Ezra 7:13

Jerusalem

¹¹ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

¹⁴ Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

¹⁵ And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.
KJV: I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
WEB: I make a decree that all those of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my realm, who intend of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
ASV: I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.
DARBY: I have given orders that all they of the people of Israel, and of their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are disposed to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.
BLB: I issue a decree that everyone who is willing in my kingdom from the people of Israel—and the priests and Levites, to go up to Jerusalem with you—go.

ÅB: Jeg har gitt befaling om at alle de av Israels folk og av dets prester og levitter i mitt rike som har lyst til å dra til Jerusalem, kan dra med deg,
OTB: har jeg utstedt et dekret om at enhver av Israels folk, inkludert prester og levitter, i mitt rike som ønsker å dra til Jerusalem, kan dra med deg.
B1930: Jeg har gitt befaling om at alle de av Israels folk og av dets prester og levitter i mitt rike som har lyst til å dra til Jerusalem, kan dra med dig,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezra 6:1
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
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2 Chronicles 30:5
So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
Read in context
Ezra 5:13
But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
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Psalms 110:3
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
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Psalms 148:6
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
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Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
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Esther 3:15
The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
Read in context
Ezra 1:3
Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
Read in context