2tc The translation reads בִירְתָא (birta’, citadel”) rather than the reading בְּבִירְתָא (b˙vireta’, “in the citadel”) found in the MT. The MT probably experienced dittography here.
3tnAram “In the first year of Cyrus the king.”
4map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
5tnAram “raised”; or perhaps “retained” (so NASB; cf. NLT), referring to the original foundations of Solomon’s temple.
6tc The Syriac Peshitta reads “twenty cubits” here, a measurement probably derived from dimensions given elsewhere for Solomon’s temple. According to 1 Kgs 6:2 the dimensions of the Solomonic temple were as follows: length, 60 cubits; width, 20 cubits; height, 30 cubits. Since one would expect the dimensions cited in Ezra 6:3 to correspond to those of Solomon’s temple, it is odd that no dimension for length is provided. The Syriac has apparently harmonized the width dimension provided here (“twenty cubits”) to that given in 1 Kgs 6:2.
7tnAram “Its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits.” The standard cubit in the OT is assumed by most authorities to be about eighteen inches (45 cm) long.
8tnAram “stones of rolling.”
9tc The translation follows the LXX reading חַד (khad, “one”) rather than the MT חֲדַת (khadat, “new”). If the MT reading “new” is understood to mean freshly cut timber that has not yet been seasoned it would seem to be an odd choice for construction material.
10tnAram “let be given.”
11tnAram “house.”
12tc For the MT reading “the work on this temple of God” the LXX reads “the servant of the Lord Zurababel” [= Zerubbabel].
13tn The words “of the work” are not in the Aramaic, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
14tnAram “according to the word of.”
15tnAram “for the life of the king and his sons.”
16sn The practice referred to in v. 11 has been understood in various ways: hanging (cf. 1 Esd 6:32 and KJV); flogging (cf. NEB, NLT); impalement (BDB 1091 s.v. זְקַף; HALOT 1914 s.v. מחא hitpe; cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV). The latter seems the most likely.
17tnAram “made.”
18tnAram “a dunghill.”
19tnAram “for this.”
20tnAram “people.”
21tnAram “who sends forth his hand.”
22tnAram “sent.”
23tnAram “in” or “by,” in the sense of accompaniment.
24sn The sixth year of the reign of Darius would be ca. 516 B.C.
25tnAram “sons of.”
26tnAram “sons of the exile.”
27map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
28tnAram “according to the writing of.”
29sn At this point the language of the book reverts from Aramaic (4:8–6:18) back to Hebrew. Aramaic will again be used in Ezra 7:12-26.
30tnHeb “the sons of the exile.” So also in v. 20.
31tnHeb “as one.” The expression is best understood as referring to the unity shown by the religious leaders in preparing themselves for the observance of Passover. On the meaning of the Hebrew phrase see DCH 1:182 s.v. אֶחָד 3b. See also HALOT 30 s.v. אֶחָד 5.
32tnHeb “brothers.”
33tnHeb “who had separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to them.”
34tnHeb “heart.”
35sn The expression “king of Assyria” is anachronistic, since Assyria fell in 612 b.c., long before the events of this chapter. Perhaps the expression is intended subtly to contrast earlier kings of Assyria who were hostile toward Israel with this Persian king who showed them favor.