3 This Esdras went up from Babylon, as being a ready scribe in the law of Moses, that was given by the God of Israel.
4 And the king did him honor: for he found grace in hid sight in all his requests.
5 There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and Levites, and holy singers, and porters, and temple servants, to Jerusalem,
6 in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month, this was the king’s seventh year; for they went from Babylon on the new moon of the first month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the Lord gave them for his sake.
7 For Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments of the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgments.
8 Now the commission, which was written from Artaxerxes the king, came to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, whereof this that follows is a copy;
9 King Artaxerxes to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting: