Ezra 3:3

3:3 They established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples, ¹  and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and the evening offerings.

Ezra 6:21

6:21 The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them ²  in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the Lord God of Israel.

Ezra 7:10-11

7:10 Now Ezra had dedicated himself ³  to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching ⁴  its statutes and judgments in Israel.

Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission

7:11 What follows ⁵  is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe. ⁶  Ezra was ⁷  a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:

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¹ tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”

² tn Heb “who had separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to them.”

³ tn Heb “established his heart.”

⁴ tn Heb “to do and to teach.” The expression may be a hendiadys, in which case it would have the sense of “effectively teaching.”

⁵ tn Heb “this.”

⁶ tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.

⁷ tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.