diff --git a/en_tn_15-EZR.tsv b/en_tn_15-EZR.tsv
index dd297c210b..cf4fcd0f26 100644
--- a/en_tn_15-EZR.tsv
+++ b/en_tn_15-EZR.tsv
@@ -37,12 +37,13 @@ EZR 1 4 d9rn figs-idiom יְנַשְּׂא֨וּהוּ֙ 1 **Lift** here is
EZR 1 4 f6tk figs-explicit הַ֨נְּדָבָ֔ה 1 The book expects readers to know that these would be extra gifts, beyond the necessities already listed. They might include money to help rebuild the temple and vessels to be used in the temple, such as the ones listed in [1:7–11](../01/07.md). Alternate translation: “any extra gifts they want to give” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
EZR 1 4 swvz figs-metaphor לְבֵ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ 1 **House** figuratively means a temple. Cyrus continues to speak of this temple as if it would be a house in which God lived, since God’s presence would be there. The book repeatedly uses the expressions **house**, **house of God**, and house of Yahweh to mean the temple in Jerusalem. It will be helpful to your readers if you translate these expressions consistently every time. Alternate translation: “the temple that the Jews will rebuild for God in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
EZR 1 5 i39z grammar-connect-logic-result וַיָּק֜וּמוּ 1 The word **then** indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous verses have described. Alternate translation: “In response to this decree ... acted” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
+EZR 1 5 kkxf figs-idiom וַיָּק֜וּמוּ 1 In this context, the term **arose** means that these leaders took action to get an enterprise under way. It does not indicate that these leaders had been sitting or lying down and that they stood up. Alternate translation: “Then…started making preparations” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
EZR 1 5 hgd0 figs-ellipsis רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָב֗וֹת 1 This is an abbreviated way of saying the heads of father’s houses. Alternate translation: “the clan leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])
EZR 1 5 v371 רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָב֗וֹת 1 Among the Israelites, the expression father’s house or house of the father originally described an extended-family group. It later came to be used more generally to refer to a larger clan within a tribe. In this expression, the word house (which does not appear in the abbreviated version here) figuratively describes all the people descended from a particular person. The term views all of those descendants as if they were one household living together. Alternate translation: “the clan leaders”
EZR 1 5 bezo figs-metaphor רָאשֵׁ֣י 1 Here, **heads** is a figurative way of saying leaders. Alternate translation: “leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
EZR 1 5 rt3n translate-names לִֽיהוּדָה֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן 1 These are the names of two of the tribes of Israel. Alternate translation: “of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 1 5 s2yg figs-metaphor לְכֹ֨ל הֵעִ֤יר הָאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־רוּח֔וֹ 1 with everyone whose spirit God had stirred up to go up Here the book again speaks figuratively of God causing people to act by saying that he **stirred up** their spirits the way winds might stir up calm waters and get them to move around. The meaning is that God directly influenced the hearts and wills of these clan leaders to get them to do something. Alternate translation: “all those whom God had led to act” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
-EZR 1 5 ywuq figs-idiom לַעֲל֣וֹת 1 In this context, the term **arose** means they took action to get an enterprise under way. It does not indicate that these leaders had been sitting or lying down and that they stood up. Alternate translation: “started making preparations to travel to Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
+EZR 1 5 ywuq figs-idiom לַעֲל֣וֹת 1 As in [1:3](../01/03.md), the book says **go up** because the Jews would have to travel from a river valley up into the mountains in order to return from their places of exile to Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “to return to Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
EZR 1 6 ihv7 figs-hyperbole וְכָל־סְבִיבֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ 1 **All** is an exaggeration for emphasis. Every person who lived near a returning Jew did not necessarily provide support. But the expression indicates that the Jews received very generous support from many of their neighbors. Alternate translation: “And the people of their communities” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole]])
EZR 1 6 wwg6 figs-metaphor חִזְּק֣וּ בִֽידֵיהֶ֔ם 1 strengthened their hands Here, **hands** figuratively represents strength and power. This expression means that the neighbors of the Jews gave them greater capacity to act and fulfill their project by supplying them with the items listed. Alternate translation: “helped them by giving them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
EZR 1 6 sc2n לְבַ֖ד עַל־כָּל־הִתְנַדֵּֽב׃ 1 This is a reference to the freewill offerings that are also mentioned in [1:4](../01/04.md). Alternate translation: “in addition, the people freely gave extra gifts”
@@ -53,7 +54,6 @@ EZR 1 8 j32q figs-explicit וַיּֽוֹצִיאֵ֗ם כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ
EZR 1 8 m5w3 translate-names מִתְרְדָ֣ת 1 Mithredath…Sheshbazzar **Mithredath** is the name of a man. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 1 8 wc54 translate-unknown הַגִּזְבָּ֑ר 1 brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer This term describes the office of a person responsible for all the valuable possessions of a monarch and for the places where they are stored safely. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]])
EZR 1 8 w8rk figs-idiom וַֽיִּסְפְּרֵם֙ לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֔ר 1 treasurer **He** means Mithredath, and **them** means the objects for the temple. This expression means that Mithredath not only gave Sheshbazzar the objects, he also gave him a detailed accounting of how many there were of each kind, as recorded in [1:9](../01/09.md) and [1:10](../01/10.md). This likely does not mean that Mithredath handed Sheshbazzar the objects one at a time while announcing the number of each one. Alternate translation: “Mithredath turned them over to Sheshbazzar along with a detailed list of them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
-EZR 1 8 xkar translate-names לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֔ר 1 **Sheshbazzar** is the name of a man. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 1 8 wb5a translate-names לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֔ר 1 This leader of the first group of exiles to return to Judah, who is called **Sheshbazzar** here and in [1:11](../01/11.md), [5:14](../05/14.md), and [5:16](../05/16.md), seems to be the same person who is called Zerubbabel in the rest of the book. The reason for the difference in names is not clear. Some interpreters suggest that he was known as Sheshbazzar in the Persian court and that he used the name Zerubbabel as governor of Judah. It would probably be best simply to translate both names consistently where they appear without calling attention to the difference and trying to explain it, since there is no clear and generally accepted explanation for it. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 1 8 qsti הַנָּשִׂ֖יא לִיהוּדָֽה׃ 1 The book says in [5:14](../05/14.md) that Cyrus appointed Sheshbazzar to be the governor of the province of Judah. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use that phrase to describe him here. Alternate translation: “the governor of the province of Judah”
EZR 1 9 hu9c figs-idiom וְאֵ֖לֶּה מִסְפָּרָ֑ם 1 General Information: This expression means this is how many there were of each kind of utensil (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ EZR 3 10 dhpq figs-explicit וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־א
EZR 3 10 i9ce figs-metaphor וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־אָסָף֙ 1 Here, **sons** figuratively means descendants. Alternate translation: “the Levites who were descendants of Asaph” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
EZR 3 10 fvas translate-names אָסָף֙ 1 **Asaph** is a man’s name. See how you translated it in [2:41](../02/41.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 3 10 v35v translate-unknown בַּֽמְצִלְתַּ֔יִם 1 with cymbals **Cymbals** are two thin, round metal plates that are hit together to make a loud sound. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]])
-EZR 3 10 wpry grammar-connect-logic-result לְהַלֵּל֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה עַל־יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 You could make this phrase the second sentence in the verse, since it gives the reason for the results that would come afterwards, and you could show the connection by using a word like "so." Alternate translation: “to worship Yahweh in the way that King David of Israel had commanded" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
+EZR 3 10 wpry grammar-connect-logic-result לְהַלֵּל֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה עַל־יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 You could put this phrase before the one that describes how the priests and Levites were positioned, since it explains why the leaders put them in those positions. You could then show the connection by using a word like “so” to introduce the information about the priests and Levites. Alternate translation: “The leaders wanted to worship Yahweh to celebrate this occasion, and they wanted to do that in the way that King David of Israel had commanded. So …” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/ grammar-connect-logic-result]])
EZR 3 10 t64z figs-metonymy יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד 1 the hands of David Here, the phrase, **hands of the king,** is used figuratively to represent his power to give commands. Alternate translation: “as David had commanded” (See: \[\[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy\]\])
EZR 3 10 zb0l figs-informremind דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 Here the book provides some background information to describe more fully who David was. Alternate translation: “King David of Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]])
EZR 3 11 ajjk grammar-connect-time-sequential וַֽ֠יַּעֲנוּ 1 The word **then** indicates that the sentence it introduces it will describe something that took place after the event the story has just related. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “once all the musicians were in place” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]])
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ EZR 4 6 o931 writing-background וּבְמַלְכוּת֙ 1 This phrase
EZR 4 6 zxv3 figs-explicit וּבְמַלְכוּת֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת מַלְכוּת֑וֹ 1 Ahasuerus actually ruled the Persian Empire after Darius, who was his father. So here the book is presenting some events out of chronological order. That is, it is telling about some things that happened later, before finishing the story of what happened at this time. In [4:24](../04/24.md) the book will bring readers back to where it left off in [4:5](../04/05.md), and then, in chapter [5](../05/01.md), it will describe how work on rebuilding the temple did resume under the reign of Darius. But first it gives accounts here of how the enemies of the Jews continued to oppose them under two later kings, Ahasuerus (described in this verse) and Artaxerxes (described in verses [7–23](../04/07.md)). The purpose may be to show that the Jews were wise to refuse the help that leaders from other nations offered, as described in verses [1–3](../04/01.md). Since those leaders were actually enemies of the Jews, as they demonstrated by opposing them under one king after another, their offer was not sincere and they could not be trusted. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “In fact, they continued to oppose them under later kings. As soon as Ahasuerus succeeded his father Darius as king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
EZR 4 6 k3fy translate-names אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ 1 **Ahasuerus** is the name of a man. He is better known as Xerxes, so you could use that name for him in your translation if it would be clearer for your readers. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 4 6 iaw6 figs-explicit כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם 1 wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say explicitly what the enemies of the Jews accused them of doing. (The book provides the text of their letter in [4:11–16](../04/11.md), but it might be helpful to provide a summary in advance.) Alternate translation: “they wrote a letter in which they accused the Jews who had returned to Judah and Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
-EZR 4 6 z7sk figs-abstractnouns כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה 1 The abstract noun **accusation** refers to what the enemies of the Jews said about them in the letter that they sent to the king. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as accuse. Alternate translation: “they wrote a letter in which they accused” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
+EZR 4 6 z7sk figs-abstractnouns כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה עַל 1 The abstract noun **accusation** refers to what the enemies of the Jews said about them in the letter that they sent to the king. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with a verb such as accuse. Alternate translation: “they wrote a letter in which they accused” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
EZR 4 6 o4k9 figs-metonymy כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה 1 Another way to view this phrase is that the book is referring figuratively to the physical letter by reference to something associated with it, its content, that is, what the enemies of the Jews said about them in it. If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a concrete term that explains the meaning of the figurative expression. Alternate translation: “they wrote a letter accusing” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
EZR 4 6 kzu9 יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם 1 In this context, this expression does not mean all the inhabitants of the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem, whatever their nationality, but rather the Jews who returned from exile and settled in those places. Alternate translation: “the Jews who had returned from exile and settled in Judah and Jerusalem”
EZR 4 7 mmwa grammar-connect-time-sequential וּבִימֵ֣י 1 This phrase indicates that the events the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show this relationship by using a word such as "then." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]])
@@ -392,13 +392,13 @@ EZR 4 9 yz8m figs-explicit אֲפָֽרְסָיֵ֗א אַרְכְּוָיֵ
EZR 4 10 k64z וּשְׁאָ֣ר אֻמַּיָּ֗א דִּ֤י הַגְלִי֙ אָסְנַפַּר֙ רַבָּ֣א וְיַקִּירָ֔א וְהוֹתֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּקִרְיָ֖ה דִּ֣י שָׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֥ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת 1 This could mean one of two things. (1) It could be referring to two sets of people groups: (a) some further groups that, like the four listed in [4:9](../04/09.md), Ashurbanipal exiled to the region of Samaria, and (b) all the other groups that were then living in the province of Beyond-the-River, however they came to live there. This is the reading of ULT. Alternate translation: “and all the other people groups whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal exiled and settled in the cities of Samaria, and all the other people groups living in Beyond-the-River. ” or (2) It could be referring to one set of people groups made up of all the other groups that, like the four listed in [4:9](../04/09.md), Ashurbanipal moved to this area and resettled in the cities of Samaria and in other parts of the province. This is the reading of UST. Alternate translation: “and all the other people groups whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal exiled and settled in the cities of Samaria and the rest of Beyond-the-River” Either way, the officials writing this letter feel that they can speak on behalf of those other groups in addition to the groups they belong to personally.
EZR 4 10 d6lu translate-names אָסְנַפַּר֙ 1 Ashurbanipal **Ashurbanipal** is the name of a man. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 4 10 pu35 translate-names עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖ה 1 the Province Beyond the River **Beyond-the-River** is the name of one of the provinces of the Persian Empire. It occurs many times throughout the book, and it will be helpful to your readers if you translate it consistently each time. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
-EZR 4 10 s4ki וּכְעֶֽנֶת 1 **And now** is an Aramaic expression that was used in the letters of this time to introduce the main business of the letter. In [4:11](../04/11.md), [4:17](../04/17.md), and [7:12](../07/12.md), it comes at the beginning of a letter, right after opening conventions such as the names of the sender and recipient and greetings. In [5:17](../05/17.md), it comes near the end of a letter to introduce a request that the writers finally make in light of extensive background information that they provide up to that point. But here it introduces the letter itself after a long preamble that lists the names of the senders and the groups on whose behalf they feel they can speak. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this expression.
+EZR 4 10 s4ki grammar-connect-words-phrases וּכְעֶֽנֶת 1 **And now** is an Aramaic expression that was used in the letters of this time to introduce the main business of the letter. In [4:11](../04/11.md), [4:17](../04/17.md), and [7:12](../07/12.md), it comes at the beginning of a letter, right after opening conventions such as the names of the sender and recipient and greetings. In [5:17](../05/17.md), it comes near the end of a letter to introduce a request that the writers finally make in light of extensive background information that they provide up to that point. But here it introduces the letter itself after a long preamble that lists the names of the senders and the groups on whose behalf they feel they can speak. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this expression. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
EZR 4 11 a7sk figs-aside דְּנָה֙ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִגַּרְתָּ֔א דִּ֚י שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֔וֹהִי 1 This is a copy **They** means the men listed in [4:9](../04/09.md). The book is interrupting its quotation after the preamble to make sure that readers know that the text of the letter itself will now follow. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-aside]])
EZR 4 11 lny4 figs-quotemarks דְּנָה֙ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִגַּרְתָּ֔א דִּ֚י שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֔וֹהִי 1 If you used quotation marks or some other punctuation or convention to indicate the beginning of the quotation at the start of [4:9](../04/09.md), you should use the same means to indicate that there is a break in the quotation at the end of [4:10](../04/10.md), and then show that the quotation resumes after this sentence. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
EZR 4 11 v61f translate-names אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא 1 **Artaxerxes** is the name of a man. See how you translated it in [4:7](../04/07.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 4 11 n6mp figs-123person עַבְדָ֛יךְ אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖ה 1 the Province Beyond the River Here the officials identify themselves as the senders of this letter, and they refer to themselves in the third person as **your servants** in order to address the king as their superior with humility and respect. Alternate translation: “from your officials in the province of Beyond-the-River” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])
EZR 4 11 uupo figs-idiom עַבְדָ֛יךְ אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖ה 1 In this context, **men** means people, so this phrase means people who live in Beyond-the-River province. But together with the preceding phrase, **your servants**, it means specifically those who work for the king there, that is, his royal officials. Alternate translation: “your officials in the province of Beyond-the-River” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
-EZR 4 11 a2bi וּכְעֶֽנֶת 1 As in [4:10](../04/10.md), **and now** is an Aramaic expression that introduces the main business of a letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this expression.
+EZR 4 11 a2bi grammar-connect-words-phrases וּכְעֶֽנֶת 1 As in [4:10](../04/10.md), **and now** is an Aramaic expression that introduces the main business of a letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this expression. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
EZR 4 12 bqu1 figs-123person יְדִ֨יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א 1 These officials address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “we would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])
EZR 4 12 u168 figs-activepassive יְדִ֨יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who is doing the action. Alternate translation: “we would like you to know, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 4 12 alqa figs-idiom יְהוּדָיֵ֗א דִּ֤י סְלִ֨קוּ֙ מִן־לְוָתָ֔ךְ 1 As in several instances earlier in the book, here **went up** means "traveled from Babylon to Judah," since that involves going from a river valley up into the mountains. The officials describe Babylon to the king as **near you** because it was relatively much closer to the Persian royal court and more distant from Samaria. Alternate translation: “the Jews who returned to Judah from Babylon” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ EZR 4 13 wj7f figs-parallelism הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ תּ
EZR 4 13 wj57 figs-activepassive הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן 1 if this city is built and the wall is completed If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “if the Jews are able to rebuild the city and restore its walls” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 4 13 x47o figs-doublet מִנְדָּֽה־בְל֤וֹ וַהֲלָךְ֙ לָ֣א יִנְתְּנ֔וּן 1 **Tax**, **tribute**, and **custom** mean similar things. The officials use the three terms together to emphasize that the king could lose all of his income from the Jews living in Jerusalem and the province of Judah. You do not need to represent all three words in your translation if that would might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation, as in UST: “they will stop paying any taxes” However, there is a slight difference between the three terms. While their exact meaning is uncertain, they may refer to things such as taxes based on a percentage of income, tribute money that subjects would pay on a per-person basis, and duty that they would pay on articles purchased for use or transported for sale. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could also translate these terms separately. Alternate translation: “they will no longer pay taxes, tribute, or duty.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]. A doublet can involve the use of more than two words.)
EZR 4 13 pgs2 figs-explicit וְאַפְּתֹ֥ם מַלְכִ֖ים תְּהַנְזִֽק 1 the treasury of the king will suffer loss The officials are writing to a king who is the sole ruler of his empire, but they may be using the plural **kings** here because previous kings had accumulated much of the royal treasures. The officials may also be suggesting implicitly that not only Artaxerxes, but also his successors, will get no further revenue from the Jews if Jerusalem is rebuilt and fortified. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “this will reduce the income of kings” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
-EZR 4 14 ye9h כְּעַ֗ן 1 As in [4:13](../04/13.md), the word **now** is similar to the expression "and now" found in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md). Here it introduces another important point within the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation.
+EZR 4 14 ye9h grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַ֗ן 1 As in [4:13](../04/13.md), the word **now** is similar to the expression "and now" found in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md). Here it introduces another important point within the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
EZR 4 14 m7yw figs-idiom מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָא֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא 1 we have eaten the salt of the palace This expression means that these officials are paid from the royal treasury. Alternate translation: “we are paid from the royal treasury” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
EZR 4 14 y5g9 figs-explicit דִּֽי־מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָא֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא 1 The implication is that, because these officials are paid from the royal treasury, they feel a loyalty and a sense of obligation to the king. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “because we are paid from the royal treasury” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
EZR 4 14 uggy figs-123person עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה שְׁלַ֖חְנָא וְהוֹדַ֥עְנָא לְמַלְכָּֽא 1 The officials continue to address the king in the third person as a sign of respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you could indicate this respect by using an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “and that is why we have written to you, O king, to let you know about this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ EZR 4 17 hja4 translate-names וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י סָֽפְרָ֔א
EZR 4 17 qp5d translate-names וּשְׁאָר֙ כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן דִּ֥י יָתְבִ֖ין בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה 1 the Province Beyond the River As in [4:10](../04/10.md), this could mean one of two things. (1) It could be referring to groups: (a) the fellow officials of Rehum and Shimshai in the region of Samaria, and (b) the people groups living in the rest of the province of Beyond-the-River, however they came to live there. This is the reading of ULT. Alternate translation: “the rest of their fellow officials, and the people groups living in Beyond-the-River” or (2) It could be referring to one group, the fellow officials of Rehum and Shimshai in the region of Samaria and in other parts of the province. This is the reading of UST. Alternate translation: “the rest of their fellow officials in Samaria and in the rest of Beyond-the-River” It would probably be clearest for your readers if you followed the same reading here as you did in [4:10](../04/10.md), whether that of ULT or UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 4 17 rsd2 figs-idiom וּשְׁאָר֙ כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן 1 the River As in [4:7](../04/07.md) and [9](../04/09.md), the term **companions** here indicates people who hold similar positions. Alternate translation: “and the rest of their associates” or “and the rest of their fellow officials” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
EZR 4 17 oyb4 שְׁלָ֖ם 1 **Peace** was a conventional greeting or good wish that senders often included at the beginning of a letter at this time. (It is the Aramaic term that corresponds to the Hebrew expression “Shalom.”) If your language has a similar expression that it uses for the same purpose, you can use it here. Alternate translations: “greetings” or “I hope all is well with you”
-EZR 4 17 is3z וּכְעֶֽת 1 As in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [11](../04/11.md), this is an Aramaic expression that introduces the main business of a letter. Unless your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you do not need to represent it in your translation.
+EZR 4 17 is3z grammar-connect-words-phrases וּכְעֶֽת 1 As in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [11](../04/11.md), this is an Aramaic expression that introduces the main business of a letter. Unless your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you do not need to represent it in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
EZR 4 18 nata figs-explicit נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕א דִּ֥י שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן עֲלֶ֑ינָא 1 The implication of the plural **us** is that the king and his royal officials have received this letter. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “the letter that you sent to the king and his royal officials” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
EZR 4 18 sza5 figs-activepassive מְפָרַ֥שׁ קֱרִ֖י קָדָמָֽי 1 the letter that you sent me has been translated and read If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “my officials have carefully read aloud in my presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 4 18 bbxs figs-explicit מְפָרַ֥שׁ קֱרִ֖י קָדָמָֽי 1 The implication is not that the king was unable to read or unable to see, and so he needed someone to read things to him. Rather, in ancient times, writing was considered a way of conveying speech at a distance. In effect, the court officials who read this letter aloud to the king were doing so on behalf of the Samaritan officials who had sent the letter, as if they had been present themselves. So be sure that your translation does not convey or suggest the idea that the king was unable to read. Alternate translation: “my officials have carefully read out loud in my presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ EZR 4 20 ewxu writing-background וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין 1 This word
EZR 4 20 vmb6 וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה 1 the Province Beyond the River Alternate translation: “they ruled over the whole area that is Beyond-the-River province”
EZR 4 20 s7mv figs-activepassive וּמִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַהֲלָ֖ךְ מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְהֽוֹן 1 Tax,tribute, and custom were paid to them If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “these kings conquered other nations and made them pay tribute” or “these kings conquered other nations and made them pay taxes, tribute, and duty” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 4 20 bo7z figs-doublet וּמִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַהֲלָ֖ךְ 1 Tax,tribute, and custom were paid to them See how you translated this phrase in [4:13](../04/13.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]. A doublet can involve the use of more than two words.)
-EZR 4 21 c4sp כְּעַן֙ 1 give a command The word **now** is similar to the expression "and now" in [4:10](../04/10.md), [11](../04/11.md), and [17](../04/17.md). As in [4:13](../04/13.md) and [4:14](../04/14.md), it introduces an important point within a letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation.
+EZR 4 21 c4sp grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַן֙ 1 give a command The word **now** is similar to the expression "and now" in [4:10](../04/10.md), [11](../04/11.md), and [17](../04/17.md). As in [4:13](../04/13.md) and [4:14](../04/14.md), it introduces an important point within a letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
EZR 4 21 ie6i figs-explicit שִׂ֣ימוּ טְּעֵ֔ם לְבַטָּלָ֖א גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֑ךְ 1 give a command **These men** means the Jews. This is a reference back to the letter from the Samaritan officials in which they speak of "the Jews who went up from near you" and who "have come to us at Jerusalem" ([4:12](../04/12.md)). The implication is that the Jews are to stop rebuilding the walls and buildings in Jerusalem. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “issue a decree to make those Jews who returned to Jerusalem from exile stop rebuilding the walls and buildings in Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
EZR 4 21 emg2 grammar-connect-logic-goal וְקִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ לָ֣א תִתְבְּנֵ֔א עַד־מִנִּ֖י טַעְמָ֥א יִתְּשָֽׂם 1 give a command **So,** at the beginning of this clause, indicates that the clause describes the purpose for which Artaxerxes wants the officials to make the Jews stop work on the walls and houses. He does not want there to be any rebuilding in Jerusalem unless he authorizes it personally. Alternate translation: “because I want this decree to prevent all rebuilding unless I issue a decree permitting it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-goal]])
EZR 4 22 xxy6 figs-litotes וּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־דְּנָ֑ה 1 Be careful not to neglect This means "Do not neglect to act concerning this." This is a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. Alternate translation: “be sure to take action in response to this situation” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]])
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ EZR 5 8 avmn figs-metaphor לְבֵית֙ אֱלָהָ֣א רַבָּ֔
EZR 5 8 nmq2 figs-activepassive וְה֤וּא מִתְבְּנֵא֙ אֶ֣בֶן גְּלָ֔ל וְאָ֖ע מִתְּשָׂ֣ם בְּכֻתְלַיָּ֑א וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא דָ֛ךְ אָסְפַּ֥רְנָא מִתְעַבְדָ֖א 1 timbers If it would be clearer in your language, you could say these things with active forms, and you could say who was doing these actions. Alternate translation: “the Jews are building the temple out of large stones and setting timber beams in the walls. They are doing the work diligently” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 5 8 cgiz figs-activepassive וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא דָ֛ךְ אָסְפַּ֥רְנָא מִתְעַבְדָ֖א 1 timbers Once again you could say this with an active form, and you could say who was doing the action. The term **diligently**, used here and several more times in the book, means carefully, exactly, and efficiently. Alternate translation: “they are doing the work carefully and efficiently” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 5 8 nzzw figs-metaphor וּמַצְלַ֥ח בְּיֶדְהֹֽם 1 timbers Here, **hand** figuratively represents control and action. Alternate translation: “and it is succeeding at their initiative” or “and they are making good progress” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
-EZR 5 9 uee9 figs-quotemarks מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לְמִבְנְיָ֔ה וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה 1 Who issued you a command This is a quotation within a quotation. That is, the book is quoting from the letter that Tattenai and his associates sent to King Darius, and within that letter, they are quoting what they asked the Jewish elders. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off these words within secondary quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation within a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
+EZR 5 9 uee9 figs-quotemarks מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לְמִבְנְיָ֔ה וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה 1 Who issued you a command This is a quotation within a quotation. That is, the book is quoting from the letter that Tattenai and his associates sent to King Darius, and within that letter, they are quoting what they asked the Jewish elders. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off these words within secondary quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation within a quotation. See how you translated this question in [5:3](../05/03.md).(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
EZR 5 9 p8jz figs-quotemarks מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לְמִבְנְיָ֔ה וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה 1 Who issued you a command See how you translated this question in [5:3](../05/03.dm). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
EZR 5 10 okji וְאַ֧ף שְׁמָהָתְהֹ֛ם שְׁאֵ֥לְנָא לְּהֹ֖ם לְהוֹדָעוּתָ֑ךְ דִּ֛י נִכְתֻּ֥ב שֻׁם־גֻּבְרַיָּ֖א דִּ֥י בְרָאשֵׁיהֹֽם 1 Who issued you a command Alternate translation: “and we also asked them their names so that we could let you know what they were. We are sending you, in writing, the names of the men who were their leaders”
EZR 5 10 qn28 figs-metaphor גֻּבְרַיָּ֖א דִּ֥י בְרָאשֵׁיהֹֽם 1 Who issued you a command Here, **head** is a figurative way of saying leader. Alternate translation: “the men who were their leaders” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ EZR 5 16 batc שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר דֵּ֔ךְ אֲתָ֗א 1 General
EZR 5 16 iuxm וּמִן־אֱדַ֧יִן וְעַד־כְּעַ֛ן מִתְבְּנֵ֖א וְלָ֥א שְׁלִֽם 1 General Information: In several places the book uses the terms **built and complete** to mean constructed. (Review the note about this at [5:11](../05/11.md) if that would be helpful.) But this expression means something different. The elders use a different verb for the second element that means, after **not**, that the temple was only partially rebuilt, and then the work was interrupted. It would probably be helpful to your readers to show this difference in your translation. Alternate translation: “ever since then, we have been trying to rebuild the temple, but we still have much work to do on it”
EZR 5 16 d7m8 figs-activepassive מִתְבְּנֵ֖א וְלָ֥א שְׁלִֽם 1 it has been under construction, but is not complete If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “ever since then, we have been trying to rebuild the temple, but we still have much work to do on it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 5 16 myr8 figs-quotemarks וְלָ֥א שְׁלִֽם 1 under construction Here the letter ends its quotation of what the Jewish elders told Tattenai and his associates. If you decided in [5:11](../05/11.md) to mark their words as a secondary quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing secondary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation within a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
-EZR 5 17 f4m4 וּכְעַ֞ן 1 General Information: As in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md), **and now** is an Aramaic expression that introduces the main business of a letter. In this case, it comes near the end of the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this phrase.
+EZR 5 17 f4m4 grammar-connect-words-phrases וּכְעַ֞ן 1 General Information: As in [4:10](../04/10.md) and [4:11](../04/11.md), **and now** is an Aramaic expression that introduces the main business of a letter. In this case, it comes near the end of the letter. If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this phrase. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
EZR 5 17 kviz figs-idiom הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣א טָ֗ב 1 let a search be made This is an idiom that means "if the king thinks this is a good idea" or "if this advice is acceptable to the king." Alternate translation: “if it seems good to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
EZR 5 17 hlsk figs-123person הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣א טָ֗ב 1 let a search be made Tattenai and his associates address the king in third person as a form of respect. Even if your language would conventionally use the second person in a context like this, you can indicate this respect by adding an expression such as "O king." Alternate translation: “if it seems good to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])
EZR 5 17 abm5 figs-activepassive יִ֠תְבַּקַּר 1 let a search be made If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “have your officials search” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
@@ -581,11 +581,11 @@ EZR 6 5 ujut מָאנֵ֣י בֵית־אֱלָהָא֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲב
EZR 6 5 vlhj figs-activepassive מָאנֵ֣י…יַהֲתִיב֗וּן 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form, as an imperative. Alternate translation: “return these objects to the Jews” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 6 5 bwim translate-unknown מָאנֵ֣י בֵית־אֱלָהָא֮ 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house **Vessels** specifically means the bowls, basins, and other objects listed in [1:9–10](../01/09.md). These were used during worship in the temple. Alternate translation: “the objects that were used in worship in the temple” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]])
EZR 6 5 wl8e figs-parallelism וִ֠יהָךְ לְהֵיכְלָ֤א דִי־בִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ לְאַתְרֵ֔הּ וְתַחֵ֖ת בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלָהָֽא 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house These two phrases mean similar things. Cyrus is saying basically the same thing twice to emphasize how important it is for his officials to carry out this command. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “make sure that you put these objects back in the temple, right where they belong” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
-EZR 6 5 vo0d figs-quotemarks וְתַחֵ֖ת בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלָהָֽא 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house Here the scroll ends its quotation from the decree of Cyrus. If you decided in the middle of [6:3](../06/03.md) to mark these words as a quotation within a quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing secondary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation within a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
+EZR 6 5 vo0d figs-quotemarks וְתַחֵ֖ת בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלָהָֽא 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house Here the scroll ends its quotation from the decree of Cyrus. If you decided in the middle of [6:3](../06/03.md) to mark these words as a quotation within a quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing secondary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation within a quotation. This is also the place where the text ends its quotation from the scroll. If you decided at the start of [6:3](../06/03.md) to mark its words as a quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing primary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
EZR 6 5 xrzz figs-quotemarks וְתַחֵ֖ת בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלָהָֽא 1 let the cost be paid by the king’s house Here, the text also ends its quotation from the scroll. If you decided at the start of [6:3](../06/03.md) to mark its words as a quotation, you should indicate that ending here with a closing primary quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
EZR 6 6 f9x5 figs-ellipsis כְּעַ֡ן 1 General Information: Here the book leaves out some of the material that a story would ordinarily need in order to be complete. It jumps right from its quotation from the scroll that was discovered at Ecbatana into the letter that King Darius wrote to Tattenai and his associates in response to what the scroll said. You could say this explicitly if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “when King Darius learned from the scroll that Cyrus had ordered the temple to be rebuilt, he sent Tattenai and his associates a letter in answer to their inquiry. He told them what he had learned and then said, “Now Tattaenai …” (See: \[\[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis\]\])
EZR 6 6 ks97 figs-quotemarks כְּעַ֡ן 1 General Information: Since the book here begins to quote the letter that King Darius sent in reply to Tattenai and his associates, it may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
-EZR 6 6 wtim figs-quotemarks כְּעַ֡ן 1 General Information: As in [4:13](../04/13.md), [4:14](../04/14.md), and [4:21](../04/21.md), **now** introduces an important point within a letter. (It is similar to the expression "and now: in [4:10](../04/10.md), [4:11](../04/11.md), [4:17](../04/17.md), and [5:17](../05/17.md).) If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks]])
+EZR 6 6 wtim grammar-connect-words-phrases כְּעַ֡ן 1 General Information: As in [4:13](../04/13.md), [4:14](../04/14.md), and [4:21](../04/21.md), **now** introduces an important point within a letter. (It is similar to the expression "and now" in [4:10](../04/10.md), [4:11](../04/11.md), [4:17](../04/17.md), and [5:17](../05/17.md).) If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
EZR 6 6 qpqv figs-123person תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֨ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֜ה שְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ וּכְנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן אֲפַרְסְכָיֵ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה רַחִיקִ֥ין הֲו֖וֹ מִן־תַּמָּֽה 1 General Information: Since Darius addresses these men directly at the end of the sentence, we would expect him to say your **companions**, in the second person, rather than **their companions**, in the third person. So it seems that the book is compressing the letter as it quotes it. Based on the other letters that the book quotes in [4:11–16](../04/11.md), [4:17–22](../04/17.md), and [5:7–17](../05/17.md), the full letter probably said something like "To Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their companions, the officials who are in Beyond-the-River. Peace. And now," followed by an explanation that the court officials had discovered a scroll that recorded the decree of Cyrus. Then would follow instructions to these men, beginning "Be far away from there!" But since the quotation from this letter in the book jumps from the list of the recipients’ names right to these instructions, if it would be clearer in your language, you could use the second person throughout. Alternate translation: “Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and your associates, you officials who are in Beyond-the-River: Be far away from there" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])
EZR 6 6 xd9g translate-names תַּ֠תְּנַי…שְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ 1 Tattenai…Shethar-Bozenai These are the names of two men. See how you translated them in [5:3](../05/03.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 6 6 xk9x וּכְנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן 1 the Province Beyond the River Alternate translation: “their associates” or “your associates”
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ EZR 6 22 m7l7 figs-informremind אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 the wo
EZR 7 intro p3he 0 # Ezra 07 General Notes
## Structure and formatting
Ezra begins his religious reforms.
## Special concepts in this chapter
### God’s Law
The people no longer know the law of Moses. Therefore, the king allows Ezra to return to Judea to teach the people about God’s law. Many people go with him. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])
EZR 7 1 h549 וְאַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה 1 General Information: This phrase, common in Hebrew storytelling, indicates that the book will now relate events that came some time after the events it has described to this point. (Nearly sixty years went by between the sixth year of the reign of Darius, when the Jews finished rebuilding the temple, [6:15](../06/15.md), and the seventh year of Artaxerxes, who was the grandson of Darius, when Ezra traveled to Jerusalem, [7:6](../07/06.md).) If your language has a similar phrase that indicates this same thing, you can use that in your translation.
EZR 7 1 qol2 translate-names אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא 1 General Information: **Artaxerxes** is the name of a man. See how you translated it in [4:7](../04/07.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
-EZR 7 1 uerz figs-explicit עֶזְרָא֙ 1 General Information: In Ezra’s genealogy in [7:1–6](../07/01.md), the book compresses about 30 generations, from Ezra back to Aaron, into a list of 16 ancestors. There is a symbolic significance behind the number of names chosen for the list, as this note will explain shortly. Moreover, three men on the list are included specifically because they had significant roles in the history of the worship of the Israelite community. Aaron [(7:5)](../07/05.md) was the first high priest under the law of Moses and the first to serve in the tabernacle. Azariah [(7:3)](../07/03.md) was the first high priest to serve in the temple that Solomon built, which this book describes in [5:11](../05/11.md). Seraiah [(7:1)](../07/01.md) was the last high priest to serve in that temple. Unfortunately, the Babylonians executed him when they conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. The rest of the names in the list are selected so that there will be seven generations between Aaron and Azariah, and seven generations between Azariah and Ezra, with Seraiah listed as the last generation before Ezra, even though he was Ezra’s great-grandfather. In the Bible, the number seven symbolically represents completeness. So this genealogy does not merely provide a partial list of the names of Ezra’s ancestors. Rather, it depicts his coming to Jerusalem as another definitive moment in the worship life of the Israelite community, comparable to the inauguration of worship in the tabernacle in the wilderness under Moses and in the Jerusalem temple under Solomon. If you have the freedom to use formatting creatively in your translation, you could make the implicit information about Aaron, Azariah, and Seraiah explicit and format this genealogy in a way that will highlight its purpose and design. Alternate translation and formatting:
Ezra—
the descendant of Seraiah, the last high priest in Solomon’s temple,
the son of Azariah,
the son of Hilkiah,
the son of Shallum,
the son of Zadok,
the descendant of Ahitub,
the descendant of Amariah,
the son of Azariah, the high priest in Solomon’s temple,
the descendant of Meraioth,
the son of Zerahiah,
the son of Uzzi,
the son of Bukki,
the son of Abishua,
the son of Phinehas,
the son of Eleazar,
the son of Aaron, the first high priest in the tabernacle
—this Ezra
(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
+EZR 7 1 uerz figs-explicit עֶזְרָא֙ 1 General Information: Ezra’s genealogy in [7:1–6](../07/01.md) traces Ezra back to Aaron in a list of 16 ancestors. As is common in ancient genealogies, this list almost certainly does not include all of the generations between Aaron and Ezra. Aaron [(7:5)](../07/05.md) was the first high priest under the law of Moses and the first to serve in the tabernacle. Azariah [(7:3)](../07/03.md) was the first high priest to serve in the temple that Solomon built, which this book describes in [5:11](../05/11.md). Seraiah [(7:1)](../07/01.md) was the last high priest to serve in that temple. Unfortunately, the Babylonians executed him when they conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. The names in the list are arranged so that there will be seven generations between Aaron and Azariah, and seven generations between Azariah and Ezra, with Seraiah listed as the last generation before Ezra. If you have the freedom to use formatting creatively in your translation, you could make the implicit information about Aaron, Azariah, and Seraiah explicit and format this genealogy in a way that will highlight its purpose and design. Alternate translation and formatting:
Ezra—
the descendant of Seraiah, the last high priest in Solomon’s temple,
the son of Azariah,
the son of Hilkiah,
the son of Shallum,
the son of Zadok,
the descendant of Ahitub,
the descendant of Amariah,
the son of Azariah, the high priest in Solomon’s temple,
the descendant of Meraioth,
the son of Zerahiah,
the son of Uzzi,
the son of Bukki,
the son of Abishua,
the son of Phinehas,
the son of Eleazar,
the son of Aaron, the first high priest in the tabernacle
—this Ezra
(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
EZR 7 1 u6xs translate-names עֶזְרָא֙ 1 General Information: **Ezra** is the name of a man. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 7 1 n9di figs-metaphor בֶּן־שְׂרָיָ֔ה בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּֽה 1 Seraiah In general, in the list in [7:1–6](../07/01.md), **son** figuratively means descendant. However, in many cases a man actually is the biological son of the next man on the list. So for your translation, you will need to decide whether to use the figurative expression **son**, which can also be literally true in many cases, or the non-figurative expression "descendant," which is true in every case, or to say "son" for actual sons and "descendant" for descendants who are not actual sons. Choosing that last option would help show that the men on the list have been selected to make a certain number and arrangement, as explained in an earlier note. Alternative translations will illustrate this last option for each verse. Here, Alternate translation: “the descendant of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
EZR 7 1 gcr6 translate-names שְׂרָיָ֔ה…עֲזַרְיָ֖ה…חִלְקִיָּֽה 1 Azariah…Hilkiah These are the names of three men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ EZR 7 9 fsqw writing-background כִּ֗י 1 the first day of the first month Th
EZR 7 9 wl5l figs-idiom בְּאֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן ה֣וּא יְסֻ֔ד הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל 1 the first day of the first month The book says **ascent** to characterize the journey once again as involving a significant climb in elevation. Alternate translation: “the group began its uphill trip
from Babylon on the first day of the first month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
EZR 7 9 f68n translate-hebrewmonths בְּאֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 the first day of the first month The **first month** means the first month in the Jewish calendar. You could convert the Hebrew month into an equivalent on the calendar that your culture uses. However, the Jews used a lunar calendar, so if you use a solar calendar, the equivalency will be different every year and the translation will not be entirely accurate. So you may just want to use the name or number of the Hebrew month. Alternate translation: “on the first day of the first month of that year” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]])
EZR 7 9 s9by translate-ordinal בְּאֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 the first day of the fifth month Alternate translation: “On day one of month one” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]])
-EZR 7 9 khid grammar-connect-logic-contrast וּבְאֶחָ֞ד 1 the first day of the fifth month This word indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between how long this journey would be expect to take and how quickly Ezra and his companions reached Jerusalem. You could begin the sentence with a word such as “but” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
+EZR 7 9 khid grammar-connect-logic-contrast וּבְאֶחָ֞ד 1 the first day of the fifth month This word **And** might indicate that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between how long this journey would be expect to take and how quickly Ezra and his companions reached Jerusalem. You could begin the sentence with a word such as “but” to indicate this contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
EZR 7 9 ytmm figs-explicit וּבְאֶחָ֞ד לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֗י בָּ֚א אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם כְּיַד־אֱלֹהָ֖יו הַטּוֹבָ֥ה עָלָֽיו 1 the first day of the fifth month The implication is that the journey was accomplished quickly and safely, and that this was further evidence of God’s favor towards Ezra. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “it only took them four months to reach Jerusalem, because God was helping them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
EZR 7 9 vpbp grammar-connect-logic-result וּבְאֶחָ֞ד לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֗י בָּ֚א אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם כְּיַד־אֱלֹהָ֖יו הַטּוֹבָ֥ה עָלָֽיו 1 the first day of the fifth month If it would be clearer in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the results that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “because God was helping them, it only took them four months to reach Jerusalem” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
EZR 7 9 k4wr figs-metaphor כְּיַד־אֱלֹהָ֖יו הַטּוֹבָ֥ה עָלָֽיו 1 according to the good hand of his God As in [7:6](../07/06.md), **hand** figuratively represents power and control, and the expression **the good hand of his God upon him** indicates that Ezra enjoyed God’s care, protection, and favor throughout this journey. Alternate translation: “because God was helping them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ EZR 7 12 y33a figs-explicit אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא מֶ֖לֶ
EZR 7 12 afcw writing-background לְעֶזְרָ֣א כָ֠הֲנָא סָפַ֨ר דָּתָ֜א דִּֽי־אֱלָ֧הּ שְׁמַיָּ֛א 1 Artaxerxes, king of kings As was also conventional, Artaxerxes gives Ezra’s name next, as the recipient. He also includes some background information that helps identify Ezra further. Alternate translation: “Ezra, a priest of the God who rules in heaven, who has studied his law carefully” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
EZR 7 12 gwt9 אֱלָ֧הּ שְׁמַיָּ֛א 1 Artaxerxes, king of kings See how you translated this expression in [5:11](../05/11.md). Alternate translation: “the God who rules in heaven”
EZR 7 12 al0q גְּמִ֖יר 1 Artaxerxes, king of kings As in [4:17](../04/17.md) and [5:7](../05/07.md), this is a conventional greeting or good wish that senders at this time often included at the beginning of a letter. If your language has a similar expression that it uses for the same purpose, you can use it here. Alternate translation: “greetings” or “we hope all is well with you”
-EZR 7 12 bf52 וּכְעֶֽנֶת 1 Artaxerxes, king of kings **And now** is an Aramaic expression that was used in the letters of this time to introduce the main business of the letter. If it would be helpful, review the note about this expression at [4:10](../04/10.md). If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this expression.
+EZR 7 12 bf52 grammar-connect-words-phrases וּכְעֶֽנֶת 1 Artaxerxes, king of kings **And now** is an Aramaic expression that was used in the letters of this time to introduce the main business of the letter. If it would be helpful, review the note about this expression at [4:10](../04/10.md). If your language has a comparable expression that it uses for this same purpose, you can use that in your translation. Otherwise, you do not need to represent this expression.(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
EZR 7 13 d9b4 figs-activepassive מִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י 1 I am issuing a decree that all those…who desire to go up to Jerusalem If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “I am commanding that” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 7 13 wi2u figs-you לִמְהָ֧ךְ לִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם עִמָּ֖ךְ יְהָֽךְ 1 may go with you The king is addressing Ezra, so **you** refers to Ezra here, and **you** and **your** similarly refer to him in all of their other occurrences through [7:20](../07/20.md). If your language distinguishes between forms of you, the form for a superior addressing a respected individual would be appropriate. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])
EZR 7 13 g0ml מִן־עַמָּ֨ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל 1 may go with you Here Artaxerxes specifies that **Israel** is the name of Ezra’s people group, perhaps because he does not expect everyone who sees this letter to be familiar with them already. Alternate translation: “the people known as ‘Israel’”
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ EZR 7 20 hgu9 figs-123person בֵּ֖ית גִּנְזֵ֥י מַלְכָּֽ
EZR 7 21 wiy2 grammar-connect-logic-result וּ֠מִנִּי 1 Connecting Statement: This word indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. Specifically, Artaxerxes has just said that Ezra may pay for additional expenses out of the royal treasury. Consequently, he will now give instructions about providing funds to Ezra to the officials responsible for administering the royal revenue in the province where Jerusalem is located. Alternate translation: “Consequently” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
EZR 7 21 rfxe figs-123person וּ֠מִנִּי אֲנָ֞ה אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם 1 Connecting Statement: Up to this point in the letter, Artaxerxes has been addressing Ezra, and he has spoken of himself mostly in the third person. But now as he turns to address a new audience, the royal treasurers, he speaks of himself in the first person, and he uses the emphatic form **me myself** and repeats his name and title, as in [7:12](../07/12.md). If you have been translating the king’s use of the third person for himself in this letter with the second person in your language, it may be helpful to your readers if you use some emphatic form or extended phrase here to show this transition. Alternate translation: “I, King Artaxerxes, am personally commanding” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])
EZR 7 21 h6c8 figs-activepassive וּ֠מִנִּי אֲנָ֞ה אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם…דִּ֣י כָל־דִּ֣י יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכוֹן עֶזְרָ֨א…אָסְפַּ֖רְנָא יִתְעֲבִֽד 1 that anything that Ezra…asks from you, let it be done diligently If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “I, King Artaxerxes, am personally commanding you to give Ezra anything he asks from you, and to do that exactly and promptly” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
-EZR 7 21 mlat figs-you יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכוֹן 1 that anything that Ezra…asks from you, let it be done diligently The king now addressing the treasurers, so **you** refers to them here and in [7:24](../07/24.md). If your language distinguishes between forms of you, the form for a superior addressing a group of people would be appropriate. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])
+EZR 7 21 mlat figs-you יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכוֹן 1 that anything that Ezra…asks from you, let it be done diligently The king is now addressing the treasurers, so **you** refers to the treasurers here and in [7:24](../07/24.md). If your language distinguishes between forms of you, the form for a superior addressing a group of people would be appropriate. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])
EZR 7 21 zz8u translate-unknown גִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔א 1 that anything that Ezra…asks from you, let it be done diligently These were royal officials responsible for administering the funds of the empire in their province. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]])
EZR 7 21 i7dz translate-names בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה 1 the Province Beyond the River **Beyond-the-River** is the name of one of the provinces of the Persian Empire. See how you translated it in [4:10](../04/10.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
EZR 7 21 euy1 figs-informremind עֶזְרָ֨א כָהֲנָ֜ה סָפַ֤ר דָּתָא֙ דִּֽי־אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א 1 let it be done diligently Here, the king provides some background information to remind or inform the treasurers who Ezra was. Alternate translation: “Ezra, who is a priest of the God who rules in heaven, and who has carefully studied his law” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]])
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ EZR 8 22 ep6t figs-metaphor וְעֻזּ֣וֹ וְאַפּ֔וֹ 1
EZR 8 22 xnzz figs-hendiadys וְעֻזּ֣וֹ וְאַפּ֔וֹ 1 but his strength and his wrath are against all those who forsake him This phrase expresses a single idea by using two words connected with **and**. The word **nose**, a figure for anger, tells how God punishes. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the meaning with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “he wrathfully punishes” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]])
EZR 8 22 s41q figs-metaphor כָּל־עֹזְבָֽיו 1 but his strength and his wrath are against all those who forsake him Forsaking or abandoning God is a [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] for refusing to serve him. Alternate translation: “all who refuse to serve him” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
EZR 8 23 f2jm grammar-connect-logic-result וַנָּצ֛וּמָה 1 So we fasted and sought God about this matter This word indicates that the sentence it introduces explains the results of what the previous sentence described. Because Ezra was embarrassed to ask the king for protection, he and his fellow travelers earnestly prayed and fasted for God’s protection. Alternate translation: “For this reason” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
-EZR 8 23 nfn4 figs-activepassive וַנָּצ֛וּמָה וַנְּבַקְשָׁ֥ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ עַל־זֹ֑את וַיֵּעָתֵ֖ר לָֽנוּ 1 So we fasted and sought God about this matter If it would be clearer in your language, you use an active form for the last phrase. Alternate translation: “we fasted and prayed to God about this, and he answered our prayer” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
+EZR 8 23 nfn4 figs-activepassive וַנָּצ֛וּמָה וַנְּבַקְשָׁ֥ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ עַל־זֹ֑את וַיֵּעָתֵ֖ר לָֽנוּ 1 So we fasted and sought God about this matter If it would be clearer in your language, you could use an active form for the last phrase. Alternate translation: “we fasted and prayed to God about this, and he answered our prayer” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
EZR 8 23 g9a0 figs-idiom וַיֵּעָתֵ֖ר לָֽנוּ 1 So we fasted and sought God about this matter As is clear from the way this expression is used elsewhere in the Bible, it means that God answered a prayer. For example, in Genesis 25:21, **Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife because she could not have children, and Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived**. However, since Ezra describes only in [8:32](../08/32.md) how the group arrived safely in Jerusalem, the prayer had not yet been answered at this point. So an alternative meaning in context would be that the group received assurance that God would answer their prayer. Alternate translation: “he answered our prayer” or “we felt assured that he would answer our prayer” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
EZR 8 24 u78j grammar-connect-time-sequential וָאַבְדִּ֛ילָה 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah This word indicates that the event the story will now relate came after the event it has just described. In your translation, you can use the expression in your language that would best indicate this relationship. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]])
EZR 8 24 hgbr translate-textvariants וָאַבְדִּ֛ילָה מִשָּׂרֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר לְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְעִמָּהֶ֥ם מֵאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה 1 Sherebiah, Hashabiah Since [8:18](../08/18.md) and [19](../08/19.md) specifically identify Sherebiah and Hashabiah as Levites, they could not have been leaders of the priests. So a mistake seems to have come into the Hebrew text here. An ancient Greek version of the book of Ezra says “and” before Sherebiah, and that agrees with [8:30](../08/30.md), which says that “the priests and the Levites” received the silver and gold and objects that Ezra weighed out to them. It will likely be clearest for your readers if you translate the verse that way. Alternate translation: “I selected 12 leaders of the priests, along with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their fellow Levites.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-textvariants]])