1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that (yah-HOO-ah)
Yahuah’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth might be accomplished, Yahuah 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,
2 “Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘Yahuah, (el-oh-HEEM)
Elohim of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his Elohim be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Yahuah, Elohim of Israel (he is Elohim), which is in Jerusalem.
4 Whoever is left, in any place where he lives, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, in addition to the free will offering for Elohim’s house which is in Jerusalem.’”
5 Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, all whose spirit Elohim had stirred to go up, rose up to build Yahuah’s house which is in Jerusalem.
6 All those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with precious things, in addition to all that was willingly offered.
7 Also Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of Yahuah’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;
8 even those, Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
9 This is the number of them: 30 platters of gold, 1000 platters of silver, 29 knives,
10 30 bowls of gold, 410 silver bowls of a second kind, and 1000 other vessels.
11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were 5400. Sheshbazzar brought all these up when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
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;
2who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3The children of Parosh, 2172.
4The children of Shephatiah, 372.
5The children of Arah, 775.
6The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, 2812.
7The children of Elam, 1254.
8The children of Zattu, 945.
9The children of Zaccai, 760.
10The children of Bani, 642.
11The children of Bebai, 623.
12The children of Azgad, 1222.
13The children of Adonikam, 666.
14The children of Bigvai, 2056.
15The children of Adin, 454.
16The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98.
17The children of Bezai, 323.
18The children of Jorah, 112.
19The children of Hashum, 223.
20The children of Gibbar, 95.
21The children of Bethlehem, 123.
22The men of Netophah, 56.
23The men of Anathoth, 128.
24The children of Azmaveth, 42.
25The children of Kiriath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743.
26The children of Ramah and Geba, 621.
27The men of Michmas, 122.
28The men of Bethel and Ai, 223.
29The children of Nebo, 52.
30The children of Magbish, 156.
31The children of the other Elam, 1254.
32The children of Harim, 320.
33The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725.
34The children of Jericho, 345.
35The children of Senaah, 3630.
36The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973.
37The children of Immer, 1052.
38The children of Pashhur, 1247.
39The children of Harim, 1017.
40The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, 74.
41The singers: the children of Asaph, 128.
42The children of the gatekeepers: 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 139.
43The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
44the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,
47the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim,
51the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
54the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,
56the children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami.
58All the temple servants, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were 392.
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 offspring, whether they were of Israel:
60the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, 652.
61Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, and the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
62These sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.
63The governor told them that they should not eat of the most set-apart things until a priest stood up to serve with Urim and with Thummim.
64The whole assembly together was 42360,
65in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were 7337; and they had 200 singing men and singing women.
66Their horses were 736; their mules, 245;
67their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6720.
68Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they came to Yahuah’s house which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for Elohim’s house to set it up in its place.
69They gave according to their ability into the treasury of the work 61000 darics of gold, 5000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments.
70So the priests and the Levites, with some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
1 When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his relatives, and built the altar of the Elohim of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Torah of Moses the man of Elohim.
3 In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings on it to Yahuah, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
4 They kept the feast of booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;
5 and afterward the continual burnt offering, the offerings of the new moons, of all the appointed times of Yahuah that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a free will offering to Yahuah.
6 From the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer burnt offerings to Yahuah; but the foundation of Yahuah’s temple was not yet laid.
7 They also gave money to the masons and to the carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia.
8 Now in the second year of their coming to Elohim’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from 20 years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of Yahuah’s house.
9 Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together to have the oversight of the workmen in Elohim’s house: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.
10 When the builders laid the foundation of Yahuah’s temple, they set the priests in their vestments with trumpets, with the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahuah, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
11 They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahuah, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahuah, because the foundation of Yahuah’s house had been laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, 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. Many also shouted aloud for joy,
13 so 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 far away.
1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahuah, Elah of Israel,
2 they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them,
“Let us build with you, for we seek your Elah as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”
3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them,
“You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our Elah; but we ourselves together will build to Yahuah, Elah of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.
5 They 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.
6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian and delivered in the Syrian language.
8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows.
9 Then Rehum the chancellor, 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,
10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people beyond the River.
12 Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations.
13 Be 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.
14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,
15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see 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 started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.
16 We inform the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.
17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace.
18 The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.
19 I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.
20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll was paid to them.
21 Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree is made by me.
22 Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms.
24 Then work stopped on Elah’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the Elah of Israel.
2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build Elah’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of Elah, helping them.
3 At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and asked them,
“Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?”
4 They also asked for the names of the men who were making this building.
5 But the eye of their Elah was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
6 The 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 follows.
7 They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great Elah, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.
9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus,
“Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.
11 Thus they returned us answer, saying,
“We are the servants of the Elah 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.
12 But after our fathers had provoked Elah 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.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of Elah.
14 The gold and silver vessels of Elah’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
15 He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let Elah’s house be built in its place.’”
16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of Elah’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.
17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of Elah at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, was searched.
2 A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning Elah’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid, with its height 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits;
4 with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
5 Also let the gold and silver vessels of Elah’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in Elah’s house.
6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there.
7 Leave the work of this house of Elah alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of Elah in its place.
8 Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of Elah: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.
9 That which they have need of, including young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the Elah 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,
10 that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the Elah of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.
11 I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12 May Elah who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter this, to destroy this house of Elah which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.
13 Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions did accordingly with all diligence, because Darius the king had sent a decree.
14 The 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 Elah of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16 The children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of Elah with joy.
17 They offered at the dedication of this house of Elah 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18 They set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of Elah which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.
19 The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20 Because the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
21 The children of Israel who had returned out of the captivity, and all who had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land to seek Yahuah, Elah of Israel, ate,
22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because Yahuah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of Elah, Elah of Israel’s house.
1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest,
6 this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the Torah of Moses, which Yahuah, Elah of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to Yahuah his Elah’s hand on him.
7 Some of the children of Israel, including some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8 He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his Elah on him.
10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahuah’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of Yahuah’s commandments, and of his statutes to Israel:
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Torah of the perfect Elah of heaven. Now
13 I make a decree that all those of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my realm, who intend of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
14 Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the Torah of your Elah which is in your hand,
15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the Elah of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16 and all the silver and gold that you will find in all the province of Babylon, with the free will offering of the people and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their Elah which is in Jerusalem.
17 Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your Elah which is in Jerusalem.
18 Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your Elah.
19 The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your Elah, deliver before the Elah of Jerusalem.
20 Whatever more will be needed for the house of your Elah, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house.
21 I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Torah of the Elah of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence,
22 up to 100 talents of silver, and to 100 cors of wheat, and to 100 baths of wine, and to 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23 Whatever is commanded by Elah of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the Elah of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24 Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or laborers of this house of Elah.
25 You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your Elah that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your Elah; and teach him who doesn’t know them.
26 Whoever will not do the Torah of your Elah and the Torah of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27 Blessed be Yahuah, Elah of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify Yahuah’s house which is in Jerusalem;
28 and 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 Yahuah my Elah’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
1Now these are the heads of their fathers’ households, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
2Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.
3Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were listed by genealogy of the males 150.
4Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him 200 males.
5Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him 300 males.
6Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him 50 males.
7Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him 70 males.
8Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him 80 males.
9Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him 218 males.
10Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him 160 males.
11Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him 28 males.
12Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him 110 males.
13Of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last, their names are: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them 60 males.
14Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them 70 males.
15I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days. Then I looked around at the people and the priests, and found there were none of the sons of Levi.
16Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, for Elnathan, for Jarib, for Elnathan, for Nathan, for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib and for Elnathan, who were teachers.
17I sent them out to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo and his brothers the temple servants at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our Elohim.
18According to the good hand of our Elohim on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, 18;
19and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, 20;
20and of the temple servants, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, 220 temple servants. All of them were mentioned by name.
21Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our Elohim, to seek from him a straight way for us, for our little ones, and for all our possessions.
22For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our Elohim is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.”
23So we fasted and begged our Elohim for this, and he granted our request.
24Then I set apart 12 of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their brothers with them,
25and weighed to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our Elohim, which the king, his counselors, his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered.
26I weighed into their hand 650 talents of silver, 100 talents of silver vessels, 100 talents of gold,
2720 bowls of gold weighing 1000 darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze, precious as gold.
28I said to them, “You are set-apart to Yahuah, and the vessels are set-apart. The silver and the gold are a free will offering to Yahuah, Elohim of your fathers.
29Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and the princes of the fathers’ households of Israel at Jerusalem, in the rooms of Yahuah’s house.”
30So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver, the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our Elohim.
31Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our Elohim was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandits by the way.
32We came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days.
33On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our Elohim into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites.
34Everything was counted and weighed; and all the weight was written at that time.
35The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the Elohim of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats for a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to Yahuah.
36They delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s local governors and to the governors beyond the River. So they supported the people and Elohim’s house.
1 Now when these things were done, the princes came near to me, saying,
“The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the set-apart offspring have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.”
3 When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the Elohim of Israel were assembled to me because of the trespass of the exiles; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
5 At the evening offering I rose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahuah my Elohim;
6 and I said,
“My Elohim, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my Elohim, for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.
7 Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahuah our Elohim, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his set-apart place, that our Elohim may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.
9 For we are bondservants; yet our Elohim has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our Elohim, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 “Now, our Elohim, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,”
11 which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land to which you go to possess 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.
12 Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t 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.’
13 “After all that has come on us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since you, our Elohim, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,
14 shall we again break your commandments, and join ourselves with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant, nor any to escape?
15 Yahuah, Elohim of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this.
1Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before Elohim’s house, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very bitterly.
2Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, “We have trespassed against our Elohim, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.
3Now therefore let’s make a covenant with our Elohim to put away all the wives and those who are born of them, according to the counsel of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our Elohim. Let it be done according to the Torah.
4Arise, for the matter belongs to you and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.”
5Then Ezra arose, 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.
6Then Ezra rose up from before Elohim’s house, and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. When he came there, he didn’t eat bread or drink water, for he mourned because of the trespass of the exiles.
7They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem;
8and that whoever didn’t come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his possessions should be forfeited, and he himself separated from the assembly of the captivity.
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 wide place in front of Elohim’s house, trembling because of this matter, and because of the great rain.
10Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, increasing the guilt of Israel.”
11Now therefore make confession to Yahuah, Elohim of your fathers and do his pleasure. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.”
12Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “We must do as you have said concerning us.
13But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside. This is not a work of one day or two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
14Now let 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 its judges, until the fierce wrath of our Elohim is turned from us, until this matter is resolved.”
15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
16The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households, 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.
17They finished with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.
18Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25Of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30Of the sons of Pahathmoab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,
38Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, Joel, and Benaiah.
44All these had taken foreign wives. Some of them had wives by whom they had children.