# We went out from the Ahava Canal

"We left the Ahava Canal" or "We started traveling from the Ahava Canal"

# Ahava Canal

This is the name of the canal that flows to the place called Ahava. See how you translated this in [Ezra 8:21](../08/21.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names]])

# twelfth day of the first month

This is the first month of the Hebrew calendar. The twelfth day is near the end of March on Western calendars. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-hebrewmonths]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal]])

# The hand of our God was on us

The hand of God being on people is a metonym for God helping people. Alternate translation: "God was helping us" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# he protected us from the hand of the enemy and the ones ... road

The hand represents what those people might do. It specifically refers to the enemy attacking the group that was traveling. Alternate translation: "he protected us from the attack of the enemy and the ones who wished to ambush us along the road" or "He kept the enemy from attacking us and he kept robbers from ambushing us along the road" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# the ones who wished to ambush us

This refers to thieves and robbers who wanted to attack them for their treasures.