כָּהֵן

Ezra 6:9 כָּהֲנַיָּ֤א priests the

Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given to them daily without fail.

Here: 'The priests'. The empire hands control of the details to the local experts in the temple's rites.

Ezra 6:16 כָּהֲנַיָּ֨א priests the

Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.

Here: The hereditary officiants who handled the altar and sacrifices. They come first in the list because a temple cannot function without them. No 'and' joins them to 'Israel', so they read as the first part of Israel rather than a separate group.

Ezra 6:18 כָהֲנַיָּ֜א priests the

They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.

Here: The descendants of Aaron, who alone could offer sacrifice at the altar and enter the sanctuary. The form is definite ("the priests"), meaning the known priestly families among the returnees (Ezra 2:36–39).

Ezra 7:12 כָ֠הֲנָא priest the

Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.

Here: 'The priest'. Ezra's hereditary standing as a descendant of Aaron (7:1–5). In this decree it qualifies him to handle the temple vessels and sacrificial funds (7:15–20).

Ezra 7:13 וְכָהֲנ֣וֹהִי and priests its

I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.

Here: 'And its priests', meaning Israel's priests. They are named separately because the Jerusalem temple needed qualified staff.

Ezra 7:16 וְכָֽהֲנַיָּא֙ and priests the

together with all the silver and gold you may find in all the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.

Here: "And the priests", members of the hereditary priestly families still living in Babylonia. Ezra himself belonged to one of them (7:1–5).

Ezra 7:21 כָהֲנָ֜ה priest the

I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly,

Here: Ezra's hereditary status as a descendant of Aaron (7:1–5). Being a priest qualified him to handle the temple's funds and gifts.

Ezra 7:24 כָּהֲנַיָּ֣א priests the

And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

Here: The priests, the Aaronic clans who officiated at the altar. They are the top rank of temple personnel and head the list.