³⁶ And they delivered the king’s ^(A)orders to the king’s satraps and the governors in the region beyond ^[a]the River. So they gave support to the people and the ^[b]house of God.

⁷ Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the ^(A)governors of the region beyond ^[a]the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, ⁸ and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the ^[b]citadel which pertains ^(B)to the ^[c]temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me ^(C)according to the good hand of my God upon me.

⁹ Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.