עזרא, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ג

A sweeping royal decree from the Persian king removes the legal and political barriers keeping the exiled Jews from returning to Jerusalem. This official approval opens the door for a renewed journey back to the land of Israel. The necessity for this new authorization stems from the nature of a previous decree. The original permission granted by King Cyrus was strictly limited to the specific goal of building the Temple of God. Once the Temple was completed, that initial permit expired, leaving the exiles without the legal right to leave the land of their captivity. Therefore, the current king had to issue a fresh command granting them permission to depart [מלבי״ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that this royal order serves as an official letter of permission directly from the king. It is extended to anyone among the Israelites, including the Priests and Levites, who chooses to make the journey out of their own free will and a willing heart [מצודת ציון]. By formally declaring that anyone who desires to return to Jerusalem may do so, the king ensures that no one anywhere in the empire can delay or prevent their departure [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Additionally, the decree specifies that the people are to travel alongside Ezra, effectively appointing him as the official leader of this journey [ביאור שטיינזלץ].