7. Among the people who came with Ezra were Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants. They arrived in Jerusalem during the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king.
9. Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. With God’s blessing his trip went well.
10. Ezra had always given his time and attention to studying and obeying the law of the Lord. He also loved to teach its rules and commandments to others in Israel.
11. Ezra was a priest and teacher. He knew much about the commands and laws the Lord gave Israel. This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the teacher:
12. From King Artaxerxes, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the law of the God of heaven: Greetings!
13. I give this order: Any of the Israelites living in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who want to go with you to Jerusalem, may go.
14. I and my seven advisors send you to Judah and Jerusalem. Go and see how your people are doing in obeying the law of your God. You have that law with you.
15. I and my advisors are giving gold and silver to the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. You must take this gold and silver with you.
16. You must also go through all the provinces of Babylonia. Collect the gifts from your people, from the priests, and from the Levites. The gifts are for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.
17. Use this money to buy bulls, rams, and male lambs. Buy the grain offerings and drink offerings that go with these sacrifices. Then sacrifice them on the altar in the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.
18. Then you and the other Jews may spend the silver and gold left over any way you want to. Use it in a way that is pleasing to your God.
19. Take all these things to the God of Jerusalem. They are for the worship in the Temple of your God.
20. And you may get any other things that you need for the Temple of your God. Use the money in the king’s treasury to buy anything you need.