This verse introduces verses 9-24, which are the body of an official document from King Artaxerxes. This document gave Ezra certain authority over the Jewish community in Judah and Jerusalem. Translators who have indented such previous material will certainly wish to do the same here (see 1 Esd 2.3-7, 17-24, 26-29; 4.48b-57; 6.8-22, 24-26, 28-34). This document would have been given to Ezra before the events of verses 1-7, and it would be helpful to make this clear (see the models below).

The following is a copy of the written commission from Artaxerxes the king …: The written commission (“the decree” in Good News Bible) was a letter in which Artaxerxes gave Ezra authority to do certain things. This verse begins a new section, so some translators may need to say “Artaxerxes had a letter written, and gave Ezra a copy. This letter gave him authority….”

Which was delivered to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Lord: At the end of the book of 1 Esdras (9.45-48), Ezra reads from the Torah publicly. The Greek word translated reader comes from a verb that indeed means “read,” but also can mean “know [thoroughly].” The author may intend a double meaning here, but in view of the parallel passage of Ezra 7.11, we must assume that he intended to bring across the meaning there in Hebrew, which describes Ezra as a scholar.

Here are alternative models for this verse:

• Ezra took with him a document [or, letter] that King Artaxerxes had given him, as a priest and scholar of the Law of the Lord. Here is a copy of that document:….

• King Artaxerxes had a letter written [or, had them write a letter], and gave Ezra a copy. This letter gave him authority as a priest and scholar of the Law of the Lord. Here is what the letter said:….

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.