Ezra 6:16-18
6:17 a 12 male goats ... a sin offering: This blood sacrifice brought God’s forgiveness for unintentional sins, ceremonial uncleanness, or thoughtless wrong acts (Lev 4–5 b). Similar sacrifices were offered when Moses dedicated the Tabernacle (Num 7 c) and when Solomon dedicated the first Temple (2 Chr 7:1 d, 4 e).• for the twelve tribes of Israel: Although most returnees were from Judah and Benjamin (Ezra 1:5 f; 4:1 g), people from the priestly tribe of Levi are also mentioned (1:5 h; 2:40 i, 70 j). It is also likely that there were returnees from some of the ten northern tribes of Israel. Even if all tribes were not physically represented, the twelve sacrifices emphasized the desire for God to maintain his covenant relationship with all Israel.
6:18 k prescribed in the Book of Moses: See Exod 29 l; Lev 8 m; Num 3 n. The Temple personnel operated according to the organization instituted by David (1 Chr 23–27 o).
• This verse concludes the Aramaic section that began in Ezra 4:8 p.
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