03/03.md). Here it refers to members of other people groups who were living in the land of Canaan. Alternate translation: “inhabitants” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 9 11 y2ii figs-metaphor בְּ⁠תוֹעֲבֹֽתֵי⁠הֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלְא֛וּ⁠הָ מִ⁠פֶּ֥ה אֶל־פֶּ֖ה בְּ⁠טֻמְאָתָֽ⁠ם 1 to give us a wall The term **abominations**, like the term "impurity," refers to things that people do that are very displeasing to God. As in [9:1](../09/01.md), the term indicates that God must judge these actions as wrong, that is, as not in accordance with his own character. The prophets speak figuratively of these things as if they were accumulating physically and filling up the land. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “Throughout the land, from one end to the other, they have been doing things that are very displeasing to God" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EZR 9 11 vo7q figs-metaphor מִ⁠פֶּ֥ה אֶל־פֶּ֖ה 1 to give us a wall Here, **mouth** is a figurative way of saying "edge," "end," or "extremity," probably by analogy to the way that the mouth of an animal is typically at one end of the animal. Alternate translation: “from one end to the other” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 9 11 y2ii figs-metaphor בְּ⁠תוֹעֲבֹֽתֵי⁠הֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלְא֛וּ⁠הָ מִ⁠פֶּ֥ה אֶל־פֶּ֖ה בְּ⁠טֻמְאָתָֽ⁠ם 1 to give us a wall The term **abominations**, like the term “impurity,” refers to things that people do that are very displeasing to God. As in [9:1](../09/01.md), the term indicates that God must judge these actions as wrong, that is, as not in accordance with his own character. The prophets speak figuratively of these things as if they were accumulating physically and filling up the land. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “Throughout the land, from one end to the other, they have been doing things that are very displeasing to God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 9 11 vo7q figs-metaphor מִ⁠פֶּ֥ה אֶל־פֶּ֖ה 1 to give us a wall Here, **mouth** is a figurative way of saying “edge,” “end,” or “extremity,” probably by analogy to the way that the mouth of an animal is typically at one end of the animal. Alternate translation: “from one end to the other” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 11 ctyk figs-metaphor בְּ⁠טֻמְאָתָֽ⁠ם 1 to give us a wall The prophets also speak figuratively of these displeasing things as if they were dirty. Alternate translation: “through the things they do that are displeasing to God” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 12 evio grammar-connect-logic-result וְ֠⁠עַתָּה 1 to give us a wall This word indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. Alternate translation: “Therefore” or “As a result” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 9 12 sea2 figs-idiom בְּֽנוֹתֵי⁠כֶ֞ם אַל־תִּתְּנ֣וּ לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠הֶ֗ם 1 to give us a wall This expression means specifically to give daughters in marriage. Alternate translation: “do not arrange marriages between your daughters and their sons” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 9 12 pe30 figs-idiom וּ⁠בְנֹֽתֵי⁠הֶם֙ אַל־תִּשְׂא֣וּ לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠כֶ֔ם 1 to give us a wall As in [9:2](../09/02.md), to **lift their daughters for your sons** is an idiom that means "to get wives for your sons from among their daughters." Alternate translation: “and do not get wives for your sons from their daughters” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 9 12 pe30 figs-idiom וּ⁠בְנֹֽתֵי⁠הֶם֙ אַל־תִּשְׂא֣וּ לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠כֶ֔ם 1 to give us a wall As in [9:2](../09/02.md), to **lift their daughters for your sons** is an idiom that means “to get wives for your sons from among their daughters.” Alternate translation: “and do not get wives for your sons from their daughters” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 12 o8bm figs-idiom וְ⁠לֹֽא־תִדְרְשׁ֧וּ שְׁלֹמָ֛⁠ם וְ⁠טוֹבָתָ֖⁠ם עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם 1 to give us a wall **Until eternity** is a Hebrew expression that means **for as long as anyone can anticipate into the future**. Alternate translation: “and never do anything that contributes to their welfare or prosperity” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 12 qq14 figs-doublet וְ⁠לֹֽא־תִדְרְשׁ֧וּ שְׁלֹמָ֛⁠ם וְ⁠טוֹבָתָ֖⁠ם 1 to give us a wall **Peace** and **good** mean similar things. The prophets use them together to emphasize the importance of this commandment. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these terms into a single expression, as UST does, saying “cause things to go well.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) EZR 9 12 sfei figs-parallelism לְמַ֣עַן תֶּחֶזְק֗וּ וַ⁠אֲכַלְתֶּם֙ אֶת־ט֣וּב הָ⁠אָ֔רֶץ 1 to give us a wall These two phrases mean similar things. The prophets say essentially the same thing twice, to emphasize the blessings that the Israelites would enjoy if they obeyed these commandments. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “so that you will become a prosperous nation in that place” However, there is a slight difference in meaning, and you could also choose to bring that out in your translation. The second phrase says more specifically how the nation would become strong, as the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “so that you will become a strong nation by growing and enjoying abundant harvests” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EZR 9 12 r9c0 figs-idiom וְ⁠הוֹרַשְׁתֶּ֥ם לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠כֶ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָֽם 1 to give us a wall As earlier in the sentence, **until eternity** means "*for as long as anyone can anticipate into the future." Alternate translation: “so that your descendants will always be able to live there” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 9 12 s1e8 figs-metaphor לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠כֶ֖ם 1 to give us a wall Here, **sons** figuratively means "descendants." Alternate translation: “your descendants” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EZR 9 12 r9c0 figs-idiom וְ⁠הוֹרַשְׁתֶּ֥ם לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠כֶ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָֽם 1 to give us a wall As earlier in the sentence, **until eternity** means “*for as long as anyone can anticipate into the future.” Alternate translation: “so that your descendants will always be able to live there” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 9 12 s1e8 figs-metaphor לִ⁠בְנֵי⁠כֶ֖ם 1 to give us a wall Here, **sons** figuratively means “descendants.” Alternate translation: “your descendants” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 9 12 uax9 figs-quotemarks עַד־עוֹלָֽם 1 forever After this phrase Ezra ends his quotation of what Yahweh commanded through the prophets. If you decided in [9:11](../09/11.md) to mark their words as a secondary quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing secondary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation within a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 9 13 am2g figs-parallelism בְּ⁠מַעֲשֵׂ֨י⁠נוּ֙ הָ⁠רָעִ֔ים וּ⁠בְ⁠אַשְׁמָתֵ֖⁠נוּ הַ⁠גְּדֹלָ֑ה 1 forever These two phrases mean similar things. Ezra uses the repetition for emphasis. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these phrases. Alternate translation: “since we are so guilty because of the wrong things we have done” However, there is a slight difference in meaning, and you could also choose to bring that out in your translation. Alternate translation: “since we have committed such great sins, and since we are so guilty as a result” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EZR 9 13 ulhq grammar-connect-words-phrases כִּ֣י 1 forever The meaning of the word **for** is not entirely clear in this context. The term could indicate that the phrase that comes after it is describing a second reason why the Jews should return to breaking God's commandments and intermarrying with foreigners. In this case, the first reason would be because of God's punishment for their sins. The second reason would because of God's mercy in that he did not punish them more. Alternate translation: "and" The term might also indicate a contrast, meaning that even though God has punished them, he has not punished them as much as much as he should have for the sins they committed. Alternate translation: “even though” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) +EZR 9 13 ulhq grammar-connect-words-phrases כִּ֣י 1 forever The meaning of the word **for** is not entirely clear in this context. The term could indicate that the phrase that comes after it is describing a second reason why the Jews should return to breaking God's commandments and intermarrying with foreigners. In this case, the first reason would be because of God's punishment for their sins. The second reason would because of God's mercy in that he did not punish them more. Alternate translation: “and” The term might also indicate a contrast, meaning that even though God has punished them, he has not punished them as much as much as he should have for the sins they committed. Alternate translation: “even though” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]]) EZR 9 13 hd7r figs-idiom חָשַׂ֤כְתָּֽ לְ⁠מַ֨טָּה֙ מֵֽ⁠עֲוֺנֵ֔⁠נוּ 1 forever This is a Hebrew idiom. Alternate translation: “have not punished us as fully as our sins deserve” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 13 w379 figs-explicit וְ⁠נָתַ֥תָּה לָּ֛⁠נוּ פְּלֵיטָ֖ה כָּ⁠זֹֽאת 1 forever Ezra is referring implicitly to himself and to the other Jews who have returned from exile. Alternate translation: “and you have allowed some of us to return to our homeland” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EZR 9 14 jh1x figs-rquestion הֲ⁠נָשׁוּב֙ לְ⁠הָפֵ֣ר מִצְוֺתֶ֔י⁠ךָ וּ֨⁠לְ⁠הִתְחַתֵּ֔ן בְּ⁠עַמֵּ֥י הַ⁠תֹּעֵב֖וֹת הָ⁠אֵ֑לֶּה 1 should we again break your commandments and intermarry with the people of these abominations? Ezra is making a statement, not really asking a question. He does not expect God to tell him whether the people should once again disobey. Instead, he is using the question form to emphasize how important it is for them to stop intermarrying with the other people groups. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could translate these words as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “we certainly should not break your commandments again by intermarrying with peoples who do things that you cannot stand!” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]]) @@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ EZR 9 15 a177 figs-parallelism הִנְ⁠נ֤וּ לְ⁠פָנֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙ EZR 9 15 lh5h figs-metonymy לְ⁠פָנֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙ 1 no one can stand before you because of this Here, **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. Alternate translation: “into your presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EZR 9 15 el20 figs-idiom אֵ֥ין לַ⁠עֲמ֛וֹד לְ⁠פָנֶ֖י⁠ךָ 1 no one can stand before you because of this To **stand** is a Hebrew idiom meaning to be acquitted. (For example, in Psalm 130:3, “If you, Yahweh, would mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?” and Psalm 1:5, “The wicked will not stand in the judgment.”) Alternate translation: “none of us can plead any grounds for acquittal” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 9 15 vlk8 figs-quotemarks עַל־זֹֽאת 1 no one can stand before you because of this This is the end of Ezra’s quotation of the prayer that he prayed on this occasion. If you decided in [9:6](../09/06.md) to mark his words as a direct quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing primary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) -EZR 10 intro ah4y 0 # Ezra 10 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Intermarriages
The people agree to divorce their Gentile wives. Many Jews were involved in these mixed marriages. Divorce should not normally have been common for the Jews to engage in, but marriage with non-Jewish women was not allowed. +EZR 10 intro ah4y 0 # Ezra 10 General Notes

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Intermarriages

The people agree to divorce their Gentile wives. Many Jews were involved in these mixed marriages. Divorce should not normally have been common for the Jews to engage in, but marriage with non-Jewish women was not allowed. EZR 10 1 ufb1 grammar-connect-logic-result וּ⁠כְ⁠הִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל עֶזְרָא֙ וּ⁠כְ֨⁠הִתְוַדֹּת֔⁠וֹ בֹּכֶה֙ וּ⁠מִתְנַפֵּ֔ל לִ⁠פְנֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֑ים נִקְבְּצוּ֩ אֵלָ֨י⁠ו מִ⁠יִּשְׂרָאֵ֜ל קָהָ֣ל רַב־מְאֹ֗ד אֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְ⁠נָשִׁים֙ וִֽ⁠ילָדִ֔ים כִּֽי־בָכ֥וּ הָ⁠עָ֖ם הַרְבֵּה־בֶֽכֶה 1 As Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down If it would be clearer in your language, you could put the last sentence in the verse before the second phrase of the first sentence, since it gives the reason for the results that phrase describes. You could also show the connection by using a phrase like “and so.” Alternate translation: “While Ezra was kneeling down in front of the temple and praying this prayer of confession, the people began to weep very bitterly because they realized that they had sinned and were guilty. And so a very large crowd of Israelite men, women, and children gathered to him.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EZR 10 1 drpv writing-participants וּ⁠כְ⁠הִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל 1 As Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down Previously in the book, Ezra was a character in a story that someone else has been telling. Starting from [7:27](../07/27.md) he becomes the person telling the story, and he continues to tell it through to the end of chapter 9. From here to the end of the book, the story changes back to someone else talking about Ezra as a character in the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-participants]]) EZR 10 1 elvd figs-parallelism וּ⁠כְ⁠הִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל עֶזְרָא֙ וּ⁠כְ֨⁠הִתְוַדֹּת֔⁠וֹ 1 As Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down These two phrases mean similar things. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them. Alternate translation: “While Ezra was praying this prayer of confession” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) @@ -1180,7 +1180,7 @@ EZR 10 13 poap grammar-connect-logic-result וְ⁠הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֗ה EZR 10 13 wqu4 figs-idiom וְ⁠הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֗ה לֹֽא־לְ⁠י֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ וְ⁠לֹ֣א לִ⁠שְׁנַ֔יִם 1 this is not the work of one or two days **One day or two** is a figurative way of saying “a short time.” Alternate translation: “It will take a long time” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 10 14 fcw7 figs-idiom יַֽעֲמְדוּ־נָ֣א שָׂ֠רֵי⁠נוּ לְֽ⁠כָל־הַ⁠קָּהָ֞ל 1 at the appointed time with the elders and judges of each of their cities Here, **stand for** is an idiom that means “represent.” ([10:16](../10/16.md) explains specifically how the community arranged for its leaders to be its representatives.) Alternate translation: “Let our leaders represent all of us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 10 14 wybo figs-idiom הַ⁠הֹשִׁ֞יב נָשִׁ֤ים נָכְרִיּוֹת֙ 1 at the appointed time with the elders and judges of each of their cities See how you translated this expression in [10:2](../10/02.md). Alternate translation: “those who have married foreign women” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EZR 10 14 wvv6 figs-idiom יָבֹא֙…וְ⁠עִמָּ⁠הֶ֛ם זִקְנֵי־עִ֥יר וָ⁠עִ֖יר וְ⁠שֹׁפְטֶ֑י⁠הָ 1 at the appointed time with the elders and judges of each of their cities **City by city** is an idiom that means “each city.” Alternate translation: "let ...
come with the elders and judges of each city” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
+EZR 10 14 wvv6 figs-idiom יָבֹא֙…וְ⁠עִמָּ⁠הֶ֛ם זִקְנֵי־עִ֥יר וָ⁠עִ֖יר וְ⁠שֹׁפְטֶ֑י⁠הָ 1 at the appointed time with the elders and judges of each of their cities **City by city** is an idiom that means “each city.” Alternate translation: “let ...
come with the elders and judges of each city” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
EZR 10 14 qdri figs-metaphor עַ֠ד לְ⁠הָשִׁ֞יב חֲר֤וֹן אַף־אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔⁠נּוּ עַ֖ד לַ⁠דָּבָ֥ר הַ⁠זֶּֽה 1 at the appointed time with the elders and judges of each of their cities In Hebrew, **burning of the nose** figuratively represents anger, and if someone’s anger is **turned back**, that means figuratively that they are no longer angry. Alternate translation: “until God is no longer angry with us for disobeying in this way” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 10 14 cs93 figs-quotemarks לַ⁠דָּבָ֥ר הַ⁠זֶּֽה 1 at the appointed time with the elders and judges of each of their cities After this phrase, the book ends its quotation of what the assembly replied to Ezra on this occasion. If you decided in [10:12](../10/12.md) to mark their words as a quotation, you should indicate their ending here with a closing quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]]) EZR 10 15 arho grammar-connect-logic-contrast אַ֣ךְ 1 Jonathan…Asahel…Jahzeiah…Tikvah…Meshullam…Shabbethai The word **only** indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between the willingness of almost the entire assembly to pursue this matter and the opposition of these four men. You could begin the sentence with a word such as “however” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) @@ -1202,7 +1202,7 @@ EZR 10 17 gtyy figs-idiom הַ⁠הֹשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְ EZR 10 17 kgk5 translate-hebrewmonths י֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשֽׁוֹן 1 first day of the first month You could convert the Hebrew day and month into an approximate date on the calendar that your culture uses. However, the Jews used a lunar calendar, so if you use a solar calendar, the date will be different every year and the translation will not be entirely accurate. So you may just want to use the numbers of the Hebrew day and month. Alternate translation: “by the first day of the first month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]]) EZR 10 17 u24d translate-ordinal י֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשֽׁוֹן 1 first day of the first month The Hebrew uses a cardinal number here, **one**, but there is not a significant difference in meaning between that and the way the Hebrew uses an ordinal number, “first,” in similar contexts elsewhere. If your language customarily uses ordinals for the numbers of days, you can do that here in your translation. Alternate translation: “on the first day of the tenth month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EZR 10 18 rqg8 figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּמָּצֵא֙ מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י 1 Jeshua If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. “The clan leaders identified some men from among” Alternate translation: (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EZR 10 18 vpyw figs-idiom מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֔ים 1 Jeshua Here, **sons of** is a figurative expression that indicates that a person shares the qualities of something. Hebrew often uses the expression to describe a person’s occupation. Alternate translation: "some … among the priests” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EZR 10 18 vpyw figs-idiom מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֔ים 1 Jeshua Here, **sons of** is a figurative expression that indicates that a person shares the qualities of something. Hebrew often uses the expression to describe a person’s occupation. Alternate translation: “some … among the priests” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 10 18 w0rr figs-idiom אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת 1 Jeshua See how you translated this expression in [10:2](../10/02.md). Alternate translation: “who had married foreign women” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EZR 10 18 sf5b figs-metaphor מִ⁠בְּנֵ֨י יֵשׁ֤וּעַ בֶּן־יֽוֹצָדָק֙ וְ⁠אֶחָ֔י⁠ו 1 Maaseiah…Gedaliah **Sons** here figuratively means “descendants,” since Jeshua lived many years before this time, but “son” is literal because Jeshu was the biological son of Jozadak. **Brothers** could mean biological brothers, but it is more likely that it refers figuratively to relatives. Alternate translation: “from the descendants of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his relatives” (See:[[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EZR 10 18 pp5e translate-names מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ וֶֽ⁠אֱלִיעֶ֔זֶר וְ⁠יָרִ֖יב וּ⁠גְדַלְיָֽה 1 Eliezer…Jarib These are the names of four men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) diff --git a/manifest.yaml b/manifest.yaml index 1d73fa0124..5932073123 100644 --- a/manifest.yaml +++ b/manifest.yaml @@ -368,26 +368,26 @@ dublin_core: description: 'Open-licensed exegetical notes that provide historical, cultural, and linguistic information for translators. It provides translators and checkers with pertinent, just-in-time information to help them make the best possible translation decisions.' format: 'text/tsv' identifier: 'tn' - issued: '2021-02-17' + issued: '2021-02-22' language: direction: 'ltr' identifier: 'en' title: 'English' - modified: '2021-02-17' + modified: '2021-02-22' publisher: 'unfoldingWord' relation: - 'en/ult' + - 'hbo/uhb?v=2.1.17' - 'el-x-koine/ugnt?v=0.18' - - 'hbo/uhb?v=2.1.16' rights: 'CC BY-SA 4.0' source: - identifier: 'tn' language: 'en' - version: '42' + version: '43' subject: 'TSV Translation Notes' title: 'unfoldingWord® Translation Notes' type: 'help' - version: '43' + version: '44' checking: checking_entity: