Ezra…. .’Ezra
1:1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of
Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be
accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that
he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in
writing, saying, 1:2Thus
says Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth has Yahweh, the God
of heaven, given me; and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem,
which is in Judah. 1:3Whoever
there is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let him go up
to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Yahweh, the God of
Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. 1:4Whoever is left, in any place where he
sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and
with goods, and with animals, besides the freewill-offering for the house of
God which is in Jerusalem. 1:5Then
rose up the heads of fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the
priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to
build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem. 1:6All those who were round about them
strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and
with animals, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly
offered. 1:7Also
Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Yahweh, which
Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house
of his gods; 1:8even
those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath
the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar,
the prince of Judah. 1:9This
is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, one thousand platters of
silver, twenty-nine knives, 1:10thirty
bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other
vessels one thousand. 1:11All
the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All
these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when they of the
captivity were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
2:1Now these are the children of the
province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried
away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon,
and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city; 2:2who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of
the men of the people of Israel: 2:3The
children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred
seventy-two. 2:4The
children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two. 2:5The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five. 2:6The children of Pahath-moab,
of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two
thousand eight hundred twelve. 2:7The
children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. 2:8The children of Zattu,
nine hundred forty-five. 2:9The
children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 2:10The children of
Bani, six hundred forty-two. 2:11The children of Bebai,
six hundred twenty-three. 2:12The
children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred
twenty-two. 2:13The
children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six. 2:14The children of
Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six. 2:15The children of Adin, four hundred
fifty-four. 2:16The
children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight. 2:17The children of
Bezai, three hundred twenty-three. 2:18The children of Jorah, one hundred
twelve. 2:19The
children of Hashum, two hundred Twenty-three. 2:20The children of
Gibbar, ninety-five. 2:21The children of Bethlehem, one
hundred twenty-three. 2:22The
men of Netophah, fifty-six. 2:23The men of Anathoth,
one hundred twenty-eight. 2:24The
children of Azmaveth, forty-two. 2:25The children of Kiriath
Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three. 2:26The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one. 2:27The men of Michmas,
one hundred twenty-two. 2:28The
men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three. 2:29The children of Nebo, fifty-two. 2:30The children of
Magbish, one hundred fifty-six. 2:31The children of the other Elam, one
thousand two hundred fifty-four. 2:32The
children of Harim, three hundred twenty. 2:33The children of
Lod, Hadid, and Ono,
seven hundred twenty-five. 2:34The
children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five. 2:35The children of Senaah,
three thousand six hundred thirty. 2:36The priests: the children of Jedaiah,
of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
2:37The children
of Immer, one thousand fifty-two. 2:38The children of Pashhur,
one thousand two hundred forty-seven. 2:39The children of Harim,
one thousand seventeen. 2:40The
Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah,
seventy-four. 2:41The
singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred
twenty-eight. 2:42The
children of the porters: the children of Shallum,
the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub,
the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine. 2:43The Nethinim:
the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
2:44the children
of Keros, the children of Siaha,
the children of Padon, 2:45the children of Lebanah,
the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 2:46the
children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,
2:47the children
of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
the children of Reaiah, 2:48the children of Rezin,
the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 2:49the
children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 2:50the children of
Asnah, the children of Meunim,
the children of Nephisim, 2:51the children of Bakbuk,
the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 2:52the
children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
2:53the children
of Barkos, the children of Sisera,
the children of Temah, 2:54the children of Neziah,
the children of Hatipha. 2:55The children of Solomon's servants:
the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,
2:56the children
of Jaalah, the children of Darkon,
the children of Giddel, 2:57the children of Shephatiah,
the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami. 2:58All the Nethinim,
and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety-two. 2:59These were
those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and
Immer; but they could not show their fathers'
houses, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: 2:60the children of Delaiah,
the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two. 2:61Of the children of the priests: the
children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai,
who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. 2:62These sought
their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but they
were not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the
priesthood. 2:63The
governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things,
until there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. 2:64The
whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, 2:65besides their
men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three
hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred singing men and singing women.
2:66Their horses
were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; 2:67their camels,
four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred
and twenty. 2:68Some
of the heads of fathers' houses, when they came to the house of Yahweh
which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to set it up in
its place: 2:69they
gave after their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand
darics of gold, and five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests'
garments. 2:70So
the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and
the porters, and the Nethinim, lived in their
cities, and all Israel in their cities.
3:1When the seventh month was come, and the
children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves
together as one man to Jerusalem. 3:2Then
stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak,
and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt
offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. 3:3They set the
altar on its base; for fear was on them because of the peoples of the
countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon to Yahweh, even burnt
offerings morning and evening. 3:4They
kept the feast of tents, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt
offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day
required; 3:5and
afterward the continual burnt-offering, and the offerings of the new
moons, and of all the set feasts of Yahweh that were consecrated, and of
everyone who willingly offered a freewill-offering to Yahweh. 3:6From the first day of the seventh
month began they to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh:
but the foundation of the temple of Yahweh was not yet laid. 3:7They gave money also to the masons,
and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, to them of Sidon, and to
them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to
the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of
Persia. 3:8Now in
the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the
second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
and Jeshua the son of Jozadak,
and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who
were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from
twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house
of Yahweh. 3:9Then
stood Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to
have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites. 3:10When the
builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh, they set the priests in
their clothing with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph
with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, after the order of David king of Israel. 3:11They sang one to
another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, saying, For he is
good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel. All the people
shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation
of the house of Yahweh was laid. 3:12But
many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, the old
men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid
before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 3:13so that the
people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the
weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the
noise was heard afar off.
4:1Now when the adversaries of Judah and
Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to
Yahweh, the God of Israel; 4:2then
they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers' houses, and
said to them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we
sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king
of Assyria, who brought us up here. 4:3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua,
and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, said to them,
You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we
ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the
king of Persia has commanded us. 4:4Then
the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and
troubled them in building, 4:5and
hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus
king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 4:6In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the
beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation
against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 4:7In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes
king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character,
and set forth in the Syrian language. 4:8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to
Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 4:9then
wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions,
the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites,
the Tarpelites, the Apharsites,
the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites,
the Elamites, 4:10and
the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar
brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the
country beyond the River, and so forth. 4:11This is the copy of the letter that
they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Your servants the men beyond the River, and
so forth. 4:12Be
it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you are come to us to
Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have
finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. 4:13Be it known now to the king that if
this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute,
custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. 4:14Now because we
eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the
king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king; 4:15that search may be made in the book
of the records of your fathers: so shall you find in the book of the records,
and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and
provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for
which cause was this city laid waste. 4:16We inform the king that, if this city
be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion
beyond the River. 4:17Then
sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor,
and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of
their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country
beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. 4:18The letter which you sent to us has
been plainly read before me. 4:19I
decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time
has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have
been made therein. 4:20There
have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the
country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to
them. 4:21Make
you now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be
built, until a decree shall be made by me. 4:22Take heed that you not be slack
herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 4:23Then when the copy of king
Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in
haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 4:24Then ceased the
work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the
second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
5:1Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and
Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews
who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel prophesied
they to them. 5:2Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son
of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God
which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them. 5:3At the same time
came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the
River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions,
and said thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to
finish this wall? 5:4Then
we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were who were
making this building. 5:5But
the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make
them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be
returned by letter concerning it. 5:6The
copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor
beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his
companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the
River, sent to Darius the king; 5:7they
sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all
peace. 5:8Be it
known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of
the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the
walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. 5:9Then asked we those elders, and said to them thus, Who gave you a
decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? 5:10We asked them their names also, to
inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at the head of
them. 5:11Thus
they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and
earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which
a great king of Israel built and finished. 5:12But after that our fathers had
provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and
carried the people away into Babylon. 5:13But in the first year of Cyrus king
of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. 5:14The gold and
silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the
temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those
did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered
to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made
governor; 5:15and
he said to him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in
Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place. 5:16Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God
which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in
building, and yet it is not completed. 5:17Now therefore, if it seem good to the
king, let there be search made in the king's treasure-house, which is there
at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to
build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to
us concerning this matter.
6:1Then Darius the king made a decree, and
search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid
up in Babylon. 6:2There
was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the
province of Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record: 6:3In the first year
of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God
at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices,
and let the foundations of it be strongly laid; the height of it sixty
cubits, and the breadth of it sixty cubits; 6:4with three courses of great stones,
and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's
house. 6:5Also
let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took
forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be
restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to
its place; and you shall put them in the house of God. 6:6Now therefore, Tattenai,
governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your
companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the
River, be you far from there: 6:7let
the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the
elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 6:8Moreover I make a decree what you
shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God:
that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be
given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. 6:9That which they
have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to
the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the
word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day
without fail; 6:10that
they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the God of heaven, and pray for
the life of the king, and of his sons. 6:11Also I have made a decree, that
whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and
let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a
dunghill for this: 6:12and
the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and
peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy
this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it
be done with all diligence. 6:13Then
Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions, because that Darius
the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence. 6:14The elders of the Jews built and
prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the
son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according
to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of
Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 6:15This house was finished on the third
day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the
king. 6:16The
children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
6:17They offered
at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams,
four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve male goats,
according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 6:18They set the priests in their
divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is
at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. 6:19The children of the captivity kept
the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6:20For the priests and the Levites had
purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the
Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the
priests, and for themselves. 6:21The
children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as
had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the
land, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate, 6:22and kept the feast of unleavened
bread seven days with joy: for Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned
the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the
work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
7:1Now after these things, in the reign of
Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah,
the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
7:2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the
son of Ahitub, 7:3the son of Amariah,
the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
7:4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the
son of Bukki, 7:5the son of Abishua,
the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of
Aaron the chief priest; 7:6this
Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses,
which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his
request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him. 7:7There went up some of the children of
Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the
porters, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the
seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 7:8He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month,
which was in the seventh year of the king. 7:9For on the first day of the
first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on
the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to
the good hand of his God on him. 7:10For
Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach
in Israel statutes and ordinances. 7:11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king
Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words
of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel: 7:12Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra
the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.
7:13I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their
priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will
to go to Jerusalem, go with you. 7:14Because
you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning
Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand, 7:15and to carry
the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to
the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 7:16and all the silver and gold that you
shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the
people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God
which is in Jerusalem; 7:17therefore
you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with
their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shall offer them on the
altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 7:18Whatever shall seem good to you and
to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold,
that do you after the will of your God. 7:19The vessels that are given you for
the service of the house of your God, deliver you before the God of
Jerusalem. 7:20Whatever
more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have
occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house. 7:21I, even I
Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond
the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of
heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence, 7:22to one hundred talents of silver, and
to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to
one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 7:23Whatever is
commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the
God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king
and his sons? 7:24Also
we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers,
porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of
God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them. 7:25You, Ezra,
after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and
judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as
know the laws of your God; and teach you him who doesn't know them. 7:26Whoever will
not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed
on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to
confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. 7:27Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our
fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify
the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem; 7:28and has extended loving kindness to
me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty
princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and
I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
8:1Now these are the heads of their fathers'
houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from
Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king: 8:2Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of
the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush. 8:3Of
the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by
genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. 8:4Of the sons of Pahath-moab,
Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah;
and with him two hundred males. 8:5Of
the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males. 8:6Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males. 8:7Of the sons of
Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah;
and with him seventy males. 8:8Of
the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of
Michael; and with him eighty males. 8:9Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males. 8:10Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah;
and with him one hundred sixty males. 8:11Of the sons of Bebai,
Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him
twenty-eight males. 8:12Of
the sons of Azgad, Johanan
the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten
males. 8:13Of
the sons of Adonikam, who were the last; and
these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males. 8:14Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males. 8:15I gathered them together to the river
that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three
days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the
sons of Levi. 8:16Then
sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for
Elnathan, and for Jarib,
and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for
Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who
were teachers. 8:17I
sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, and his brothers the Nethinim,
at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us
ministers for the house of our God. 8:18According to the good hand of our God
on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli,
the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah,
with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; 8:19and Hashabiah,
and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty; 8:20and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the
service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim:
all of them were mentioned by name. 8:21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at
the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek
of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our
substance. 8:22For
I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us
against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The
hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his
wrath is against all those who forsake him. 8:23So we fasted and begged our God for
this: and he was entreated of us. 8:24Then
I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah,
Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them, 8:25and weighed to
them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the
house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and
all Israel there present, had offered: 8:26I weighed into their hand six hundred
fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one
hundred talents; 8:27and
twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright
brass, precious as gold. 8:28I
said to them, You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the
silver and the gold are a freewill-offering to Yahweh, the God of your
fathers. 8:29Watch
you, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and
the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' houses of Israel, at
Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh. 8:30So the priests and the Levites
received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring
them to Jerusalem to the house of our God. 8:31Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go
to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the
hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way. 8:32We came to Jerusalem, and abode there
three days. 8:33On
the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the
house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son
of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the
son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son
of Jeshua, and Noadiah
the son of Binnui, the Levite; 8:34the whole by number and by weight:
and all the weight was written at that time. 8:35The children of the captivity, who
had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve
bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male
goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh. 8:36They delivered
the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the
River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.
9:1Now when these things were done, the
princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and
the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing
according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the
Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 9:2For they have taken of their daughters
for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed
themselves with the peoples of the lands: yes, the hand of the princes and
rulers has been chief in this trespass. 9:3When I heard this thing, I tore my
garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and
sat down confounded. 9:4Then
were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel,
because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until
the evening offering. 9:5At
the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and
my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my
God; 9:6and I
said, my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for
our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up to
the heavens. 9:7Since
the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for
our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the
hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder,
and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 9:8Now for a little moment grace has been
shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a
nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a
little reviving in our bondage. 9:9For
we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has
extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give
us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins of it,
and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 9:10Now, our God, what shall we say after
this? for we have forsaken your commandments, 9:11which you have commanded by your
servants the prophets, saying, The land, to which you go to possess it, is an
unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through
their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their
filthiness: 9:12now
therefore don't give your daughters to their sons, neither take their
daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever;
that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an
inheritance to your children forever. 9:13After all that is come on us for our
evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that you our God have punished us
less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant, 9:14shall we again
break your commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these
abominations? would not you be angry with us until
you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 9:15Yahweh, the God
of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as
it is this day: behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can
stand before you because of this.
10:1Now while Ezra prayed and made
confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there
was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and
women and children; for the people wept very sore. 10:2Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, We have
trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of
the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. 10:3Now therefore
let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as
are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who
tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the
law. 10:4Arise;
for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be of good courage, and
do it. 10:5Then
arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel,
to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore. 10:6Then Ezra rose
up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib:
and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drink water; for he
mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity. 10:7They made proclamation throughout
Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should
gather themselves together to Jerusalem; 10:8and that whoever didn't come within
three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his
substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the
captivity. 10:9Then
all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem
within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of
the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God,
trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. 10:10Ezra the priest stood up, and said
to them, You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the
guilt of Israel. 10:11Now
therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his
pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the
foreign women. 10:12Then
all the assembly answered with a loud voice, As you have said concerning us,
so must we do. 10:13But
the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to
stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly
transgressed in this matter. 10:14Let
now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are
in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and
with them the elders of every city, and the judges of it, until the fierce
wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched. 10:15Only Jonathan
the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the
Levite helped them. 10:16The
children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads
of fathers' houses, after their fathers' houses, and all of them by
their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth
month to examine the matter. 10:17They
made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day
of the first month. 10:18Among
the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: namely,
of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah,
and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
10:19They gave
their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they
offered a ram of the flock for their guilt. 10:20Of the sons of Immer:
Hanani and Zebadiah. 10:21Of the sons of Harim:
Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. 10:22Of the sons
of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 10:23Of the
Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei,
and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita),
Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 10:24Of the singers: Eliashib.
Of the porters: Shallum, and Telem,
and Uri. 10:25Of
Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah,
and Izziah, and Malchijah,
and Mijamin, and Eleazar,
and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
10:26Of the
sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth,
and Elijah. 10:27Of
the sons of Zattu: Elioenai,
Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
10:28Of the
sons of Bebai: Jehohanan,
Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai. 10:29Of
the sons of Bani: Meshullam,
Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth. 10:30Of
the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna,
and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and
Manasseh. 10:31of
the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah,
Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
10:32Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah. 10:33Of the sons
of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei. 10:34Of
the sons of Bani: Maadai,
Amram, and Uel, 10:35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 10:36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 10:37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu, 10:38and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, 10:39and
Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
10:40Machnadebai,
Shashai, Sharai, 10:41Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, 10:42Shallum, Amariah, Joseph. 10:43Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah. 10:44All these had
taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
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