And also to convey …: The king made specific provisions for the Temple in Jerusalem including money for sacrifices and vessels for its service, and the second part of Ezra’s commission was to convey these materials to Jerusalem. This verb may be translated as “take with you” (Good News Translation, New International Version) or “bring with you” (so New American Bible), depending on receptor language usage.

Silver and gold: See the comments on Ezra 1.4.

Freely offered: See the comments on Ezra 1.6. It is the same verb used in verse 13 above.

To the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem: See the comments on Ezra 1.2-4. The theme of the God of Israel whose house is in Jerusalem is repeated three times in the king’s letter, once here and twice in the following two verses. However, only in this verse in the book of Ezra is the word dwelling or “habitation” used. Elsewhere, the standard term “house” is used to refer to the Temple. Although dwelling here clearly refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, most versions have used an equivalent word here, instead of using “Temple” as Good News Translation has done. Translators should use a word similar to dwelling, which Chouraqui refers to as a “residence.”

In Aramaic there is one sentence in verses 15-16. Good News Translation breaks it into two sentences to make reading easier, and translators may wish to do the same.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .