The decree itself is quoted in vs. 12-26, written in Aramaic exactly as it issued from the Persian chancellery. It is closely related in form and content to the documents found in chs. 4 to 6, and is now, following the discovery of similar documents in Elephantine, recognized as genuine by even the most critical scholar. “Kings of kings” was a recognized title of the Persian monarchs, and is found in every Persian inscription of any considerable length. The title was first used by Assyrian kings, who thereby expressed the fact that they ruled over many vassal kings whom they retained on their respective thrones in conquered lands. The title was later taken over by the kings of Babylon (see Dan. 2:37), and then by the Persian kings when they became masters of the world.

 It is interesting to note that the decree does not make use of the ordinary Aramaic word kumra’, “priest,” but the loan word kahen, taken from the Heb. kohen. In Aramaic documents from Elephantine, writers also make a clear distinction between pagan priests, for whom they used the ordinary Aramaic word kumra’, and the true priests of God, whom they designated by the word, kahana’. The use of this word in the document of Ezra 7 therefore indicates that the decree, although approved and issued by the king and in his name, was composed by a Jew in the imperial chancellery. Other evidence found in this decree points in the same direction.

 Aramaic, saphar datha’ di-’elah shemayya’. A correct explanation of this title was made in the 1930’s by H. H. Schaeder. On the basis of analogous titles he shows that it designates a high officer in the Persian chancellery in charge of affairs pertaining to “the law of the God of heaven.” Accordingly, Ezra was a reporter of Jewish religious affairs in the Persian government. Similarly we find in the later Parthian and Sassanide government the head of the Jewish population (resh galutha’, “head of the exiles”) occasionally ranking with the highest government officials. Neh. 11:24 also testifies to the existence of such an office in the time of Artaxerxes I. We are unable to say how Ezra received this appointment, but it is evident that appointment to this office would make him the most influential Jew in Babylon. That he used his influence in the interest of his people is proved by the contents of the decree.

The Aramaic has only the word gemir, meaning “completed,” and is considered by most scholars to be either an abbreviated formula indicating the end of a document or a word meaning “issued.” In the first case the word “peace” must be supplied, as the KJV has done, but the second interpretation considers the text complete as it stands.

 See on ch. 4:17.