Ezra 5:8

5:8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, ¹  and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands.

Ezra 10:3

10:3 Therefore let us enact ²  a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, ³  and that of those who respect ⁴  the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law.

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¹ tn Aram “stones of rolling.” The reference is apparently to stones too large to carry.

² tn Heb “cut.”

³ tn The MT vocalizes this word as a plural, which could be understood as a reference to God. But the context seems to suggest that a human lord is intended. The apparatus of BHS suggests repointing the word as a singular (“my lord”), but this is unnecessary. The plural (“my lords”) can be understood in an honorific sense even when a human being is in view. Most English versions regard this as a reference to Ezra, so the present translation supplies “your” before “counsel” to make this clear.

⁴ tn Heb “who tremble at”; NAB, NIV “who fear.”