But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly: therefore from this time on you shall have wars.
And has extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a learned scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy along the way: because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek him; but his power and his anger is against all those who forsake him.