Ezra 6:22

They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the Lord had given them joy and had changed the opinion ¹  of the king of Assyria ²  toward them, so that he assisted ³  them in the work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.

Ex 12:15-20; Ex 13:6,7; 2Ki 23:29; 2Ch 30:21; 2Ch 33:11; 2Ch 35:17; Ezr 1:1; Ezr 6:6-12; Ezr 7:27; Pr 16:7; Pr 21:1; Zec 10:10,11; Mt 26:17; Joh 19:11; 1Co 5:7,8

¹ tn Heb “heart.”

² sn The expression “king of Assyria” is anachronistic, since Assyria fell in 612 b.c., long before the events of this chapter. Perhaps the expression is intended subtly to contrast earlier kings of Assyria who were hostile toward Israel with this Persian king who showed them favor.

³ tn Heb “to strengthen their hands.”