With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy …: Although the letter gives authorization for Ezra’s mission, it also offers instructions for what Ezra is to do. You shall … buy represents a command. In some languages it may be possible to use a similar verb form with the future tense to express an instruction. In other languages it may be necessary to use an imperative verb form.

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 .

Ezra is to use the money with all diligence, which is literally “exactly, thoroughly,” to buy the offerings for the Temple. The money is to be used precisely for the purpose for which it was given. The Aramaic word behind this adverbial expression is used 7 times in the book of Ezra (see the comments on 5.8, where Revised Standard Version has “diligently,” and 6.8, where it has “in full”; see also 6.12, 13), including 3 times in this letter (also in verses 21 and 26, where Revised Standard Version has “strictly”). The repetition of this expression makes the concept of “diligence” to be a theme in this book. It is a description of the work that is associated with the rebuilding of the Temple. In this context, “faithfully” would be an appropriate translation. “Spend carefully” is an English idiom that applies to the use of money (Good News Translation). French uses a similar expression: “you shall use care to buy with this money” (Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Bulls, rams, and lambs, with their cereal offerings and their drink offerings: The animals and supplies that Ezra was to buy for the offerings were those used in the daily sacrifices of the Temple (see the comments on Ezra 6.9, 17). Cereal offerings were given from the “fruit of the ground” (Gen 4.3). They were grain offerings (Lev 2.1-16) and were often given in the form of fine flour or unleavened cakes. Drink offerings were libations of something that was drunk, namely, wine (Lev 23.13). Their refers to the animal sacrifices, which the grain and drink offerings accompanied. Alternative translations for their are “appropriate” (Williamson 1985) and “proper” (Revised English Bible).

You shall offer them: Some versions translate this as “you shall sacrifice them” in this context (compare Contemporary English Version). It is important to note that the offerings here include animals that will be killed in sacrifice, grain that will be given in offering, and wine that will be poured in libation. Therefore, the translator must use an expression here for offer that will include all these various types of offerings and sacrifices.

Upon the altar: See the comments at Ezra 3.2.

The house of your God which is in Jerusalem: See the comments on verse 15 above. The possessive pronoun your is in the plural form and refers to the whole community of Jews.

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 .