And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
I, King Artaxerxes, am making an official order to all the treasurers in the region beyond the river: whatever Ezra the priest and teacher of God's law asks from you, do it quickly.
King Artaxerxes is commanding his officials to give Ezra whatever resources he needs without delay to carry out God's work.
📚 Historical Context
In the 5th century BC, during the Persian Empire's rule over the ancient Near East, King Artaxerxes I issued this decree as part of his policy to support the Jewish exiles returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. Ezra, a devout priest and expert in the Law of Moses, was empowered by the king to lead religious reforms and enforce God's laws among the Jews. This reflects the broader historical context of Persian tolerance toward subject peoples' religions, which helped maintain imperial stability while allowing figures like Ezra to restore Jewish identity.
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