In the third place we come to the word šālîḥ (Ezra 7.14) which itself means “ambassador” or “emissary”, but is applicable also to such functions as apostle, viceroy, inquisitor, lieutenant, trouble-shooter, or in general whatever role could be called “representative” of a person in authority. There is no variant reading or textual note to account for the omission of any pronoun or other indications that Ezra (“you”) rather than some third party is the šālîḥ. The Septuagint reading in fact says “he was sent” with no variant, which must ||389|| correspond to a Hebrew meaning “someone”. In the variant of Esdras-a’ 8.12, šālîḥ drops out altogether. Its impersonal use without pronoun is justified by a parallel passage from Elephantine; “but form the conclusion of this and the preceding verse it is clear that Ezra is addressed; hence the pronoun ‘you’ is not indispensable, according to Hebrew usage (cfr. 2 Chr 18.3; but in 2 Chr 19.6 there is a haplography and hû’ should be restored). Nevertheless it is clearer to accept Ehrlich’s emendation of šālîḥ to šelihattā”.