I make a decree that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites in my realm, which are minded of their own free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. Just what brought about this favorable attitude of the king is not noted. Some scholars ascribe it to the influence of Esther, who may, at just about this time, have become queen; others think that Ezra or other leading Jews themselves suggested to Artaxerxes the need of a commission to study the situation in Judea at first hand.

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