Discovery BoxEzra 7:10-12 
Context7:10 Now Ezra had dedicated himself 1 to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching 2 its statutes and judgments in Israel.
Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission
7:11 What follows 3 is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe. 4 Ezra was 5 a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:
7:12 6 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the perfect law of the God of heaven:
1 tn Heb “established his heart.”
2 tn Heb “to do and to teach.” The expression may be a hendiadys, in which case it would have the sense of “effectively teaching.”
3 tn Heb “this.”
4 tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.
5 tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.
6 sn Ezra 7:12-26 is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.
