亞達薛西昭告以斯拉
7:11 亞達薛西皇帝把以下的詔書頒給以斯拉；以斯拉是祭司和經學專家，
King Artaxerxes' Letter to Ezra
11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel: 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings. 13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem. 18 You and your brother Jews may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury. 21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you- 22 up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and of his sons? 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.
25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
27 Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
一、中心內容：Core Message
內容：Content
1>說明亞達薛西王頒下詔書，並簡單介紹以斯拉的背景。 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel: （v11）
2>亞達薛西王所頒下詔書的內容。The decree content of King King Artaxerxes had been given to Ezra（v12-26）
3>以斯拉為上帝的恩待獻上讚美。Ezra praised God for His Blessing （v27-28）
主題：Theme
1>不可思議的諭令。The incredible decrees
2>上帝奇妙的作為。 God’s wonderful deeds
二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？Who is God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?
1>賜下誡命、律例的上帝。God grants commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel（v11-12、v14、v21、v25、v26）
2>臨到人間，與人同在的上帝。God descends to the earth and dwells among the people（v15、v19）
3>配得我們獻祭、事奉的上帝。God is worthy to sacrifice and serve（v17）
4>坐在天上寶座的上帝。God sits on the throne in Heaven（v23）
5>賜下智慧的上帝。God grants us wisdom（v25）
6>配得讚美的上帝。God is worthy of praise（v27）
7>賜下恩典的上帝。God grants us grace（v28）
8>賜下勇氣的上帝。God grants us courage（v28）
三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？Wha
1>不可思議的諭令---之一 The incredible decrees--one
我─亞達薛西，諸王之王，
這是一個令人感到興奮的諭令，因為竟然准許以斯拉，
然而，這更是一個令人感到不可思議的諭令，因為發出諭令的人，
因為在諭令當中，亞達薛西自稱為：諸王之王！（等同於：
真令人感到不可思議！
Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings. Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go.(v12-13)
This is an exciting decree, because it allowed even Ezra, as well as those living in the territory of the Persian Empire, the Israelis, priests, Levites, etc. Anyone who was willing to go back to Jerusalem could go with Ezra.
However, this is more of an impression that incredible royal decree issued by the Gentiles (Persian Empire) emperor, especially a king who thinks himself highly and arrogant.
Artaxerxes claimed himself “King of Kings!” in the royal decree, thus showing his arrogance. This matter is really incredible!
2>不可思議的諭令---之二The incredible decrees--two
我，連同我的七個參謀，派你去調查耶路撒冷和猶大的情況，
「以斯拉，你要用上帝給你的智慧，
一個生長在外邦，不認識上帝、不敬拜上帝的皇帝，
尤其，吩咐以斯拉，要用上帝給他的智慧，指派行政官員和審判官，
除此之外，甚至還明令：
這件事，同樣令人感到不可思議！
You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. (v14)
And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. (v25-26)
A gentile emperor, who has never known and worshiped God, suddenly concerned about the spiritual situation for Jerusalem and Judah with regard to the Law of his God. He said to Ezra, to use the wisdom God gave him, to appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates, all who abide the laws of his God. With particular emphasis on: “You are to teach any who do not know them”, even said explicitly: “Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment”.
This matter is incredible.
3>不可思議的諭令---之三The incredible decrees--three
你要帶我和我的參謀甘心奉獻的金銀供物給那位住在耶路撒冷聖殿的
在皇帝的諭令當中，又提起幾件事跟奉獻、祭祀有關的事。
a.皇室的奉獻：就是吩咐以斯拉要帶著皇帝本身，
b.徵收的財物：你也要帶著你在巴比倫省徵收的一切金子和銀子。
c.人民的奉獻：
d.歸還的聖具：
甚至還吩咐以斯拉，要謹慎用這些錢買公牛、公綿羊、小綿羊、
這樣的事，依然令人不可思議！
Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem. You and your brother Jews may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. (v15-19)
There was something mentioned about sacrifice and offering among the decree.
(a). The offering of the loyal emperor: take the silver and gold that the king and
his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in
Jerusalem.
(b). Imposes on property: You must bring all the gold and silver you obtain in the
province of Babylon.
(c). Offerings of the people: the people and priests for the temple of their God in
Jerusalem.
(d). Deliver back all articles of worship: you deliver to the God of Jerusalem all
the articles with those offerings entrusted you for worship to the altar of
the temple of your God.
King Artaxerxes also wanted Ezra to buy bulls, rams and male lambs discreetly, and use the rest of Gold and silver by God’s will. A Gentile emperor concerned a lot for God’s people to the offerings and sacrifice to God. It almost like he was the spokesman of God.
This matter is still incredible.
4>不可思議的諭令---之四The incredible decrees--four
此外，聖殿所需要的其他東西，你都可以從國庫取用。
除了以上所述，亞達薛西對以斯拉交代有關王室的奉獻、
為了幫助上帝的子民，恢復聖殿的敬拜與祭祀，亞達薛西吩咐：
再次令人感到不可思議！
And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury. Now I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you- up to a hundred talents [b] of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths [d] of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit. (v20-22)
In addition to what is mentioned above, King Artaxerxes told Ezra about how to handle loyal offerings, property by imposed, the people of Israel and the priests’ offerings, delivery of the articles of offerings, etc. He even allowed the giving of silver, wheat, wine, olive oil and salt from the emperor’s treasury. To help God’s people restore the worship and sacrifice of the temple, King Artaxerxes said that Ezra could withdraw from the emperor’s treasury if there were any shortages. These show that there is no worry about the expenditure at all.
Again, this matter is incredible.
5>不可思議的諭令---之五The incredible decrees--five
你們不許向祭司、利未人、歌手、守衛、工人，
針對上帝的子民，返鄉恢復敬拜一事，亞達薛西不僅全力支持，
這又是一項令人感到不可思議的事！
You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God. (v24)
King Artaxerxes was not only very supportive of the people returning to Jerusalem to resume the worship of God, but he also to took care of the priests, Levites, singers, temple servants who tribute or duty on the house of God, no authority to impose taxes.
This is another incredible thing!
6>一切榮耀歸上帝 Be the glory all to God
以斯拉說：「願上主---我們祖先的上帝受讚美！
以斯拉是一個追求並遵行上帝的道，與上帝同行、敬畏上帝、
因此，當這一切奇妙的事成就之後，以斯拉便讚美著說：願上主--
上帝的恩典使我贏得皇帝、他的參謀們，
顯然，以斯拉並沒有歸功與人，乃是將一切榮耀歸給上帝！
Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. (v27-28)
Ezra walked with God and pursued God’s teaching, although, all the grace comes from the Persian Empire, king Artaxerxes, in fact, it is because the God that Israelis served is the real sovereign in power. When all these wonderful things were accomplished, Ezra praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. Obviously, Ezra did not take credits to himself. Just give to God all the glory!
Translated into English by Teresa Yang
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