עזרא, פרק ז׳, פסוק כ״ה

Beyond receiving royal backing and tax exemptions for his journey, Ezra is granted sweeping authority to establish a formal justice system. The royal decree reflects a deep admiration for Ezra, recognizing him as a holy and exceptionally wise individual [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He is tasked with using this profound wisdom, which surpasses that of all the existing judges and scholars in the region [רש״י], to build a legal framework based entirely on the laws of God.

To create this system, Ezra is instructed to appoint officials to govern and judge the people [מצודת דוד]. These appointments are divided into two distinct categories: expert judges who possess deep legal mastery, and non-expert laymen who serve on judicial panels alongside at least one seasoned expert [מלבי״ם]. Naturally, all these appointees must be selected from among those who already know and understand the law [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג], ensuring that the core leadership consists of true legal experts [מלבי״ם].

A crucial part of Ezra's mandate involves teaching the law to those who do not know it. The primary approach among commentators is that this instruction is aimed directly at the newly appointed judges. Should a judge face a complex case or lack the knowledge to issue a ruling, it is Ezra's responsibility to guide and teach him [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. This is especially vital for the non-expert judges who require ongoing education to fill the gaps in their understanding [מלבי״ם]. Conversely, others interpret this mandate much more broadly, viewing it as a general obligation to teach the laws of God to any ordinary citizen who is unfamiliar with them [ביאור שטיינזלץ].