Discovery BoxEzra 5:17 
Context5:17 “Now if the king is so inclined, 1 let a search be conducted in the royal archives 2 there in Babylon in order to determine whether King Cyrus did in fact issue orders for this temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us a decision concerning this matter.”
Ezra 7:25
Context7:25 “Now you, Ezra, in keeping with the wisdom of your God which you possess, 3 appoint judges 4 and court officials who can arbitrate cases on behalf of all the people who are in Trans-Euphrates who know the laws of your God. Those who do not know this law should be taught.
Ezra 9:1
Context9:1 Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents 5 who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Ezra 9:8
Context9:8 “But now briefly 6 we have received mercy from the Lord our God, in that he has left us a remnant and has given us a secure position 7 in his holy place. Thus our God has enlightened our eyes 8 and has given us a little relief in our time of servitude.
1 tn Aram “if upon the king it is good.”
2 tn Aram “the house of the treasures of the king.”
3 tn Aram “in your hand.”
4 tc For the MT reading שָׁפְטִין (shoftim, “judges”) the LXX uses the noun γραμματεῖς (grammatei", “scribes”).
5 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.” So also in v. 2.
6 tn Heb “according to a little moment.”
7 tn Heb “a peg” or “tent peg.” The imagery behind this word is drawn from the experience of nomads who put down pegs as they pitched their tents and made camp after times of travel.
8 tn Heb “to cause our eyes to shine.” The expression is a figure of speech for “to revive.” See DCH 1:160 s.v. אור Hi.7.
