Ezra

The Decree of Cyrus

1:11 In the first2 year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the LORD's message spoken through3 Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the mind4 of King Cyrus of Persia. He disseminated5 a proclamation6 throughout all his kingdom, announcing in a written edict the following:7

1:2 "So says King Cyrus of Persia:

"`The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has instructed me to build a temple8 for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 1:3 Anyone from9 his people among you (may his God be with him!) may go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may build the temple of the LORD God of Israel--he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 1:4 Let anyone who survives in any of those places where he is a resident foreigner be helped by his neighbors10 with silver, gold, equipment, and animals, along with voluntary offerings for the temple of God which is in Jerusalem.'"

The Exiles Prepare for Returning to Jerusalem

1:5 Then the leaders11 of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and the Levites--all those whose mind God had stirred--got ready to go up in order to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. 1:6 All their neighbors assisted12 them with silver utensils,13 gold, equipment, animals, and expensive gifts, not to mention all the voluntary offerings.

1:7 Then King Cyrus brought out the vessels of the LORD's temple which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and had displayed14 in the temple of his gods. 1:8 King Cyrus of Persia entrusted15 them to16 Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the leader of the Judahite exiles.17

1:9 The inventory18 of these items was as follows:

1:11 All these gold and silver vessels totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all along when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The Names of the Returning Exiles

2:11 These are the people2 of the province who were going up,3 from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city. 2:2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

The number of Israelites4 was as follows:

2:3 the descendants5 of Parosh: 2,172;

2:4 the descendants of Shephatiah: 372;

2:5 the descendants of Arah: 775;

2:6 the descendants of Pahath-Moab (from the line6 of Jeshua and7 Joab): 2,812;

2:7 the descendants of Elam: 1,254;

2:8 the descendants of Zattu: 945;

2:9 the descendants of Zaccai: 760;

2:10 the descendants of Bani: 642;

2:11 the descendants of Bebai: 623;

2:12 the descendants of Azgad: 1,222;

2:13 the descendants of Adonikam: 666;

2:14 the descendants of Bigvai: 2,056;

2:15 the descendants of Adin: 454;

2:16 the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah): 98;

2:17 the descendants of Bezai: 323;

2:18 the descendants of Jorah: 112;

2:19 the descendants of Hashum: 223;

2:20 the descendants of Gibbar: 95.

2:21 The men8 of Bethlehem: 123;

2:22 the men of Netophah: 56;

2:23 the men of Anathoth: 128;

2:24 the men of the family9 of Azmaveth: 42;

2:25 the men of Kiriath Jearim,10 Kephirah and Beeroth: 743;

2:26 the men of Ramah and Geba: 621;

2:27 the men of Micmash: 122;

2:28 the men of Bethel and Ai: 223;

2:29 the descendants of Nebo: 52;

2:30 the descendants of Magbish: 156;

2:31 the descendants of the other Elam: 1,254;

2:32 the descendants of Harim: 320;

2:33 the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 725;

2:34 the men of Jericho: 345;

2:35 the descendants of Senaah: 3,630.

2:36 The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family11 of Jeshua): 973;

2:37 the descendants of Immer: 1,052;

2:38 the descendants of Pashhur: 1,247;

2:39 the descendants of Harim: 1,017.

2:40 The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah): 74.

2:41 The singers: the descendants of Asaph: 128.

2:42 The gatekeepers:12 the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai: 139.

2:43 The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, 2:44 the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Siaha, the descendants of Padon, 2:45 the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Akkub, 2:46 the descendants of Hagab, the descendants of Shalmai,13 the descendants of Hanan, 2:47 the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, the descendants of Reaiah, 2:48 the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam, 2:49 the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah, the descendants of Besai, 2:50 the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim, 2:51 the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, 2:52 the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, 2:53 the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, 2:54 the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.

2:55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda, 2:56 the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, 2:57 the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami.

2:58 All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon: 392.

2:59 These are the ones that came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify14 their family connection15 or their ancestry,16 as to whether they really were from Israel):

2:60 the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda: 652.

2:61 And from among17 the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that18 name). 2:62 They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them.19 They were therefore excluded20 from the priesthood. 2:63 The governor21 instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult22 the Urim and Thummim.

2:64 The entire group numbered 42,360, 2:65 not counting their male and female servants, who numbered 7,337. They also had 200 male and female singers 2:66 and 736 horses, 245 mules, 2:67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 2:68 When they came to the LORD's temple in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders23 offered voluntary offerings for the temple of God in order to rebuild24 it on its site. 2:69 As they were able,25 they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas26 of gold, 5,000 minas27 of silver, and 100 priestly robes.28

2:70 The priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gate-keepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel lived in their towns.

The Altar is Rebuilt

3:1 When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites1 were living2 in their3 towns, the people assembled4 in5 Jerusalem. 3:2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak6 and his priestly colleagues7 and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his colleagues8 started to build9 the altar of the God of Israel so they could offer burnt offerings on it as required by10 the law of Moses the man of God. 3:3 They established the altar on its foundations, for they were in terror of the local peoples,11 and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and the evening offerings. 3:4 They observed the Festival of Temporary Shelters12 as required and offered the proper number of13 daily burnt offerings according to the requirement for each day. 3:5 Afterwards they offered the continual burnt offerings and those for the new moons and those for all the holy assemblies of the LORD and all those that were being voluntarily offered to the LORD. 3:6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the LORD's temple was not at that time established.14

Preparations for Rebuilding the Temple

3:7 So they provided money for the masons and carpenters, and food, beverages, and olive oil for the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar timber from Lebanon to the seaport15 at Joppa, in accord with the edict of King Cyrus of Persia. 3:8 In the second year after they had come to the temple of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak initiated the work,16 along with the rest of their associates,17 the priests and the Levites, and all those who were coming to Jerusalem from the exile. They appointed18 the Levites who were at least twenty years old19 to take charge of the work on the LORD's temple. 3:9 So Jeshua appointed both his sons and his relatives,20 Kadmiel and his sons (the sons of Yehudah21), to take charge of the workers in the temple of God, along with the sons of Henadad, their sons, and their relatives22 the Levites. 3:10 When the builders established the LORD's temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the LORD according to the instructions left by23 King David of Israel. 3:11 With antiphonal response they sang,24 praising and glorifying the LORD:

All the people gave a loud25 shout as they praised the LORD when the temple of the LORD was established. 3:12 Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders26--older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established--were weeping loudly,27 and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout. 3:13 People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people's weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly that the sound was heard a long way off.

Opposition to Their Building Efforts

4:1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the former exiles1 were building a temple for the LORD God of Israel, 4:2 they came to Zerubbabel and the leaders2 and said to them, "Let us help you build, for like you we seek your God and we have been sacrificing to him3 from the time of King Esarhaddon of Assyria, who brought us here." 4:3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the leaders of Israel said to them, "You have no right4 to help us build the temple of our God, for we will build it by ourselves for the LORD God of Israel, just as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us." 4:4 Then the local people5 began to discourage6 the people of Judah and to dishearten them from building. 4:5 They were hiring advisors to oppose them, so as to frustrate their plans, throughout the time7 of King Cyrus of Persia until the reign of King Darius8 of Persia.

Official Complaints Are Lodged against the Jews

4:6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus9 they filed an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 4:7 And in the reign10 of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues11 wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia. This letter12 was first written in Aramaic but then translated.

[Aramaic:]13

4:8 Rehum the commander14 and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows: 4:9 Then Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues--the judges, rulers, officials, secretaries of the Erechites, Babylonians, people of Susa (that is, the Elamites), 4:10 and the rest of nations whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal15 deported and settled in the cities16 of Samaria and other places in the Trans-Euphrates. 4:11 This is a copy of the letter they sent to him:

"To Artaxerxes the king, from your servants in17 the Trans-Euphrates. 4:12 Now18 let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations. 4:13 Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal19 treasury will suffer loss. 4:14 In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king,20 and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, we are sending the king this information21 4:15 so that he may initiate a search of the records22 of his predecessors23 and discover in those records24 that this city is rebellious25 and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts from long ago.26 It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed. 4:16 We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control27 of this portion of Trans-Euphrates."

4:17 The king sent the following response:

"To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and other parts of the Trans-Euphrates: Greetings!28 4:18 The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence. 4:19 So I gave orders, and it was determined29 that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in rebellion and revolt. 4:20 Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates and who were the beneficiaries of tribute, custom, and toll. 4:21 Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct.30 4:22 Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that kings sustain damage?"

4:23 Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shishai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem31 and stopped them with threat of armed force.32

4:24 So the work on the temple of God in Jerusalem came to a halt. It remained halted until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.

Tattenai Appeals to Darius

5:1 Then Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied concerning the Jews who were in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 5:2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak began1 to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

5:3 At that time Tattenai governor of the Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues came to them and asked, "Who gave you authority2 to rebuild this temple and to complete its walls?"3 5:4 They4 also asked them, "What are the names of the men who are building this structure?" 5:5 But God was watching over5 the elders of Judah, and they were not stopped6 until a report could be dispatched7 to Darius and a letter could be sent back concerning this.

5:6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai governor of the Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagues who were the officials of the Trans-Euphrates sent to King Darius. 5:7 The report they sent to him was written as follows:

"To Darius the king: All greetings!8 5:8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands. 5:9 We inquired of those elders, asking them, `Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete its walls?' 5:10 We also inquired of their names in order to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were their leaders. 5:11 They responded to us in the following way: `We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great king9 of Israel built it and completed it. 5:12 But after our ancestors10 angered the God of heaven, he delivered them into the hands11 of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylon. 5:13 But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus enacted a decree to rebuild this temple of God. 5:14 Even the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had brought to the palace of Babylon--even those things King Cyrus brought from the palace of Babylon and presented12 to a man by the name of Sheshbazzar whom he had appointed as governor. 5:15 He said to him, "Take these vessels and go deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt in its proper location."13 5:16 Then this Sheshbazzar went and laid the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem. From that time to the present moment14 it has been in the process of being rebuilt, although it is not yet finished.'

5:17 "Now if the king is so inclined, let a search be conducted in the royal archives there in Babylon, in order to determine whether King Cyrus did in fact issue orders for this temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then let the king send to us a decision concerning this matter."

Darius Issues a Decree

6:1 So Darius the king issued orders, and they searched in the archives1 of the treasury which were deposited there in Babylon. 6:2 A scroll was found in the citadel2 of Ecbatana which is in the province of Media, and it was inscribed as follows:

"Memorandum: 6:3 In the first year of his reign,3 King Cyrus gave orders concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: `Let the temple be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered. Let its foundations be raised.4 Its height is to be ninety feet and its width ninety5 feet,6 6:4 with three layers of large stones and one layer of timber. The expense is to be subsidized7 by the royal treasury.8 6:5 Furthermore, let the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, be returned and brought to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. Let them be deposited in the temple of God.'

6:6 "Now Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials of the Trans-Euphrates--all of you stay far away from there! 6:7 Leave the work on this temple of God alone.9 Let the governor of Judah and the elders of Judah rebuild this temple of God in its proper place.

6:8 "I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-Euphrates the complete costs will be given to these men, so that there may be no halt. 6:9 Whatever is needed--whether oxen or rams or lambs or burnt offerings for the God of heaven or wheat or salt or wine or oil, as required by10 the priests who are in Jerusalem--must be given to them daily without any neglect, 6:10 so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.

"6:11 I hereby give orders that if anyone changes this directive a beam is to be pulled out from his house and he is to be raised up and impaled on it, and his house is to be reduced to a rubbish heap11 for this indiscretion.12 6:12 May God who makes his name to reside there overthrow any king or people who reaches out13 to cause such change or to destroy this temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given orders. Let them be carried out with precision!"

The Temple Is Finally Dedicated

6:13 Then Tattenai governor of the Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues acted accordingly--with precision, just as Darius the king had given instructions.14 6:14 The elders of the Jews continued building and prospering, while at the same time15 Haggai the prophet and Zachariah the son of Iddo continued prophesying. They built and brought it to completion by the command of the God of Israel and by the command of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes (king of Persia). 6:15 They finished this temple on the third day of the month Adar, which is the sixth16 year of the reign of King Darius.

6:16 The people17 of Israel--the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles18--observed the dedication of this temple of God with joy. 6:17 For the dedication of this temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 6:18 They appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their divisions over the worship of God at Jerusalem, in accord with the book of Moses. 6:1919 The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6:20 The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, and they all were ceremonially clean. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues20 the priests, and for themselves. 6:21 The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the LORD God of Israel. 6:22 They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the LORD had given them joy and had changed the opinion21 of the king of Assyria toward them, so that he assisted22 them in the work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.

The Arrival of Ezra

7:1 Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxes1 of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah came up from Babylon.2 Ezra was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah, 7:2 who was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub, 7:3 who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth, 7:4 who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki, 7:5 who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron the chief priest. 7:6 This Ezra is the one who came up from Babylon. He was a scribe who was skilled in the law of Moses which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king supplied him with everything he requested, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. 7:7 In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra brought3 up to Jerusalem some of the Israelites and some of the priests, the Levites, the attendants, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants. 7:8 He entered Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 7:9 On the first day of the first month he had determined4 the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 7:10 Now Ezra had given himself5 to the study of the law of the LORD, to its observance, and to teaching its statutes and judgments in Israel.

Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra's Mission

7:11 What follows6 is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe,7 a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the LORD and his statutes over Israel:

7:128 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the perfect law of the God of heaven. 7:13 I have now issued a decree that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel--even the priests and Levites--who wishes to do so may go up with you to Jerusalem. 7:14 You are authorized9 by the king and his seven advisors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your possession,10 7:15 and to bring silver and gold which the king and his advisors have freely contributed to the God of Israel, who resides in Jerusalem, 7:16 along with all the silver and gold that you may collect11 throughout all the province of Babylon and the contributions of the people and the priests for the temple of their God which is in Jerusalem. 7:17 With this money you should be sure to purchase bulls, rams, and lambs, along with their meal offerings and their libations. You should bring them to the altar of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem. 7:18 You may do whatever seems appropriate to you and your colleagues with the rest of the silver and the gold, in keeping with the will of your God. 7:19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem the vessels that are given to you for the service of the temple of your God. 7:20 The rest of the needs for the temple of your God that you may have to supply, you may do so from the royal treasury.

7:21 "I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby issue orders to all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates, that you precisely execute all that Ezra the priestly scribe of the law of the God of heaven may request of you-- 7:22 up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of olive oil,12 and unlimited salt. 7:23 Everything that the God of heaven has required should be precisely done for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the empire of the king and his sons? 7:24 Furthermore, be aware of the fact that you have no authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or the attendants at the temple of this God.

7:25 "Now you, Ezra, in keeping with the wisdom of your God which you possess,13 appoint judges14 and court officials who know the laws of your God and who can arbitrate cases on behalf of all the people who are in Trans-Euphrates. Those who do not know this law should be taught. 7:26 Everyone who does not observe both the law of your God and the law of the king will immediately be liable to the appropriate penalty, whether by death or banishment or confiscation of property or detainment in prison."

7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who so moved in the heart of the king to so honor the temple of the LORD which is in Jerusalem! 7:28 He has also conferred his favor on me before the king, his advisors, and all the influential leaders of the king. I gained strength as the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leaders15 from Israel to go up with me.

The Leaders Who Returned with Ezra

8:1 These are the leaders1 and those enrolled with them by genealogy, who were coming up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

8:2 from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom;

from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;

from the descendants of David, Hattush 8:3 son of Shecaniah;2

from the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were enrolled by genealogy 150 men;

8:4 from the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;

8:5 from the descendants of Zattu,3 Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;

8:6 from the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;

8:7 from the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;

8:8 from the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;

8:9 from the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;

8:10 from the descendants of Bani,4 Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;

8:11 from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;

8:12 from the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;

8:13 from the descendants of Adonikam there were the latter ones.5 Their names were Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;

8:14 from the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zaccur,6 and with them 70 men.

The Exiles Travel to Jerusalem

8:15 I had them assemble7 at the canal8 that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I observed that the people and the priests were present, but I found no Levites there. 8:16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan,9 Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were teachers. 8:17 I sent them to Iddo, who was the leader in the place called Casiphia. I told them10 what to say to Iddo and his brethren,11 who were the temple servants in12 Casiphia, so they would bring us attendants for the temple of our God.

8:18 Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This Sherebiah came,13 along with his sons and relatives,14 18 men, 8:19 and Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men, 8:20 and some of the temple servants that David and his chiefs had established for the work of the Levites--220 of them.They were all designated by name.

8:21 I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our property. 8:22 I was embarrassed to request soldiers and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy15 along the way, because we had said to the king, "The good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him, but his great anger16 is on everyone who forsakes him." 8:23 So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.

8:24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with17 Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers, 8:25 and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels intended for the temple of our God--items that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present had contributed. 8:26 I weighed out to them18 650 talents of silver, silver vessels worth 100 talents,19 100 talents of gold, 8:27 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics, and two exquisite vessels of gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold. 8:28 Then I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, just as these vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers. 8:29 Be careful with them and protect them, until you weigh them out before the head priests and the Levites and the family leaders of Israel in Jerusalem, in the storerooms of the temple of the LORD."

8:30 Then the priests and the Levites took charge of20 the silver, the gold, and the vessels that had been weighed out, to transport them to Jerusalem to the temple of our God.

8:31 On the twelfth day of the first month we began traveling from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from our enemy and from bandits21 along the way. 8:32 So we came to Jerusalem, and we stayed there for three days. 8:33 On the fourth day we weighed out the silver, the gold, and the vessels in the house of our God into the care22 of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest, and Eleazar son of Phinehas, who were accompanied by Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, who were Levites. 8:34 Everything was verified by number and by weight, and the total weight was written down at that time.

8:35 The exiles who were returning from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel--twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs, along with twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. 8:36 Then they presented the decrees of the king to the king's satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who gave help to the people and to the temple of God.

A Prayer of Ezra

9:1 Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents1 who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 9:2 Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons and have intermingled the holy seed with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the Levites have been at the forefront of all of this!"

9:3 When I heard this account, I tore my tunic and my robe and ripped out some of the hair of my head and beard. Then I sat down, quite devastated. 9:4 Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe2 gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile.3 Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.

9:5 At the time of the evening offering I got up from my self-abasement, with my torn tunic and robe, and then dropped to my knees and spread my hands to the LORD my God. 9:6 I prayed,4

"O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed, my God, to lift my face to you. For our iniquities have climbed higher than our head, and our guilt extends to the heavens. 9:7 From the days of our fathers until this very day our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities we, along with our kings and5 priests, have been delivered over by the local kings6 to sword, captivity, plunder, and embarrassment--right up to the present time.

9:8 "But now briefly7 we have received mercy from the LORD our God, in that he has left us a remnant and has given us a secure position8in his holy place. Thus our God has enlightened our eyes and has given us a little relief in our time of servitude. 9:9 Although we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our servitude. He has extended kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, in that he has revived us9 to restore the temple of our God and to raise10 up its ruins and to give us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

9:10 "And now what are we able to say after this, our God? For we have forsaken your commandments 9:11 which you commanded us through your servants the prophets with the words:11 `The land that you are entering to possess is a land defiled by the impurities of the local residents.12 With their abominations they have filled it from one end to the other with their filthiness. 9:12 Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do not take their daughters in marriage for your sons. Do not ever seek their peace or welfare, so that you may be strong and may eat the good of the land and may leave it as an inheritance for your sons forever.'

9:13 "Everything that has happened to us has come about because of our wicked actions and our great guilt. Even so, our God, you have exercised restraint13 toward our iniquities and have given us a remnant such as this. 9:14 Shall we once again break your commandments and intermarry with these abominable peoples? Would you not be so angered by us as to wipe us out, with no survivor or remnant? 9:15 O LORD God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant this day. Indeed, we stand before you in our guilt. However, because of this guilt14 no one can really stand before you."

The People Confess Their Sins

10:1While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites--men, women, and children alike--gathered around him. The people wept loudly. 10:2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam,1 addressed Ezra:

"We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying2 foreign women from the local peoples.3 Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard.4 10:3 Therefore let us enact5 a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with the counsel of my lord and of those who have regard for6 the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law. 10:4 Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively."

10:5 So Ezra got up and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath to carry out this plan. And they all took a solemn oath. 10:6 Then Ezra got up from before the temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he stayed7 there, he did not eat food, nor did he drink water, for he was in mourning over the infidelity of the exiles.

10:7 A proclamation8 was circulated9 throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem. 10:8 Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders. Furthermore, he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.

10:9 All the men of Judah and Benjamin were gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. (It was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of that month.) All the people sat in the square at the temple of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains.

10:10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have behaved in an unfaithful manner by taking foreign wives! This has contributed to the guilt of Israel. 10:11 Now give praise to the LORD God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the local residents10 and from these foreign wives."

10:12 All the assembly replied in a loud voice: "We will do just as you have said!11 10:13 However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season.12 We are unable to stand here outside. Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter. 10:14 Let our leaders take steps on behalf of all the assembly. Let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at an appointed time, and with them the elders of each town and its judges, until the hot anger of our God is turned away from us in this matter."

10:15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were against this, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite. 10:16 So the exiles proceeded accordingly. Ezra the priest separated out13 by name men who were leaders in their family groups.14 They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month, 10:17 and on the first day of the first month they finished considering all the men who had married foreign wives.

Those Who Had Taken Foreign Wives

10:18 It was determined that from the descendants of the priests, the following had taken foreign wives: from the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 10:19 (They gave their word15 to send away their wives; their guilt offering was a ram from the flock for their guilt.)

10:20 From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.

10:21 From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

10:22 From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

10:23 From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also known as Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

10:24 From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

10:25 From the Israelites: from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.

10:26 From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

10:27 From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

10:28 From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

10:29 From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

10:30 From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

10:31 From16 the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

10:33 From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

10:34 From the descendants of Bani:17 Maadai, Amram, Uel, 10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.

10:38 From18 the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, 10:39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 10:40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 10:41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 10:42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

10:43 From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

10:44 All these had taken foreign wives, and some of them also had children by these women.19