Discovery BoxEzra 1:6 
Context1:6 All their neighbors assisted 1 them with silver utensils, 2 gold, equipment, animals, and expensive gifts, not to mention 3 all the voluntary offerings.
Ezra 3:4
Context3:4 They observed the Festival of Temporary Shelters 4 as required 5 and offered the proper number of 6 daily burnt offerings according to the requirement for each day.
1 tn Heb “strengthened their hands.”
2 tc The MT reads בִּכְלֵי־כֶסֶף (bikhley khesef, “with silver vessels”). However, part of the LXX manuscript tradition reads ἐν πᾶσιν ἀργυρίῳ (en pasin arguriw), which reflects an alternate Hebrew reading of בַּכֹּל־בַּכֶּסֶף (bakkol-bakkesef, “everywhere, with silver”). The textual variant involves (1) simple omission of yod (י) between two words, a common scribal mistake; (2) haplography of the preposition bet (בּ); and (3) an alternate vocalization tradition of the first term.
3 tn Heb “besides” or “in addition to.”
4 tn The Hebrew phrase אֶת חַג־הַסֻּכּוֹת (’et khag-hassukot, “festival of huts” [or “shelters”]) is traditionally known as the Feast of Tabernacles. The rendering “booths” (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV) is probably better than the traditional “tabernacles” in light of the meaning of the term סֻכָּה (sukkah, “hut; booth”), but “booths” are frequently associated with trade shows and craft fairs in contemporary American English. The nature of the celebration during this feast as a commemoration of the wanderings of the Israelites after they left Egypt suggests that a translation like “temporary shelters” is more appropriate.
5 tn Heb “according to what is written.”
6 tn Heb “by number.”
