Some translations consider the second part of this verse 28 to be the introduction to the following section that provides a list of the men who returned to Jerusalem with Ezra. According to the outline of the book that has been adopted in this Handbook, the entire verse is considered to belong to Ezra’s statement. The first part is his benediction for God’s deeds and the second part is the summary of his own actions following God’s intervention on his behalf.

Who extended to me his steadfast love before the king …: Who extended to me is literally “he stretched out to me” or “he held out toward me.” Compare Gen 39.21, where Revised Standard Version has “the LORD … showed him steadfast love.” Steadfast love is a translation of the Hebrew word chesed, which is a key term in Old Testament theology (see the comments at Ezra 3.11). Here it may be helpful to restructure as Good News Translation has done to show that it was “because of God’s acts of loving kindness that the king looked upon me with favor.” Or it was “because of God’s love and goodness to me that the king’s heart was warm toward me” or “… the king looked on me with good eyes.”

The counselors (see Ezra 4.5) and mighty officers were the king’s advisors and high government officials. Officers is from a word meaning “to rule, to have dominion” and it can be translated “chiefs” or “nobles.” They are described as mighty, which is literally “strong, heroic.” It is possible that the counselors were civilians, while the mighty officers were military leaders. Many translations, however, consider them to be “advisors” and “high ministers” (so New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). It is preferable to use neutral terms as Good News Translation has done.

I took courage: This is from a verb that means “to be strong,” but the verb form used here means “to take strength in oneself” or “to be courageous.” Revised English Bible says he was “Encouraged,” while New Jerusalem Bible uses the expression “Taking heart.” This concept is often expressed idiomatically and a fitting figure of speech may be used here; for example, “I drank courage” or “I gave myself heart.”

The hand of the LORD my God was upon me: See verse 6 above.

I gathered leading men from Israel: Ezra gathered leaders by bringing them together (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), not by choosing them. New Jerusalem Bible says that he “assembled” them. Good News Translation interprets this to be persuasion. The leading men were people who held positions of authority among the Jews (see Ezra 1.5, where Revised Standard Version has “heads” for the same expression). They were headmen or chiefs. Good News Translation identifies them as “heads of the clans” in anticipation of the list of returning exiles that follows. However, the Hebrew text here is not that specific, nor does the text indicate how many they were. It only uses the plural form leading men as Revised Standard Version has translated.

To go up: See Ezra 1.3.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .