Ezra - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 920
The Psalms, Solomon and Sacred Writers
18 They also appointed the Divisions of the Priests, and the courses of the Levites for the service of GOD at ]erusa1em, as written in the book of Moses. W32 Qasznhzr Scstihnl ilzsiurzh. rg Then the Sons of the Transports made the Passover on the fourteenth
20 of the first month; for the Priests and Levites had purified themselves together,———all of them were purihed, so they slew the Passover for all
the sons of the Transports,—both for their brothers the Priests, and for themselves, and all the Children of Israel ate it.-·—'I`hose who had re- turned from the Transportation, and all who were purified from the defile· ment of the Heathen land, who had come to seek the EVER-Ltvmo Goo of Israel. So they made the Feast of Unfermented bread for seven days, with joy, for the LORD had gladdened them, and softened the heart of the king of Ashur towards them to strengthen their hands in the works at the House of the GOD of Israel. END OF THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST RESTORATION. EZ RA. BOOK THE SECOND. (457 B·¤·) W12 Quinliiugrnpbg uf the $2:nnh ®;ru.‘ And after these affairs, in the reign
of Arthakshasta, king of Persia, Ezra·ben - Seriah - ben - Azeriah,-ben- Hilkiah, · ben · Shalom, ~ ben - Zadok, - ben · Ahitub - ben - Ameriah - ben · Azeriah,-—ben — Morioth,-ben · Zerakia, -ben -‘Uzi, · ben - Buki,·ben - Abishua, · ben ·· Phinehas, - ben · Eleazer, · ben- Aaron,-—the High Priest,——he, Ezra went up from Babel. He was well accomplished in the Laws of Moses, that the LORD the GOD of Israel gave. The king also endowed him, on account of the power of the EVER- uvme Gov upon him, with all that he requested from him. There also went up some of the Children of Israel, and some Priests and Levites, and Singers, and Attendants, to jeru- salem, in the seventh year of king
8 Arthakshasta, who arrived at jeru- salem in the fifth month of the
9 seventh year of the king. For on the first of the Brst month the ascent from Babel was commanded and in
1 Nora.-Ch. 7, v. 1. I think there were
two statesmen named Ezra, the history of whose administrations is given in this Book, or these two Books, for the period of time between the Ezra of Cyrus’s restoration and hat under Arthaksh tasta, 7% years, is too long to have been the active ife of one man. I therefore separate the two narratives. This second Ezra was, as stated, a priest, the hrst Ezra, or Zerubabel, being clearly a civil statesman.-—F. F. the first of the fifth month he arrived at jerusalem, by the good help of his GOD to him ; for Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to practice and teach its Institu—· tions and Decrees of Israel. 21 22 X0 $rtl;nksl;usta’s §zttzr nf Qppniub ment nf ®5ra. Now this is a copy of the Letter
which King Arthakshasta gave to Ezra the Priest, the accomplished in the commands of the EvER—LtV1NG, and His Institutions, to Israel. ‘ Aa·rnAxsaAs·rA, the King of
Kings, to Ezra the Priest, the Ac· complished in the writings of thc Beneficent and Perfect GOD OF THE Heavens; ‘I have signed a Decree that all
the People of Israel in my Empire with their Priests and Levites who wish to go with you to jerusalem, may go. Because you are sent from the Presence of the King, and his seven Counsellors, to enquire about judea and jerusalem, with the Law of your GOD in your hand. And to carry the silver and gold given by the King and his Counsellors to the GOD of Israel, who dwells in jerusalem. Also, all the silver and gold that you have collected in all the Provinces of Babel, with the free·wil1 offerings of your People, and the Priests who pre~ sent freely to the House of their GOD in jerusalem. 920 II I2 16
